FIRSTS FALL AT HOME TO DROMORE

Losing the game dents Coleraine’s aspirations for a top four finish and on top of that they suffered yet more injuries, adding to the long list of unavailable players for next week.

Dromore managed the difficult playing conditions better than Coleraine but a high penalty count against the home side, and too many basic errors, left them trailing at the final whistle.

Speaking after the game coach Richard Beggs said: “We were all gutted with yesterdays result. We had targeted the game as a must win but in the event we massively underperformed in most facets of the game.

“The heavy pitch and poor weather conditions suited Dromore with their big mobile pack.

“We weren’t accurate enough when we had opportunities to score and silly mistakes and turnovers at the wrong time cost us dear.

“It was good to have assistant coach Stephen Douglas on the touchline this week, from a coaching point of view, but we missed his influence on the pitch.

“We are up against it now for a top four finish. We have to get five points this weekend against Academy but that will be a struggle as we will be missing several key players through injury.

“It was a disappointing result after such an encouraging performance in the league since Christmas.”

In the game Dromore had the first scoring opportunity, after ten minutes, with a penalty attempt from 25metres but the shot went just wide.

Four minutes later the only try of the match also went to the visitors. From a lineout on the Coleraine five-metre line the heavier Dromore pack used their weight advantage to rumble over the line for a try. The conversion went wide.

Five minutes later Coleraine were awarded a penalty just inside the Dromore half. David Andrews struck the ball well but was just short. At the break the score was Coleraine 0 Dromore 5.

The second half saw Dromore once more attack deep into Coleraine territory and with three minutes gone a penalty award set them up to collect three more points.

Coleraine’s Alan Gourley took on kicking duties when a Dromore player was yellow carded but his penalty attempt was just wide. The only other scoring opportunity went to Dromore but the drop goal attempt just missed.

This weekend Coleraine Firsts entertain Cooke in the league.

Coleraine First XV: A Teacy, S Evans (D Ramage), J Carey, W Chestnut, G Neely, A Neely, J Cromie, J Christie, P Roxborough, D Andrews (B Cochrane), C Browne, N Patterson, Alan Gourley, N Irwin, Alex Gourley. Subs: B Cochrane, D Ramage.