Coleraine 9 - 13 Enniskillen

Match Stats

Starting team

Subs Played

Score summary

Time	Player	Score

Match Report

COLERAINE seemed certain of an important league win on Saturday, only to see Enniskillen take the honours in the dying seconds of the game.
Coleraine had battled to hold on to a one point advantage over the Fermanagh men and the final move of the match saw Enniskillen punish Coleraine with a sharp strike in a five metre scrum. It set them up to score an unconverted try and snatch a 13-9 victory. Coleraine had to make do with a single bonus point for all their effort.
It means Coleraine are still bottom of the Kukri Qualifying League table as they prepare for a showdown match against Limavady this weekend. Coleraine travel across the mountain to take on the Roesiders in a game that could seal the season for either team, as both battle to stay off the bottom spot.
Speaking on Monday morning coach Norman Blair said: “It was a good performance from the Coleraine side and we deservedly held the lead for most of the match. The final Enniskillen try took the match but it was fairly much against the run of play.”
Coleraine ran into problems as the match started. “Adam Parke pulled his hamstring during the warm up and was only able to play for three minutes. Yet again we struggled to get a backline for the match and thanks go to those who filled the positions.
“This week we had Dennis Taylor and Steven Dickey back in the scrum and the forwards had a good game. They worked well together and made a lot of good ground.
“Unfortunately we let ourselves down in that we just didn’t find the finishing touches we needed to score tries. There were a lot of promising attacks but we lacked penetration and we didn’t convert them into points.
“We held the lead until the end of the second half and an early strike by the Enniskillen pack saw them win the ball on our five metre line and force their way over for the score in the last move of the game.
“Overall it was a greatly improved performance by the Coleraine side. More importantly, with the exception of Adam Parke, we came through unscathed. With the strengthened pack and hopefully some regular backline players becoming available again, we should be in the position to turn in a strong performance against Limavady this week.
“It is a crucial game for both clubs and a solid performance is a must. The lads are up for it and now we have to get out there and do the job.”
In the match Nial Irwin claimed two penalties and David Barber one during the first half. Enniskillen replied with one penalty leaving the half time scoreline at 3-9.
In the second half 30 minutes elapsed before Enniskillen scored an unconverted try and then in the final play of the game they scored again to take the winning lead at 13-9.
Disappointment for Coleraine but the bonus point could prove to be vital in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere in the club Coleraine Seconds 6 Bangor Seconds 13 and in the Forster Cup Coleraine Fourths 21 Portadown Fourths 18.
Coleraine: L George, N Brocklehurst, S Bartlett, J Gault, B Butugan, G Cochrane, S Dickey, D Taylor, P Roxborough, N Irwin, H Tate, A Parke, N Hall, C Browne, D Barber. Subs C Smyth, A Chambers.

www.colerainetimes.co.uk