Disappointment for Coleraine

In a game which saw Coleraine in charge for most of the match, Academy fought back to win with a converted try in the last five minutes.

It was a very disappointing result for the Bannsiders and a bonus point was scant reward for what was a closely contested and hard fought match.

From the start Coleraine were on the attack and in the first minute a great break saw the visitors cross the line only to have the score disallowed by the referee.

With nine minutes on the clock Academy were attacking on the Coleraine ten metre line when Brian Cochrane intercepted a sloppy pass and ran all the way to the line. Phil Coulter’s conversion attempt fell just short.

Academy then took the offensive, just missing form a 35 metre penalty before scoring a try. They created a viable overlap deep in Coleraine’s 22 and scored in the corner. The conversion was off-target and the score was 5-5.

On 25 minutes Academy missed another penalty but Coulter was on target for Coleraine with a 25 metre penalty following an off-the-ball incident eight minutes later. The score at the break, Academy 5, Coleraine 8

As the second half started Coleraine created all the pressure eventually forcing a penalty and Coulter claimed another three points.

With 20 minutes of the half gone Academy attacked and created another great overlap and another try in the corner. The difficult conversion went wide.

In reply Coleraine attacked the home side’s lines and a great effort from Leslie George created an opening for Bernard Mullan. He needed no further invitation and forged over for the try. Coulter converted.

Academy had two penalty opportunities, hitting the post with the first and securing three points from a second straight in front of the posts. Coleraine attacked, Ryan Gibson and David Ferguson combining to almost reach the Academy line. In the end Academy were penalised but, from 25metres, Coulter’s kick went just wide.

Academy continued to fight back and with less than ten minutes left and after several hard fought phases, they forced their way over the line under the posts. The conversion brought the score to Academy 20 Coleraine 18.

Despite frantic efforts Coleraine could not secure further points and in the process Johnny Gault was yellow carded, hampering efforts further. Academy held on for the win.

In other matches the scores were Instonians Fourths 10 Coleraine Thirds 25 and Cookstown 43 Coleraine Fifths 0

There is no match for the Firsts this week, the next game is a home fixture in the league against Clogher Valley, on Saturday 6 November.

Coleraine RFC First XV: L George, D Ferguson, J Carey, J Gault, P Bogle, R Gibson, B Mullan, S Dickey, P Coulter, G Jordan, N Patterson, J Henderson, B Cochrane, N Irwin, P Shiels. Subs: S Jefferson, W Hunt.