Section One side Coleraine eased into the semi- final of the Millar, McCall and Wylie Junior Cup with a 29-7 victory, at home to Grosvenor F.P.
Injury and unavailability meant that both clubs were under-strength for this fixture and the outcome was a scrappy encounter with each XV keen to handle and provide width to attacks but all too often lacking the accuracy to succeed when confronted with a determined opposition defence.
The Cookstown sponsored Coleraine opened the scoring after 15 minutes when the threequarters handled impressively on halfway and when left wing Dean Rankin was released he ran strongly before linking with right wing Andrew Barr who raced in for a fine try. Bokkie Carstens judged his kick perfectly to add the extras. 7-0.
The visitors were finding it difficult to make inroads against a hard working home XV but they did earn a penalty in the 20th minute, Davison seeing his kick fall short and following the re-start, as Coleraine ran from deep, the lively Connor Simpson pulled a hamstring and was forced to retire. It signalled a series of threatening attacks by the Belfast side but a fine piece of play by replacement Stevie Patterson, won a penalty at the breakdown and Carstens was able to clear his lines.
Number 8, Kenny Calladine increased the home side’s advantage after half an hour’s play, powering his way over the line after Coleraine had sustained an attack through several phases. 12-0.
Almost immediately Grosvenor earned themselves another shot at the posts but the kick drifted wide and quick thinking from Carstens instigated a counter attack involving himself and Nigel Hall which brought play to the other end of the pitch and after Andy Neely, Stephen Best and Calladine had gone close to scoring, the visitors did well to isolate the ball carrier and win a penalty. H.T. 12-0
During the third quarter , Grosvenor continued to win a fair share of possession but failed to dent the home defence and after Carstens had dispossessed an opponent and fed Mikey Poskitt , the out half just failed to find the lurking Rankin with the visitor’s defence out of position.
A third score arrived in the 56th minute, Coleraine moving the ball to the left, following a ruck on half way and Calladine’s pass allowing young Nick Logan to stretch his legs and out-pace the cover with a 30 metre touchline dash for a try, converted by Carstens. 19-0.
The Belfast based club did get on the scoresheet, 5 minutes later, capitalising on a loose pass by a Sandel Lodge player, Montgomery intercepting to race clear for a try which Davison converted. 19-7.
A 70th minute Carstens penalty, increased the deficit once more and in the final minutes, with Grosvenor reduced, through injury to 14 men, Coleraine produced the best try of the game, Hall, Barr and Carstens combining sweetly to send the South African over between the sticks for a self converted try. F.T. 29-7.
