Coleraine Rugby win the Maughan Scally Cup
On Saturday Coleraine Rugby won the Irish Universities Rugby Union Maughan Scally cup. This competition is the Irish Universities Rugby Union second tier competition for Universities playing Saturday rugby in the Junior/Qualifying Leagues and was hosted in Galway this year.
Coleraine started by beating NUIG 15-14 in a good game with the lead changing hands three times, Coleraine’s early trys coming from lock Kent Bell and the talented fresher Hayden Maxwell. The midfield defence of vice-captain David Gilkinson at times keeping Coleraine in the game. The winning score came in injury time from New Zealander Mitch Lucas Performance Sport Scholar who out foxed Galway’s resolute defence in last play of the game.
NUIG and Trinity then played with the hosts resolute defence winning the contest over Trinity’s talented back line, Galway scored two excellent break away trys to win 12-5.
Coleraine then played Trinity and the team benefited from the longer rest period and scored three early trys to set a 21-0 lead. Trinity could not cope with three trys and conversions from out half Lucas and the other score from Performance Sport Scholar and influential lock Daniel Morgan. However, the Dublin University started to play well and created two trys just before half time to get back within a score. Despite injures to some of Coleraine’s most influential players in the second half the lads played some of the best rugby of the triangular tournament to put the result beyond doubt scoring five more trys through fresher’s Neill Stewart, Hayden Maxwell, Michael Smyth & popular second fifteen captain Mel McMenemy. The final score fittingly finished off an excellent move and was scored by captain for the day number eight Stephen McCleery. Stephen was presented with the Maughan Scally Cup shortly after final whistle.
The club would like to thank the Sports Union for its support towards the costs of transport and accommodation. We would also like to thank Galway and the Irish Universities Rugby Union for being excellent hosts and a presiding over a well-run competition.
Report from uususport.org
Photos by Luke Murphy
