Dromore made the short journey to Banbridge for the 1st round of the Millar McCall Wylie Junior Cup on Saturday and what a difference a week made. Persistent rain replaced the sunshine of last week and the game was played on a very wet and muddy pitch. Dromore failed to react to the conditions and tried to play an open game and came out on the wrong side of a disappointing 12 7 defeat.
From the outset Banbridge made their intentions clear they were going to kick for territory and pressurise the Dromore back three and this they did very effectively for most of the game. Dromore on the other hand seemed intent on running the ball from all parts of the field. For the first 20 minutes Dromore were hardly in the Bann half and did very well not to concede a score. Eventually though the dominant Banbridge pack forced their way over the line after a series of five metre scrums.
The conversion was missed 5 0 to the home side. The pattern of Banbridge dominating the scrums and kicking for field position continued for the rest of the first half but a supberb defenesive display from Dromore kept the score to 5 0 at half time. Dromore had a number of opportunities but all too often the final pass was poor or the ball was dropped when under little or no pressure.
The second half was very much a repeat of the first with Bann adding a second try and conversion after a period of concerted pressure, this time though it was their backs that opened the resolute Dromore defense and with the conversion added Dromore needed two converted tries to steal the game.
For the last ten minutes Dromore pressurised the Bann line and were eventually rewarded when after a series of rucks Tom Finn darted over for a score Aaron Stewart added the conversion but time was to run out for Dromore. Final score 12 7 to Banbridge.
This was a game Dromore could have won if they had adopted the same tatics as Banbridge but in truth never really got good or quick enough possession. The Bann scrum dominated Dromore for most of the match and it was in this area that they really won the game.
Thank you to Paul McFarland for use of the photos.
