Coleraine's greater desire downs tired Clogher

Editorial Department • Published 15 Apr 2010 10:23 0 Comments

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Coleraine 23; Clogher Valley 12;

Clogher kicked off with a slight wind blowing diagonally in their favour. The ball was fielded and cleared to Ali Breen who found touch well inside the Coleraine half. From the lineout Coleraine got a penalty kicked to touch and from this lineout Coleraine got another penalty for offside and this was cleared to C Valley 22. Coleraine took the lineout but Clogher stole the ball and were awarded a penalty. This was taken quickly by Weir and Clogher got through the Coleraine defence with Henry Richmond making the final break to score well in and Best converted on six minutes.

From the restart Coleraine immediately put the Valley under pressure but a knock on gave Clogher the scrum. From this Ali put up a huge up and under which Coleraine failed to field. The ball was hacked through gathered by Keith Todd for a score out near touch on 12 minutes. Unfortunately Todd pulled a hamstring when scoring and had to leave the field to be replaced by Jonny McClure. Best failed to convert 0-12 to Clogher.

Coleraine again put valley under pressure and with their lineout going very well they began to catch and drive. They were just stopped short of the valley line and from the ruck they got a penalty and P C Faulkner was yellow carded. Coleraine tapped the penalty and drove over and converted 7 - 12. Coleraine were now getting more confident and Clogher gave away a penalty inside their own 22 which was converted 10-12 with 25 minutes played. as the half moved on Coleraine kicked a penalty to the corner and from the lineout they were just held up however from the scrum their No8 picked and drove over converted by the out half 17-12. The only highlight of the rest of the half was a 30 metre break by McClure but a knock on brought the half to a close.

Coleraine kicked off the second half with wind advantage and their big pack working hard. The first 15 minutes saw a lot of mistakes from both teams and both trying to gain ground with the boot. Eventually a very good diagonal kick with the wind by Coleraine put them in the Valley corner. Coleraine stole the lineout but they gave away a penalty and Clogher cleared Giles won the lineout and the ball was kicked only to be returned down the field by Coleraine but the wind carried it dead and Clogher got a scrum on the half way. Wilson was injured and replaced by Dunn. From the scrum Clogher knocked on and Coleraine cleared from the scrum Weir fielded and returned a long kick The ColeraineNo 14 caught the ball and made a great break up his wing and then across Clogher 22. He passed to his right wing but good defence stopped a try however Clogher were penalised for hands in the ruck and Coleraine converted a difficult penalty 12- 20 with 24 minutes gone. Coleraine were now on top in the loose and had Clogher on the back foot mainly in the Clogher half. From a Clogher scrum Ali Breen made a great 50 metre break to the Coleraine 22 but his attempted pass to McClure was intercepted by Coleraine 14 who was having a very good game and he broke back to the Clogher 22. On the 35th minute Coleraine got a penalty but it was missed. From the drop out Coleraine No5 made a great catch but the ball was knocked on during the drive. Clogher won the scrum but they knocked on and from the advantage Coleraine set the ball up for their No 9 to drop a difficult goal 12-23.

As the game neared its completion Coleraine had a good break and only a brilliant tackle by McClure saved a try. This move ended the match.

A combination of tired bodies after Ravenhill and greater desire by Coleraine to win as they are in the relegation zone cost us the match. If Coleraine had played like this all season they would be nearer the top than the bottom of the league.

This week Clogher are away to Limavady in the semi-final of the Junior Cup.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 15 Apr 10

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