Cooke v Ballymoney

 6 February 2010

 Cooke took to the pitch on Saturday minus kicker, Jarvis who twisted an ankle in the pre-match warm up.  His absence added to a lack-lustre performance by the home team who conceded far too many penalties.

Ballymoney fullback Cleland commenced a productive afternoon after just 5 minutes with a penalty when Cooke was adjudged offside at a ruck.  Within minutes Cleland bagged a second penalty when a Cooke player failed to release after a tackle.

Cooke then took hold of the game and the next 20 minutes of play was fought out deep in the visitors half.  The home team were awarded what should have been two straight-forward penalties but fullback Cartmill ‘scuffed’ both in succession.

The first try of the afternoon came on the half hour.  Ballymoney took the ball from a Cooke line out and a quick pass to their out-half allowed him to break the home defence and race over the line.  Cleland’s conversion attempt rebounded off the post.  Try number two for Ballymoney was a gift.  With several Cooke forwards lingering with their backs, the ‘toon’ number 7 picked up from a ruck on the halfway line and made good ground before feeding his out-half to cross the Cooke line for a second time.  Cleland’s conversion took the Ballymoney lead to 18 points.

With minutes remaining in the first half Cooke were finally rewarded with a well-worked try.  An ‘up and under’ by out half Wilson was collected by number 15 Cartmill who linked with flanker Glover. Glover made great ground before returning the pass inside to his full-back who touched down.  The conversion attempt by Wilson went wide.

Half time score                                                           Cooke 5 Ballymoney 18

The second half saw stalemate for the first 20 minutes and Cooke brought on ‘fresh legs’ replacing lock Brooks and hooker Armstrong with Pedlow and Leacock. But it was Ballymoney who edged further ahead.  A penalty against Cooke for not releasing in the tackle was kicked to the corner by the visitors.  The ‘toon’ forwards, who dominated the lineout all afternoon, opted for a simple catch and drive and crossed the Cooke line for try number three. Cleland converted.

Cooke continued to put together good periods of play and added some respectability to the score-line with 5 minutes left to play.  A tapped penalty close to the ‘toon’ line was recycled to mobile tight-head Seawright who found a large gap to score close to the posts.  Donaldson added the conversion bringing the final score to

                                                                                    Cooke 12        Ballymoney 25