Cooke’s experience helps Coleraine survive testing campaign

Coleraine’s 2026 season may not have brought silverware, but there was no shortage of drama as the Bannsiders battled through availability issues, reached the Senior Cup final and ultimately preserved their Premiership status in a relegation play-off.

A seventh-place league finish left them facing Glendermott with everything on the line, and they responded when it mattered most, winning by 43 runs to ensure top-flight cricket at Sandel Lodge again in 2027. That victory was a fitting end to a campaign in which Coleraine were often forced to dig deep.

They also came agonisingly close to adding another Senior Cup success, reaching the final and battling bravely before falling short in their bid to win the trophy for only the second time in 40 years.

Availability undoubtedly made life more difficult. Overseas professional Louren Steenkamp missed parts of the season because of Namibia commitments, and his numbers showed exactly what Coleraine lost when he was unavailable.

Steenkamp was outstanding, scoring 774 runs at an average of 64.50, including three centuries and five fifties, while also taking 20 wickets. His strike rate of 120.6 and 47 sixes underlined just how destructive he was.

Scott Campbell was another major figure, scoring 717 runs and taking an excellent 42 wickets at 17.57. His all-round contribution was hugely important across the season.

There was also something of an Indian summer for David Cooke. The experienced captain led the side with distinction and contributed 637 runs at 35.39, including an unbeaten century. His influence went beyond the scorebook, particularly in a season when Coleraine needed calm heads. Patrick Carson chipped in with 450 runs, while his unbeaten 117 in the relegation play-off proved one of the most important innings of the campaign.

The bowling had reasonable depth, with Gareth Burns taking 32 wickets and Stephen Hutchinson 26, but the season still had the feel of one spent constantly adjusting and compensating. Ultimately, seventh place was below where Coleraine would have wanted to finish, but survival mattered most.

For Cooke and his side, that was enough to turn a difficult year into one of resilience rather than disappointment.

Top 10 Coleraine batters

1. Louren Steenkamp – 774 runs, average 64.50, strike rate 120.6, highest score 143*, 5 fifties, 3 hundreds, 59 fours, 47 sixes.
2. Scott Campbell – 717 runs, average 32.59, strike rate 77.1, highest score 151*, 2 fifties, 2 hundreds, 69 fours, 21 sixes.
3. David Cooke – 637 runs, average 35.39, strike rate 69.6, highest score 109*, 1 fifty, 1 hundred, 56 fours, 17 sixes.
4. Patrick Carson – 450 runs, average 22.50, strike rate 82.0, highest score 117*, 2 fifties, 1 hundred, 51 fours, 15 sixes.
5. Varun Chopra – 335 runs, average 19.71, strike rate 62.4, highest score 51, 1 fifty, 32 fours, 8 sixes.
6. Jacob Logan-Wilson – 221 runs, average 13.81, strike rate 120.8, highest score 62, 1 fifty, 16 fours, 15 sixes.
7. Matthew Hutchinson – 211 runs, average 15.07, strike rate 50.0, highest score 33*, 20 fours, 3 sixes.
8. Matthew Smyth – 152 runs, average 11.69, strike rate 54.9, highest score 28, 15 fours.
9. Garnett Tarr – 139 runs, average 34.75, strike rate 102.2, highest score 73, 2 fifties, 12 fours, 9 sixes.
10. Stephen Hutchinson – 49 runs, average 7.00, strike rate 33.6, highest score 12, 2 fours.

Top 10 Coleraine bowlers

1. Scott Campbell – 42 wickets, average 17.57, economy 4.22, strike rate 25.0, best 5-38, 1 five-wicket haul, 18 maidens.
2. Gareth Burns – 32 wickets, average 26.19, economy 4.91, strike rate 32.0, best 5-41, 1 five-wicket haul, 15 maidens.
3. Stephen Hutchinson – 26 wickets, average 25.04, economy 4.53, strike rate 33.2, best 3-21, 17 maidens.
4. Louren Steenkamp – 20 wickets, average 21.25, economy 5.02, strike rate 25.4, best 4-26, 4 maidens.
5. Jacob Logan-Wilson – 14 wickets, average 32.64, economy 5.51, strike rate 35.6, best 4-33, 1 maiden.
6. Matthew Hutchinson – 13 wickets, average 41.69, economy 5.51, strike rate 45.4, best 3-21, 4 maidens.
7. Matthew Smyth – 11 wickets, average 24.27, economy 5.45, strike rate 26.7, best 3-19, 1 maiden.
8. Garnett Tarr – 8 wickets, average 21.38, economy 4.89, strike rate 26.3, best 3-53.
9. Varun Chopra – 7 wickets, average 22.71, economy 5.61, strike rate 24.3, best 3-48.
10. Timothy Hamilton – 3 wickets, average 9.33, economy 8.40, strike rate 6.7, best 3-28.