COOKE DEFEAT ‘SKINS IN A GAME TO FORGET

Cooke kicked off this game and went immediately into the attack with only 5mins gone they put the first points on the scoreboard with a 30mts drop goal conversion by Montgomery. (3-0)

Enniskillen struck back and started to counter-attack and were awarded a penalty for the Cooke no.7 being offside at the ruck. Fee stepped up for the visitors and slotted over the penalty conversion from the 22mts line. (3-3)

2 minutes later & Cooke were awarded another kickable penalty which Montgomery duly slotted over. (6-3)

Immediately from the re-start kick the ‘skins no.2 was yellow carded for tackling a Cooke player while he was fielding the ball in the air. Both teams then settled into testing out each others defence until in the 22nd minute, Cooke Captain Keith, took the ball and made ground from a drive on the visitors 22 line. The ball was re-cycled out the back line and that man Beggs made a typical break to score. (11-3)

Again the ‘skins went on the attack and were unfortunate not to score from a break which started on the half way line only to be stopped short with a high tackle 5mts out and near the corner flag. Indeed, such was the tackle, the Cooke player was fortunate not to be yellow carded and a penalty try awarded but that would have been a big call for referee Coyle. 2 minutes from half time and the Cooke no.1 Seawright was yellow carded for a lesser offence than the previous in not rolling away at the tackle. The ‘skins gained no advantage from the penalty which left the half time score at (11-3) to Cooke.

Enniskillen kicked off the second half playing into an increasingly blustery wind and 2 mins later Cooke were awarded a penalty 23 mts out. Kick was converted by Montgomery (14-3) to Cooke.

The next notable incident was 20 mins into the 2nd half when the Cooke centre, Stewart was yellow carded on the opposition 22 line while Cooke were on the attack. The ‘skins took a quick tap and made good ground attacking up to the Cooke 22 only to have the attack stopped dead by a crunching tackle from Vaisagote. Enniskillen continued to press the Cooke defence and on 26 minutes were awarded a penalty some 40mts out which Fee slotted over. (14-6)

Things now started to get a bit fractious and with bad temper, indiscipline and a lack of control, the referee took the two Captains along with the Cooke prop, Armstrong to the side for a chat. Armstrong was subsequently yellow carded for talking back to the ref. On 31mins Cooke entered their two subs, Brooks & Glock into the game but the unfortunate Glock lasted less than a minute having been on the wrong side of another questionable decision by the referee and was yellow carded for a tackle which he felt he was committed to but the ref saw it as late. By this stage Cooke were struggling to put together the basics and with a man down Enniskillen applied the pressure. From a line out on the Cooke 22mts line, the ‘skins moved the ball out and following second phase possession the ball went to Wilkinson coming in at pace to score a well taken try left of the posts. Kick converted by Fee (14-13) to Cooke.

This was the final score for a relieved Cooke side in a game which is fair to be said, was the poorest performance of the season and hopefully one that the coaches and supporters will not see repeated.