Coleraine 14 Randalstown 12 (Town’s Cup)
Randalstown under Head Coach Gary Longwell and backs Coach Alistair Strange are now a side with genuine aspirations. On Saturday they travelled with a big support to Coleraine, eager to measure themselves against opposition from a higher division.
In the event they were not remotely out of their depth, losing only by the narrowest of margins, having scored two tries to one, missed eight points with the boot and spurned a further fifteen due to the absence of kicker O’Kane.
Randalstown were better at the breakdown, obtained more than parity in the lineout and mostly their scrum was much improved on recent weeks. Occasionally, however, it disintegrated and once this led to Coleraine’s only try. Due to Randalstown’s marked superiority in the threequarters, Coleraine elected to attack close to the fringes but this Randalstown can always defend this with ease, forwards and backs combining to smother all threats.
Although it is invidious to name individuals in a magnificent team performance, James Millar stood out in defence and attack until he was substituted, Ian Hume is a man entirely without pain threshold, who will put his head where most men would not risk their foot, Peter McWhirter throws a mean ball at scrum half and Dan Wilson and the McGarry brothers are simply in a different class. If there was a downside, David Smith showed considerable talent and potential but sadly seems too fragile for this level of rugby and once again was unable to finish the game, and Ian Hume would profit from a one on two session with the coach and the rulebook.
While Randalstown had far the better of the first half Coleraine took advantage of one of many breakdown offences to take a 3 – 0 lead with about 25 minutes played. ‘Town had the opportunity to level the scores but the kick was wayward. On the stroke of half time Blayne McGarry made an excellent break and was clean through but Smith couldn’t gather the offload.
The second half saw a further penalty within kicking range conceded and Coleraine were happy to take the 3 points. The home side were able to come more into the game, helped by the fact that Randalstown felt unable to kick for goal.
However a magnificent solo effort by Dan Wilson from a tap penalty saw ‘Town deservedly take the lead. Another exchange of penalties saw Coleraine convert their opportunity but again the ‘Town kick was off target and the lead swung back in favour of the home team.
David Smith had to retire injured and there was some delay introducting substitute Chrix Allen. It was during this period that the scrum disintegrated leading to Coleraine’s only try.
Randalstown were still far from done, counterattacking from deep in their own half via Blayne McGarry who skinned two men with pure pace and mesmerised the full back to score in the corner. A successful conversion would have sent the match into extra time but unfortunately it was not to be.
