Dromore v Coleraine
Oct 9, 2011
Dromore entertained Coleraine in their fifth league match of the season. Coming back into the side was player coach De Wet Bekker and centre Steve Morgan with Lee Steenson mading his 1st XV debut at scrum half. Richard Mackey was a late withdrawal due to illness and his place in the front row was taken by Mark Hylands. The biggest surprise of the day though was the appearance of veteran winger Jonny Penny on the Dromore bench.
Dromore started the stronger and immeditely put Coleraine under pressure but were held out by a strong defence. After weathering the initial Dromore onslaught Coleraine started to put together some good phases of rugby and the game became an attritional battle played mainly in the middle of the park with neither team really getting the upper hand. Coleraine eventually were awarded a kickable penalty when the Dromore forwards infringed at a ruck and took the three points. The visitors continued to press and were almost rewarded when their backs broke free and had Dromore line seemingly at their mercy but a superb tackle from full back Sammy Wolsey cleared the danger, Dromore forced their way back into the Coleraine half and were awarded a penalty that Aaron Stewart converted to leave the score 3 3 at half time.
Coloeraine came out the stronger in the second half and immediately put the home team under pressure. They were eventually rewarded when they created an overlap out wide and crossed for the first try of the game. Their kicker converted well from a difficult angle and Dromore were 10 3 down. The Dromore pack eventually started to get the upper hand and made good ground through a series of rolling mauls and with Lee Steenson acccurately box kicking the home side spent a sustained period in the Coleraine 22. Their pressure was eventually rewarded when winger James Gibson joined a ruck and used his strength to force his way over the line and score. Aaron Stewart added the conversion to bring the score to 10 10.
Coleraine upped the pace but were repelled by some strong tackling from Steve Morgan and astute kicking by Lee Steenson. Dromore responded and took the game to Coleraine through some strong running from their forwards and in particular the back row. The home side took the lead after a series of rucks inside the Coleraine 22 saw them get close enough to line for Stewart Russell to barge his way over. The conversion was missed 15 10 to Dromore. Coleraine threw everything they could at Dromore in an effort to retake the lead but the home teams defence held firm. There were now about ten minutes left and Dromore knew they had to play them out in the Coleraine half and that is what they did forcing the visitors deep into their 22.
Dromore were held up just short of the line and the defending team were awarded a 5 metre scrum. Before the scrum could be set Gareth Fitzpatrick had to leave the pitch with an injury but before the coaches had an opportunity to assess the situation Jonny Penny came on declaring that he could play at wing forward. The Dromore pack put in a massive effort and disrupted the Coleraine scrum to such an extent that they lost control of the ball. Jonny Penny latched on to it and fell over the line for a score to the delight of the home support. The conversion was missed 20 10 to Dromore and the visitors were denied a loosing bonus point as the referee blew for full time.
This was a much improved performance with the team responding well after last weeks disappointment. No game next Saturday and then two tough encounters against CIYMS away and then Cooke at home.
