The Dee were on the road again on Saturday when they travelled north to face Coleraine in a Championship 3 League game. The home team, having just dropped down from Championship 2, were hoping to continue their winning start to the season. Dee, on the other hand, were attempting to bounce back from an away defeat last week.

The Dee’s line up showed several changes, Sam Ingham and Daniel Ondswedder playing in the second row and back row respectively. Robbie Ingham slotted in at fullback whilst Joebe Basuel took up a seat on the bench.

The morning rain had made the surface moist but the game was played in dry conditions, apart from a couple of squally showers. Dee kicked off and immediately were awarded a scrum inside the Coleraine 22 when the ball was knocked on by Coleraine. The home scrum was penalised and Matthew Pentland found touch five metres from the line. After a couple of strong drives it was Matthew Stockton who forced his way over to score. The conversion was missed but the Dee had a 5-0 lead with only 3 minutes gone.

Coleraine enjoyed both possession and territory for the next ten minutes and were awarded with a try of their own. A line out move straight from the training ground worked to perfection as the big Coleraine forward crashed over to level the scores. Both sides defences were tested during the next 20 minutes with both sides penalised for high tackles. On the half mark the referee had had enough and sent a Coleraine player to the bin, Dee were unable to capitalise on the numerical advantage as the Coleraine defence stood firm. In the last few minutes of the half it was the Dee who were reduced to 14 men for a similar offence and this time Coleraine did take advantage and scored in the corner after a strong rolling maul. The difficult conversion was successful to give the home side 12-5 lead.

In the last play of the half Dee were awarded a penalty just outside the Coleraine 22 and Pentland was successful with the kick to reduce the deficit to 4 points at halftime. Five minutes into the second half both sides lost a player to the bin due to a kerfuffle off the ball. Dee continued to play some good attacking rugby and put together several phases of play that tested the Coleraine defence. The Dee scrum was proving dominant and when the Dee were awarded a penalty in the corner of Coleraine’s 22 they opted for a scrum. Coleraine were then penalised several times for scrum infringements until the referee lost her patience and sent the prop to the bin.

Dee continued to pummel away at the line and eventually Adam McGrath spun the ball wide and Dylan Robinson plucked the ball out of the air and crashed over in the corner to give the Dee a one point lead. The last quarter of the game was a nervous one for both the Dee players and the group of travelling supporters as Coleraine tried to regain the lead.

The back row of Chris Hamilton, Ryan Butler and Daniel Ondswedder tackled their hearts out and no one got past the centre pairing of captain Stockton and Jody Newell. With 8 minutes to go Coleraine received their fourth yellow card of the game when a forward was penalised for ill- discipline at a ruck. Dee continued to defend solidly for the last few minutes but were still relieved to hear the referee’s whistle to signal the end of the contest.

An excellent result for the Dee and the man of the match award this week is not going to an individual but is awarded to the Dee pack of forwards who grafted hard all game. Owen Roberts played hooker for the first time in years and certainly helped to solidify the scrums. The pack is also a nice balance of youth and experience. With the likes of Butler, Robinson, Moore, Boyd and Ondswedder benefitting from playing alongside the experienced Hamilton, Ingham and Dobson.

Next week the Dee welcome BHSFP to Donaldson Park for the first home league fixture of the season, K.o 2.30pm. All support welcome.