Coleraine GS 1stXV Progress to the last 16 of the Cup
Coleraine continued their good run of form with a bonus point win over Belfast High School on Saturday morning. The team ran out 33-20 winners to secure their place in the last 16 of the Schools’ Cup and top Group E of the newly formatted cup competition. The team have grown in confidence in recent weeks with wins over Banbridge Academy, Dalriada, BRA and RS Dungannon following their Halloween training camp in Dublin.
Coleraine got off to a superb start when their open side flanker scored a contender for try of the season after some excellent handling from touchline to touchline and strong carries from their full back,flanker and right winger. The Coleraine out-half converted from the touchline to give Coleraine a 7-0 lead after 4 minutes.
Belfast High School responded immediately with a superbly struck long range penalty after a Coleraine second row got penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown. This seemed to galvanise the Belfast High team who barged their way over the line after an excellent driving maul and strong carries from their forward pack. The try was converted to leave the score 10-7 to the visitors.
Coleraine struggled to get into their flow and continued to be under pressure after some unforced handling errors and penalty infringements ensured Belfast High School would have territory and possession in the Coleraine half. The home side showed patience and maturity to ensure their opponents didn’t turn this sustained spell of territory into more points and good kicking from the Coleraine halfbacks got their team out of trouble.
Coleraine finally got into their rhythm 20 minutes into the game when following an excellent kick chase from the Coleraine out-half, the Coleraine right winger was able to collect the loose ball and charge up the centre of the pitch. Good hands from the loose head prop led to an opportunity for the outside centre who showed pace and power to beat a number of defenders and burst into the opposition red zone. This pressure led to a penalty close to the line which Coleraine kicked to the corner,but a loose lineout play ensured no points were added at this stage.
Belfast High school cleared their lines but from the resulting lineout Coleraine ran a well worked and rehearsed starter play which released their full back who showed great pace and evasion to beat a number of defenders and he was stopped just short of the line. Good hands and a well-timed pass from the Coleraine inside centre released his centre partner to touchdown in the corner and give the home side the lead. The touchline conversion was unsuccessful leaving the score 12-10 to Coleraine.
Coleraine had another opportunity to add to their lead after a loose kick from the away side released the ever-dangerous Coleraine full-back and outside centre who linked well and led their team towards the line. From the resulting break Coleraine will be disappointed not to have added to their points tally and take a commanding lead into the interval. Excellent workrate from the Belfast High back row resulted in a choke tackle and invaluable turnoverwith the last play of the half leaving the score 12-10 to Coleraine.
The second half started much the same as the first half with Coleraine scoring within the first five minutes. A loose kick form Belfast High was gathered by the Coleraine second row who released his fellow forwards over the halfway line. From this front foot ball,the Coleriane openside flanker showed
good footwork and pace to evade his opposite man and charge towards the line but another impressive tackle from the Belfast High Full back stopped him just short. Good handling and link up play between the Coleraine backs and forwards released the Coleraine full back to final get his name on the scoresheet. The try was converted to leave the score 19-10 to the home side.
Belfast High showed great resilience and endeavour to respond and stay in game. Following a sustained level of pressure, a well worked kick in behind the Coleraine side led to a penalty try. An unforced error and indecision from the Coleraine winger allowed the ball to be kicked over the line were a Belfast High back was taken out off the ball and a penalty try was rightly awarded with the score now 19-17.
Coleraine responded with an excellent break from their tight head prop who picked a line and burst through the midfield defence and deep into opposition territory. Excellent workrate and support play from the ever present openside flanker allowed Coleraine to get quick ball and release their outside centre to score his second try under the posts. The try was converted to leave the score 26-17 to Coleraine.
Coleraine continued to make life difficult for themselves with some poor discipline at the breakdown, forwards falling off tackles and trying to force offloads when they had the ball. Belfast High continued to stay in the game with close range carries and some accurate kicking deep into the Coleraine half. This pressure led to yet another penalty which was sweetly struck between the posts to leave the score 26-20 and the game in the balance.
After a good lineout steal on the halfway line,the Coleraine hooker made a determined and impressive run up the pitch running over the top of the brave Belfast High full back to put his team onto the front foot. The ball was swiftly moved wide to release the impressive outside centre who completed his hat trick and secure a bonus point win for the home side. Coleraine converted to leave the score 33-20 and Coleraine managed to see out the last five minutes out without any change to the score-line. Belfast High can hold their heads up high with a determined and spirited performance which could have led to a win on another occasion. Coleraine played some superb rugby in patches but will be disappointed to not to have secured victory earlier in the game.
Head coach Richard Boyd reflected on his team’s performance “I am really pleased to get the win and progress to the last 16 of the competition. I thought we made life difficult for ourselves today with poor discipline and trying to force things but to be far from our best and still score five tries we must take positives from that. Belfast High gave their all and we expected no less in the Schools’ cup, but I thought we were the better side overall. The boys have trained really hard in recent weeks and come together well as a squad, so I am proud of their efforts to date if not overly thrilled by today’s performance. We look forward to rotating the squad over the next few weeks, recharge the batteries over Christmas and hit the ground running again after Christmas.”
Coleraine now look forward to fixtures against Rainey Endowed, Ballyclare High School and Wallace over the next few weeks and will be looking to keep the momentum going before a well-deserved break over Christmas period.