COLERAINE 3RD XV............ 8
ENNISKILLEN 2ND XV ........ 9
The Seconds travelled to Coleraine and in what was a very tight match emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins.
From the start, it was apparent that this match was going to be a close affair, with the majority of play taking place in midfield, and neither side showed much penetration in the 'red zone'.
Neil Carleton, with a penalty for Enniskillen, was the only score of the first half, although Jimmy Moore was very unlucky to see a try disallowed for a dubious 'double movement' offence.
Both sides traded penalties in the third quarter of the game, with first Carleton adding his second very early in the half, before Coleraine cut into the visitors' lead.
Enniskillen were forced to play with only 14 men for periods of the second half, when first Gordon White was forced to leave the field with a wrist injury, but later returned bravely to bolster the side.
With ten minutes or so left to play, Coleraine scored the game's only try when an Enniskillen clearing kick was charged down, leaving the simplest of scores and an 8–6 lead.
Enniskillen skipper Gary Law then found himself sin-binned with only five minutes to go, following an exchange of pleasantries with the referee. With Enniskillen having been awarded a penalty right in front of the posts, the referee deemed advantage to have ended when Kyle Graydon smashed his way over the gain line before the ball was lost, a very quick decision, when clearly with three points on offer losing the ball was no advantage.
During this second period of playing with only 14 men, Enniskillen pressed and were rewarded when with the referee playing advantage to them for another penalty, Carleton dropped a goal, then went over, off the post, to seal victory.
This was a valuable win and two more points that keep Enniskillen right in the hunt at the top of the table. It was not the best performance from the team this season, but the backline ran the ball well and looked dangerous, but were unable to come up with the break. The forwards had a good game, although at times there was too much individualism allowing Coleraine to turn over the ball, or at least spoil the possession.
