The Coleraine 2XV machine rolled in Omagh on Saturday and came away the points secured with a scrappy victory over a stubborn Omagh side. With a multitude of changes in the pack but the usual suspects lining out in the backs, Coleraine were still able to put a number of excellent plays together but also mixed in with some fairly ugly stuff at times. Played on a heavy, boggy pitch which probably suited the Omagh forward game more than the magical skills of the Coleraine backs, Coleraine were more than happy with the win to maintain top position in Junior League 1.
Coleraine dominated the opening exchanges in territory and possession, but were unable to put the points on the board. The back line pulled off a string of fine flowing moves, breaking the gain line a number of times, and full back Paul Shiels and winger Stevie Callaghan went close but were unable to finish off due to some last ditch tackling from the Omagh defence. At last the opening try did come, after a 5m lineout was controlled by the pack and Scott Caithness squeezed through a gap on the blind side. Thinking this was the opening of the flood-gates, Coleraine went into sleep mode and made a total horlicks of the re-start, gifting possession straight back to Omagh. Using their bulky forward runners, Omagh rucked and mauled their way 40 yards over the Coleraine line to score and take a 7-5 lead. Luckily, Coleraine got their heads switched on again to take control of the game, and scored again when the backs perfectly executed a 3-on-2 situation to leave centre Ray Naea the easiest of run-ins from about 10 yards out. The third try of the half was scored by Alan Gourley who, after fielding a speculative punt down field by Omagh, mesmerised the defence as he ran in from half way, step-stepping dozens of would-be tacklers from the home team. Unfortunately the conversion was missed but Coleraine took a 15-7 lead into half time.
The second half began strongly for Coleraine and had a number of opportunities to score with lineouts and scrums close to the Omagh line, but were let down with poor finishing and determined Omagh defence. Omagh then began to press more, especially with strong running from their no. 15 who regularly broke the first tackle from the Coleraine defence. Coleraine then went down to 14 men when prop Adam Teasey had to retire with a shoulder injury. The Coleraine game plan then went into some disarray, with forwards playing as backs, and backs also playing as backs, so leaving nobody to guard rucks or defend mauls. Omagh took full advantage and were able to plough their way deep into Coleraine territory. Eventually the try came and the score was narrowed to 15-12. It was game on and Omagh pressed heavily to win a lineout 5m from the Coleraine try line with the potential match winning try in sight. However, Alex Gourley was the Coleraine saviour, as he rose highest to steal the ball and Coleraine were able to clear their lines. Then 5 minutes later, the game was sealed when the electric eel Alan Gourley counter-attacked from a loose Omagh kick, slithering his way through the Omagh defence in a near replay of his first-half effort, to score between the posts. Gourley popped over a simple kick to push Coleraine out to a 10 point margin. Minutes later, Coleraine were down to 13 when an injury forced centre Ray Naea off the park, but they battled hard to see out the game as worthy victors.
A good win on the road for Coleraine 2XV and but at times were a little disjoined, and probably should have been more clinical in certain areas of the game, but something to work on for the future. They will now be focused on next week’s home game against Clogher Valley to maintain their title challenge, having been well beaten in the season’s earlier fixture.
Coleraine 2XV: P Shiels, S Callaghan, R Naea, J McClelland, Alan Gourley, C Gowland, S Caithness, A Stirling, S Evans, A Teasey, M Hunt, G Blair, H Tate, R Glover, Alex Gourley
