Cup joy for Coleraine Under-13's

They made the long journey to Newry on Saturday to play the first round and came home with the spoils, securing a 38-5 victory

On a sticky muddy pitch Coleraine, but in excellent weather conditions, Coleraine dominated the match throughout. Dropped passes cost Coleraine scoring chances early on, but a fine break from scrum half Graham McAleese saw him score under the posts after 10 minutes.

Coleraine's dominance continued for the remainder of the first period. Centre Alastair Irwin scored a good individual try after 15 minutes to increase the lead to 14 points, but a lack of concentration in the pack allowed Newry back into the game, albeit briefly, at the end of the first period.

A maul by the Newry pack close to the Coleraine line let their prop in to score, leaving the score at the end of the first period 14-5

The second half continued in much the same vein, although midway through the second period Coleraine lost Matthew Lockhart who was taken off after an appalling incident of eye gouging.

Alastair Irwin added three more trys showing pace and vision for each and leaving the Newry defence flat footed for all three.

Not to be outdone his midfield partner Daniel Scott scored a superb and thoroughly deserved try beating almost all the Newry team with pace and strength, scoring under the posts.

The match ended with Coleraine totally in command and the score 38-5 in Coleraine’s favour.

It was a reasonable start to the cup campaign but a lot of improvement is needed in the pack if they are to compete with the stronger teams later in the competition. The pack at times was very good but they occasionally lost their way, and the backs, whilst playing well, lost their defensive alignment when put under pressure.

Gary McLaughlin at prop was the pick of the pack, and in the backs the usual suspects of scrumhalf Graham McAleese, and centres Alastair Irwin and Daniel Scott were threatening almost every time they got the ball.