RUGBY Firsts coach Kernohan gracious in defeat

Coleraine coach Richard Kernohan was gracious in defeat.

He said on Monday: "It was very disappointing for us but on the day the better side won. Our lineout was poor, we gave away a lot of possession from the set pieces and some basic errors cost us dearly.

"We had a bad blow in the warm up when our hooker, Neil Montgomery, dislocated his shoulder and had to go off to hospital. That put us on the back foot and disrupted our plans, especially in the pack.

"On a positive note we came away relatively injury free and there were some very strong individual performances, for example from Chris Barber and Nial Irwin. Johnny Gault also made a welcome return later in the game.

"For now we have to regroup and go back to the drawing board in selection and training this week. We have to refocus on the league and this week's match against Academy.

"They are new to the league and so far, although they have not had many wins, the score lines show that they are a force to be reckoned with. It will be a tough test for us and we will have a lot to prove after this week's result."

In the game on Saturday, after an initial flourish from the town side, the University took control with a penalty and converted try giving them a 10-0 advantage by half time.

After the break the Uni scored immediately after charging down a Coleraine clearance attempt ten metres from the line. In reply Coleraine's Phil Coulter claimed three points from a penalty.

Coleraine took full advantage of the situation when the Uni went down to 14 men after a yellow card incident. Chris Barber and Nial Irwin combined well in attack, punching though the defence, passing to Coulter and then to Steven Dickey who crossed the line for five points. Coulter converted.

The Uni attacked from the restart and were rewarded with a drop goal after a determined drive by their pack. Then from the restart Coleraine gained possession deep in the Uni 22. The ball was worked across the backline putting Irwin into the corner for an unconverted try.

Coleraine had a couple of further scoring opportunities but were unable to capitalise on them. The Uni scored from a further drop goal and a final converted try, following the intercept of a floating Coleraine pass, leaving the final score University 30 Coleraine 15.

This weekend Coleraine travel to Academy, kick off 2.30pm.

In other matches the scores were Carrick Seconds 11 Coleraine Seconds 6, Coleraine Thirds 49 Lisburn Thirds 12 and Coleraine Fourths 22 Banbridge Fourths 10

Coleraine: A Hogg, J Carey, S Jefferson, W Hunt, R Gibson, B Mullan, R Glover, S Dickey, P Coulter, N Patterson, S Simpson, C Barber, N Hall, N Irwin, B Cochrane. Subs: N Beddow, J Gault.