The New Year’s Eve festivites started early for the Coleraine seconds as they romped to a five try to one victory over Portadown at Chambers Park. From the last pre-Christmas game, the team list showed a number of changes in forward pack and the addition of Nathan Barr at out-half, but this didn’t deter the Coleraine team from showing good grit and determination and come out worthy victors.
Electing to play with the wind and down the slope in the first period, the game plan was to kick long and attempt to pin the hosts deep in their own half. However, barely 3 minutes were on the clock before Coleraine registered their first try. A box kick from the Portadown scrum half was taken by Stevie Callaghan, who moved the ball wide through the hands of the backs, and after a couple of nice draw-and-passes, Ray Naea had the simple task of running in from about 15 yards out. Portadown were stunned again moments later when Coleraine went over for another 7 pointer. This time scrum-half Scott Cathness put the ball long into the Portadown ’22, and No. 8 Alex Gourley was the thankful recipient of a defensive mix-up to stroll under the posts. Coleraine went further into the lead after being awarded a penalty in front of the sticks, from which Barr obliged with a successful kick, to put the score at 17-0 with only 12 minutes on the clock. Portadown then woke up and put waves on pressure on the Coleraine defence with strong running, especially from their numbers 8 and 13. At this point, the Coleraine discipline started to let them down and they gave away a series of penalties, eventually resulting in Russell Smith taking a break for 10 minutes in the sin-bin. Portadown had a couple of pops at goal from penalties but were not able to convert either. Coleraine, down to 14 men, crossed the whitewash for the third time with Alan Gourley running back a loose Portadown kick before interchanging with his brother Alex, and again Naea was on hand to complete the job. The half was finished out with another successful Barr penalty to push Coleraine out to a 25-0 lead.
Playing into the wind, Coleraine knew they would have to keep the ball in hand more, but the half was only minutes old before the fourth try was scored, again through their dangerous back three. This time, Callaghan fielded a Portdown kick, before giving an extremely lateral pass to full back Paul Shiels. The Red Sea of the Portadown defence mysteriously opened up in front of him, and Shiels waded his way over the line through the boggy mud past several on-looking defenders. Although the conversion was missed, Barr redeemed himself with another good penalty kick 5 minutes later. Portadown now had to run everything and were able to put boot to ball in obtain good field position. On the back foot for a sustained period of play, Coleraine gave away a flurry of penalties before centre John McClelland was brandished the yellow card. Portadown then found themselves a man down after their second row suffered a rather nasty looking leg injury after being dropped in the lineout. Insult was added to injury, as Portadown lost the rag and had a couple of players sent to the bin for ill-discipline and were down to 12 players for a period of time. Coleraine’s forwards turned the screw and had a series of good driving mauls, as well as good ball-carrying by prop Adam Teasey and lock William Chestnut. The fifth try of the day was scored by Cathness, sniping down the wing after a defensive fumble from Portadown gave turn-over ball to Coleraine. Barr finished off a super day with the boot, converting the try from the touchline. Portadown finished strongly and eventually scored a try through their number 13 who rumbled over from short range.
A reasonable performance from the Coleraine team, although plenty to work on for the next few weeks. Next week sees a home game against league champions Ballynahinch, and Coleraine will be out for a settling of scores after being well beaten in this season’s earlier fixture.
Coleraine Team: P Shiels, S Callaghan, R Naea, J McClelland, Alan Gourley, N Barr, S Cathness, A Teasey, S Evans, C Braiden, M Hunt, W Chestnutt, R Smith, H Tate, Alex Gourley
