Match Report – Trevor Wilson
Photos (c) – Steve Haslett
Limavady v Coleraine
Saturday 23rd April 2022
There was a real buzz around the John Hunter Memorial Grounds this week as Limavady faced off against their local rivals, Coleraine, in the Play Off Final of the Kukri Championship Division Two. With Limavady having gone so near over the past three years with only Covid 19 hampering their progress and having gone this season unbeaten in the league campaign they were the favourites to win this game. However, Coleraine put up a terrific performance and ran the league leaders so close with the result still in the balance right until the final whistle.
With just three minutes on the clock Coleraine drew first blood when their out-half, Matty Smyth, slotted over a penalty. Ten minutes later Limavady responded when left wing, Matthew Haslett, showed a clean pair of heels to his opposite number as he raced clear to score in the corner. The rest of the first half belonged to Coleraine as they dominated the loose play and in the process scored a further ten points through two tries by their right wing, Jamie Crowe, and another penalty by Smyth.
Half Time: Limavady 5 Coleraine 16
As much as Coleraine were the better side in the first half it was the opposite in the second. Coleraine barely made it into Limavady’s half. Limavady made several forays into Coleraine’s twenty two however let themselves down at the last minute due to silly errors. They did close the gap with fifteen minutes remaining when wing forward, Jonny Lees seized on a loose ball and dived in. Peter Wilson converted the try to bring the deficit down to only four points. With the large home support getting nervous as chances went abegging it wasn’t until with just five minutes remaining on the clock that centre Jody McMurray managed to hold off two tackles and reach out for the try line. This gave Limavady the lead for the first time since the opening ten minutes and was a lead that they managed to hold on to until the final whistle.
Limavady can now look forward to a new season in the top division of junior rugby. Coleraine must however await the result of the second leg of the senior rugby play offs between City of Derry and Clonmel. Clonmel hold the advantage after the first game by sixteen points and it will be a tough ask for City of Derry to make up this deficit next week however with home advantage at Judges Road any thing is possible. Should they retain their status in the senior league then Coleraine would also be promoted.
