Cup exit for Coleraine

Superiority up front gave the visitors an advantage and they made the most of it. Coleraine fought hard but were again unable to create sustained momentum and capitalise on those opportunities that came their way.

Speaking on Monday Coleraine coach Norman Blair said: “There was great disappointment in the changing room after the match. Everyone realised that we did not perform to the best of our ability.

“We still have major injury problems but we need to be able to play without some of the big names being present. It was even more disappointing after the upbeat performance against Ballymoney last weekend.

“We struggled against a very experienced pack on Saturday and we couldn’t get a good platform to play off. Some of it was down to Donaghadee and some down to our own mistakes.

“We travel to Enniskillen this weekend in the league and we have to concentrate on getting some good results under our belt. Some of our injured players should become available again and that should increase our performance.

“We need to get back to that higher level of performance, get our mindset right and concentrate on lifting ourselves off the bottom of the league table.”

In the Cup fixture Donaghadee, who play in the Kukri Qualifying League Section Two, produced a solid performance to follow their impressive win over Larne in the Cup the previous week. Power and experience in the scrum paid dividends.

In the game Donaghadee showed their hand after 10 minutes when effective forward action brought them over the line for a converted score. Five minutes later another attacking move saw Coleraine concede a penalty and three more points to the visitors.

Coleraine attacked throughout the match and after 20 minutes of the first half they claimed three points from a Paul Roxborough penalty conversion. Three minutes later Donaghadee came back at the Bannsiders, a try being held up, but moments later the pack created another effort, this time claiming the points and the conversion.

Coleraine had two further penalty opportunities as they pressed home their attacks but both, from 45 meters and 30 meters, were fractionally wide. With 35 minutes on the clock Darren Smyth and Colin Brown combined well in the midfield, Brown almost making it into the corner but being adjudged to have had a foot in touch.

The half time score was 17-3 to Donaghadee.

The second half saw an immediate attack from the Coleraine restart, Donaghadee taking play to the line and forcing their way over for a converted try. They also claimed two further tries, one converted, and ended up winning by 36 points to three.

Elsewhere in the club Coleraine 2'Seconds lost to Ballynahinch Thirds 0-13, Ballynahinch Fifths scored 32 to Coleraine Third's 3, Coleraine Fourths 28 Ards Thirds 13 and in a closely fought local derby, Coleraine Fifths 22 UUC Seconds 23.

This weekend Coleraine Firsts travel to Enniskillen in the league.

Coleraine: S Bartlett, N Montgomery, S Jefferson, J Gault, P Bogle, A Neely (M Hunter), C Smyth, R Caskey, P Roxborough, A Chambers, C McNay, J Kirkpatrick, D Smyth, C Brown (M Mearns), P Shields.

REPORT: Milne Rowntree