Seconds score six against students
On Saturday Bann Seconds played hosts to Queens in the 2nd XV League at Rifle Park, but before the game commenced, mere sport took a back seat, as the players and supporters paid their respect to Banbridge man, L/Cpl Stephen McKee who was tragically killed on Wednesday whilst serving in Afghanistan with the 1st Batt, RIR.
The game itself started brightly for both teams, as they both tried to set patterns. However, as the game progressed, it was Bann, although lumbering at times, who began to show the greater killer touch as they eventually won the try count by 6 to 2 in recording an impressive 36-23 win over a team with only one previous defeat.
The opening score came after 10 minutes when the clever positional kicks from Shandon Scott had set up attacking options within the vistors `22. The forwards traditional power went on the attack, firstly when Andrew Davidson broke through when the lineout was stolen off the students throw-in. Scott maintained the action remained in the 22, and the forwards followed this up as they forced a series of penalties, each time electing to scrummage. Each time the students infringed as Bann drove forward, leaving the referee with no option in awarding a penalty try, converted by Clarke McCallister.
Banns recent pattern of late continued when they conceded a penalty in the passage of play after the kick off, and Queens reduced the score to 7-3.
Again Bann responded, and again it was the forwards who set the platform. Some probing runs by the backs were met by patient ball retention, all in the visitors half. Eventually, Bann were able to draw in the defence, and when the ball was spread quickly out through the backs, the students found the impressive No8 Andy Brown had joined the line to power in from 15 metres. This moved the score on to 12-3.
Four minutes later Bann were once again penalised when an off the ball incident saw Paul Ross receive 10 minutes in the sin bin, with the Queens player escaping the similar. At 12-6 down and with uncontested scrums, Bann found Queens now had a new lease of life. Their efforts in capitalising was rewarded when they broke away from the static Bann scrum, and after a passage of play, produced an overlap to score in the corner. The impressive touch-line conversion gave them a 13-12 lead as the half time whistle blew.
The second period saw Bann up the tempo, and when a period of confident mauls and interplay broke down with a knock on in the visitors 22, Queens were able to relieve their line. This seemed to frustate Bann, as they now defended their own line, and, although having numbers in defence 10 metres out, contrived to allow a gap for the Queens winger to dash through and then run along under the posts, leaving the conversion a formality.
Now somehow 12-20 down, Bann kept the same pattern of play, but with obvious renewed vigour. Nine minutes later they scored their third try. This was gained off the good ground work by the forwards in mauling, and being able to force the penalty which Scott sent down the line. Clean ball and quick movement from the line-out provided enough of an opening for Ryan Patterson to stretch over the line for the grounding. Bann now were 20-17 down.
Ten mintes further on, and Bann re-gained the lead. The forwards were satisfied to do all the donkey work to each occasion that the backs had probed forward. Banns renowned power in the scrum eventually yielded another pushover try with Andy Brown getting his second try.
Although Queens reduced the lead to 24-23, Bann were now showing a killer instinct both in the forwards and in the backline. The urgency in the backs paid off with ten minutes remaining when Neville Farr, who had consistantly kept he forwards on the front foot, fed Scott. His initial break through the first line of defence allowed McCallister to come in off the line at speed to recieve the off load and score.
With the conversion again missed, Bann seemed aware of their previous frailties in defending a 6 point lead. The aggression in defence paid off when the impressive centre Jordon Weir intercepting on the half way line to outsprint the students to score under the posts.Scotts conversion ended the scoring as the final 5 minutes were played out with Bann in control.
A very pleasing result on a number of facets, not least in eradicating two one point losses in their two previous games, and also the defeat of a good student side. Averyone contributed to this better level of committment, but Andy Brown once again stood out from the rest, with his two tries a just reward for his efforts.
