Woe on the Roe

The Roe men won the match 21-12, despite the best efforts of the visiting Coleraine side. A strong resurgence in the second half wasn’t enough to turn the tables for the Bannsiders as the poor results that have dogged them all season refuse to go away.

Speaking on Monday assistant Coleraine coach, Norman Blair said: “It was a massive disappointment to lose out to Limavady in such a pressure game. We made a number of mistakes and were punished heavily for them.

“It was the best performance the forwards have put in this season. The pack played out of their skins but the backline seemed to lack in penetration and we were unable to produce points.

“We made some errors in tackling and kicking which cost us points and the third Limavady try came from an interception deep in Coleraine’s 22. On the day they got the better of us.”

Looking forward Coleraine has a hard battle to avoid the possibility of relegation. Norman said: “From now on we have to look for every point we can get and that starts with us targetting the Bangor game this weekend and then we will be taking each game as it comes. We still have Dromore, Ballymoney, Clogher Valley and Ballymoney to go, as well as two fixtures against the leaders, Armagh.

“We are still in there but we will have to battle for every game. It will be asking a lot from the players and I know that the club will get out and support us in every game.”

In the match itself both sides missed out on penalty opportunities in the first 15 minutes. Honours were even on the field until Limavady took advantage of Coleraine’s Dennis Taylor being sin-binned and ran in a converted try on 30 minutes.

Just on the blow for half time Limavady created an overlap and again scored a try under the posts. The conversion left the half-time score 14-0 to Limavady.

Coleraine went on the offensive from the restart but a penalty conceded after five minutes was just wide. A seemingly good try by Paul Roxborough was disallowed by the referee

The pressure continued with Nigel Hall making an incisive attack to set up the forwards and Neil Montgomery was on hand to crash over the line. Nial Irwin secured the conversion.

Coleraine held much of the advantage for the remainder of the half but with 27 minutes of the half gone, a poorly timed pass was intercepted by Limavady and they sprinted away for another converted try.

Coleraine fought to the end and with only minutes to go the forwards rumbled towards the Limavady line and Montgomery was again on hand to drive over for the try. This time Irwin’s conversion was just wide.

Coleraine kept up the pressure but time ran out and Limavady claimed a 21-12 victory.

On Saturday, February 20, Coleraine entertain Bangor at Sandel Lodge Park, kick-off 2.30pm. Why not come along and lend your support to the Coleraine men.

Coleraine First XV: S Bartlett, N Montgomery, L George, J Gault, B Butugan, D Taylor, J Christie, S Dickey, P Roxborough, N Irwin, N Hall, C McNay, C Browne, D Smyth, P Shiels. Subs: C Smyth, N Brocklehurst.

REPORT: Milne Rowntree