Shiels the star man for Coleraine Inst as they put Dungannon to the sword

CAI did not spurn a similar opportunity when captain Conor Shiels knocked over a penalty on 10 minutes. Dungannon responded quickly with a well struck penalty on 14 minutes. Inst struggled at the breakdown during the early exchanges a mixture of lazy support play and poor body positions, allowed RSD to counter ruck on numerous occasions. RSD were awarded another penalty on 18 minutes and the home side extended their lead to 6-3.

It was Inst though who scored the game’s first try two minutes later as a well organised maul from five metres out allowed Thomas Pethick to crash over for the try. Conor Shiels converted. Dungannon responded with another penalty to leave the half time score 10-9.

Strong words from captain Conor Shiels at halftime saw an increase in intensity from CAI. The visitors put together multiple fazes for the first time in the game with Jake Scott crashing over for a great try, Shiels failed to convert though.

Shortly after this Thomas Pethick was sinbined for repeated infringement at the breakdown and the hosts converted the penalty. 

This seemed to refocus CAI and Shiels cut a straight line just inside the opposition half and stepped numerous defenders to score under the posts. Great individual effort by the captain. He added the extras to give the visitors a 22-12 win.

Danny Anderson and Matthew Smyth made their first starts for the Second XV and both impressed throughout the 54-0 win away to Dungannon. The match got off to a positive start with a second minute try from a powerful run from Jake Scott through the Dungannon defence.

The lead was doubled when Sam Beattie collected the ball on the 22, he skilfully beat a couple men before feeding Alross Alejo who raced down the right wing to score. Sam added his own try two minutes later as CAI put together seven phases straight from kick off. The fourth try of the half came from Dungannon’s first real attack. When the ball was turned over, Adam Alexander, who ran hard and direct all day made good ground up the left before off loading to scrum-half Bruce Campbell.

Bradden Baillie, who is the schools top try scorer so far this season, added the fifth try just before the break with a typically strong run through opposition defence. Andrew Wisener added the fifth conversion to make it 35-0 at half time. Four changes were made at half time, three of which scored or set up tries in second half.

Jonny Martin, a ‘dangerous’ man with ball in hand scored a try, Gabriel Mawhinney raced clear and unselfishly fed Alross for his second try. The final try was sublime. Paddy Chambers, a picture perfect try from full back. He collected a Dungannon clearance and danced his way through the defence to score virtually untouched. Unfortunately Wisener pushed his final kick wide to make It 54-0. A number of opportunities were wasted in the closing stages to increase the score but credit must go to Dungannon who worked hard throughout the match and improved their defence after the break.

The Medallion boys were on a real high after a well earned win against Methody at Pirrie Park the previous week. A number of changes were made to the side including the call up of three Under-14 players who have had an impressive season with Mr Gaston this season.

The boys started very slowly by failing to look after the ball in contact and giving away a number of silly penalties throughout the half. CAI did however score three well worked tries, the pick of the three was scored by Jack Carmichael off a set piece move. The Coleraine scrum, maul and line out all worked very well but the team just failed to put the numerous chances on offer away.

The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first with Coleraine dominating possession and territory. Unfortunately the team continued to make unforced errors and the backs gave away far too much possession at times. Peter Wisener had a big second half performance and he was well supported by McKee, Baillie and Milsopp who all carried well. Coleraine ran in another three tries in the second half leaving the final score 36-0.

This was always going to be a difficult fixture after the highs of last week. Although the boys didn’t play to anywhere near their full potential they still ran in six excellent tries and played some decent rugby. Man of the Match went to Callum Beggs who worked tirelessly throughout and was a real thorn in the opposition lineout and at the breakdown.

With three Under-14 players away on Medallion duty and Dungannon unable to field a B team the decision was taken to play an experimental team with a mixture of A and B players.

Inst started slowly and conceded an early try. However two tries by Alex Heggarty and Andrew Boyd and an excellent Neil Graham conversion from out wide saw them go in 12-5 at halftime.

The second half was a much more fluent display from CAI. Neil Graham, Ross Moore, Hugo Mawhinney and skipper Matthew Mooney all got on the scoresheet to make the score 35-5 to Inst. Some further changes to the team caused disruption which allowed the determined Gannon team to come back with three late tries.

All in all a good days work with a number of new players given their first taste of A team rugby.

The Under-13 A’s returned to winning ways with a comfortable 41-10 defeat of Royal School Dungannon. The home side were quickly out of the traps, scoring their first seven pointer after just two minutes. The prolific Connor Potts touching down in the corner to finish off an excellent team try.

Inst had to wait another 11 minutes to register their next score this was due to both committed RSD defence and poor execution. When it did come however, the second home try was straight out of the top-drawer. After a series of coruscating carries from Coran McCook and Oscar Egan stretched the visitors rearguard, Pierce Crowe delivered a beautiful pass to Johnny Lynn who scored in the corner. Marcus Poskitt slotted the conversion from the touchline to stretch the lead to 14-0.

Straight from the restart Pierce Crowe brilliantly side-stepped his way through despairing tackles to score as good an individual try as you are likely to see.

Either side of half-time, Daniel Maconaghie scored a brace of tries which extended the home sides lead to 31-0.

With the result effectively decided, the home side seemed to take their foot of the gas and after CAI failed to clear their lines, the visitors scored in the left corner.

However, whatever feint hopes the Dungannon boys may have harboured about a comeback were brilliantly extinguished on 18 minutes when Jonty Callaghan scored the pick of the day’s nine try’s.

Once again it was a team try. The pack turned the ball over, trucked it up over halfway and presented the backs with quick ball. Captain Marcus Poskitt took advantage by straightening his running line, fixing the inside defence  and, after a well timed pass off the left hand, put right  wing Callaghan into space. Jonty, with still some work to do, stepped off his left to finish off a fantastic team effort.

The visitors were to have the last word however. After a defensive scrum, CAI again failed to clear their lines, and from a quick tap penalty RSD crashed over.

Nevertheless, despite one or two lapses, this was overall a good performance from all 20 boys involved. The outstanding players were Coran McCook and Johnny Lynn. Good work lads.