With an injury crisis at Barban Hill Jacques Benade had a tough week at training preparing a youthful looking Dromore side to take on Coleraine in the League. Jamie Kirk, Adam McDonald and Bryan Davidson came into the pack and the backline was rearranged with Mathew Russell playing at 10 Lloyd McDonald, Andrew Graham were drafted into the wing positions with Gibson and young Michael Allen in the centre and Chris Leathem played at Full Back. Jonny Penny was selected on the bench to bolster the backline.
Dromore started the match and made all the running before the well organised Coleraine side created a gap and scored under the post, a hamstring injury to Michael Allen saw the early introduction of the Blackskull Express into the backline at inside centre. Dromore put alot of phases together but the Coleraine defense stayed strong, Coleraine scored a penalty and another try before halftime. On the stroke of the half captain Harshaw barged over the Coleraine line after a great drive by Dromore to leave Dromore 17 – 5 down.
Dromore started the second period attacking and a kick through led to Chris Leathem outpacing the Coleraine defence to score, Mathew Russell converted and then added a penalty to bring Dromore within a score at 17 – 15. The young Dromore side showed massive character, steered by Bekker, Harshaw and Mackey up front and Penny hammering everything that moved out wide the young side looked on the verge of a famous victory.
Coleraine had other ideas though and forged a match winning try 10 mins from time to take the spoils in a keenly contested match.
Benade was full of praise for his young charges and although disappointed he was impressed by their attitude and determination.
DROMORE WEEKEND WARRIOR
After much discussion and debated “wee Dennis Savage” awarded the Weekend Warrior award to Jonny “the Blackskull Express” Penny, who came out of retirement again to help his club out, he played 65 mins when he expected to play closer to 15 min but performed admirably, he took a knock to the ear early on and refused to come off, on inspection of the injury after the match Dr Kenny inserted 8 stitches under the guidance of Director of Rugby Jeremy Ogle, a brain scan was also performed but there was nothing to report, literally! The players and staff thanked Jonny for his efforts and congratulated him on his recent engagement to the lovely Kelly.
Dromore 1st xv continued their good form on sat last with a fine 16-14 win over Clogher Valley in the league, despite disruptions to their backline due to injuries to John Russell and Ali Kingan they managed to hang on at the death for a well earned 4 points. This win follows a good win last week in the Powerade Towns Cup against Lurgan by 55 -8 and puts the Barban Hill men into the quarter final draw. Dromore are now unbeaten since the big freeze and Christmas break and seemed to have found a formulae to suit the players at the disposal of Coach Benade. As fate would have it Dromore travel to Fivemiletoen this sat for the return league fixture where Clogher will be keen to reverse the result. Dromore’s impressive pack will likely be unchanged but Benade will have to patch up the backline due to the current injury crisis in the backline. Dromore stalwart Dennis Savage was heard to threaten to don his boots again if the injuries increase, so its with fingers crossed we head into this weeks game hoping for an injury free sat as the team needs “wee denis” on sidelines offering his support and not on the wing!
