With key men Chris Good, Alasdair Deering, Sam Ingham and Paul Johnston added to the ever growing injury list and another six players either injured or unavailable this was always going to be hard day at the office for the Dee against league pacesetters Coleraine, and so it proved!

The Dee started brightly and early pressure allowed Paul Blewitt to chip a pinpoint accurate ball for Andy McGrugan to outpace the home defence and take on the full to go over for the first score of the day which he himself converted. Coleraine were now stung into action and powered over seven minutes later to tie up the scores at 7-7. Neither side dominated for the next fifteen minutes until Coleraine goaled a penalty chance to forge ahead by three points which proved the impetus they required to score two further tries through a combination of a porous Dee centrefield and weak tackling out wide to bring the halftime score to 24-7 in the visitor’s favour.

Whilst the Dee’s Chris Hamilton in particular, skipper Gareth Gordon and late call-up from social rugby, James Cheshire, were battling heroically up front the unfamiliarity of the Dee defensive line with each other and tiring legs found it difficult to cope with the impressive Coleraine off-load game and four further tries were scored in the second-half before, on the final whistle, the Dee gained some quality possession and continuity to drive to the visitor’s line before Tommy Scullion drove over to finish the best home move of the day – McGrugan adding the extras.

Disappointment then from a Dee perspective but the side have now five games on the bounce in which they have the opportunity stave off the spectre of relegation starting with Larne on Easter Saturday at Donaldson Park. An intensive week on the training paddock is now required and hopefully, with the addition of many of those hitherto injured or unavailable, the side has every chance of making the most of the talent and heart they undoubtedly have to make it a successful end to what has been a challenging season.

Finally the 1st XV squad, and indeed the entire Club, send best wishes to Head Coach John West who has been hospitalised over the past week and look forward to seeing him treading the touchline once again as soon as possible.