SWDFNL – Reserves


COLERAINE Reserves returned to winning form against on Saturday with a strong 86-point victory against Westerns.


Having lost three of the last four games, the Maroons needed to reclaim form as the side starts its preparations for the finals that await in eight weeks’ time.


The team is sitting fourth on the ladder with five wins, but they have the second-best percentage of the top five teams with only ladder leaders Dartmoor better.


With nine shots on goal in the first term, Coleraine had the game in hand from the opening bounce as the ball spent much of the quarter in the Maroons’ forward line, but only three majors to show for all the hard work.


By the long break the margin had blown out to 43 points and the game was over with only the final margin to be decided as the home side took an even tighter grip on the match.


With the final tally of 21 behinds appearing to show the Coleraine players being off target with their shots on goal, the reality was that many of these were rushed by the desperate defence from the Westerns backs as they kept the home side from posting more majors.


Junior grades


IN THE junior grades, Coleraine recorded big percentage boosting wins in the Under 17 and Under 14 grades as Westerns struggled for numbers.


In the Under 17s, Coleraine ran away with the game with a 91-point victory after a brilliant six goal opening term with the home side winning 16.15 (111) to 3.2 (20).


The Maroons also ran away with the Under 14 match to the tune of 91 points, 15.15 (105) to 2.2 (14), with Archie Dahl booting four majors.


Barring a complete less of form, both teams will play finals with the Under 17s currently third and the Under 14 in fifth with a three-game gap to the closest rival.