Letterkenny Bake off - 'Cooke' fail to ignite, in the Plate competition.

'Cooke' proves a good entree, to the Plate final.

On a wet morning, filled with constant steady rain, Belfast club 'Cooke' faced Letterkenny Under 14s, in the semi final of the 'Plate' competition.
Letterkenny were fresh, from an Easter Weekend Tour of Limerick, playing a match against the world famous Garryowen Rugby Football Club, suffering a narrow ( 17-12 ) defeat.

Cooke kicked off, into the drizzling rain.
Letterkenny were strong on the attack, but things were too frantic, too messy. The ball, was like a bar of soap, and was fumbled and knocked on. Letterkenny constantly attacked. This finally, paid dividends, as after ten minutes, Letterkenny were awarded a penalty, at the twenty-two. Flyhalf, Kaymin Shortt, took a kick at the posts, and Letterkenny had their first three points.
Things started to unravel for Cooke, when Letterkenny spun the ball out the back-line to fullback, Bryan McGettigan, ( adding the extra man to the back line ). He stepped back inside and went over for a try.
Flyhalf, Kaymin Shortt, kicked the conversion.

The day seemed suited to short tight runs from the forwards. Number Eight, Oisin Farrell, broke away from the scrum, on a number of occasions, and pushed forward, making substantial ground. His offloads, have improved and each time, he managed to keep the ball alive.
Letterkenny continued to spin the ball, through the back line, wanting to play open, attractive rugby.
From a penalty taken quick, Kaymin Shortt, ran towards the try line. He cut inside, but was tackled just short. He managed to pop the ball up to left wing, Ewan Douglas, whom dived over the line. Kaymin converted the try.

Half Time: Letterkenny 17 Cooke 0

Letterkenny kicked off to restart, for the second half.
( Letterkenny had made one change, at the break. First centre, Peter Sparks, was replaced by Rory O'Connell. )
Cooke found their feet, and proved stronger opposition, in the second spell. They kept a lot of the play, down in their scoring twenty two. Letterkenny held them off.
A little hope, came to Cooke, when their fullback broke away, and was running full steam for the try line. Only a metre or two to go, and Bryan McGettigan tackled him, and forced him into touch.

Letterkenny coaches emptied the benches.
Mid way through the second half, the ball was fed out the back line, to second centre, Tiernan McFadden. He stormed through the defence and couldn't be stopped. Try. Kaymin missed the conversion.
Letterkenny had proved, to strong for Cooke.

Full Time : Letterkenny 22 Cooke 0

Next Week : Letterkenny play Ballynahinch, in the final of the "Plate" Competition.

Letterkenny Under 14s ( starting ) XV:

1 Jack Doherty
2 Gaetano Cinquenani
3 Jack Gibbons
4 Jynaid Rayes
5 Matthew Duffy
6 Eoin Parkinson
7 Jack Speer ( Captain )
8 Oisin Farrell
9 Ben Hopkins
10 Kaymin Shortt
11 Ewan Douglas
12 Peter Sparks
13 Tiernan McFadden
14 Alex Wylde
15 Bryan McGettigan

Subs:
Forwards: Aaron Fitzsimmons, Lorcan Sweeney, Daithi Doherty-Vago, Matthew Murray.
Backs: Cuan Brophy, David Sparks, Rory O'Connell.

Team Reserves:
David Henry, Emmett Gillespie, Levi Lapsey, Ryan Hegarty, Dylan Coyle.

Thanks to the coaches, the referee, the supporters, the parents, and the Cooke Rugby Football Club.