BANBRIDGE 5THs 31 Armagh 4ths 0
Bann Fifths played host to Armagh and the side included Kris Coleman and Rab Moorhead who have been unavailable for most of the season for one reason or another. Each made a significant contribution to the game.
Bann started slowly and despite having the majority of possession were unable to turn that into points. The pack were providing the platform and Stephen Jackson was able to feed Chris Nelmes, in an unfamiliar role at outside half, who was trying to get his backline moving. Armagh were cancelling out the Banbridge backline by some excellent defensive tackling.
From the back of a scrum Stephen Jackson kicked long and the Armagh full-back could do nothing more than run the ball into touch. From the lineout Bann caught and drove and Bann hooker Gareth Briggs drove over to score wide out.
After the restart Bann continued to pressurise the Armagh backline and full-back Moorhead was held up over the line.
From the resulting five metre scrum Lyle Cairns picked and drove over the line but again the referee deemed the ball to be held up. Shortly after this the forward pressure finally told. Banns back row cleared out several of the Armagh forwards and the subsequent quick-ball was fed to Nelmes who went in under the posts with Anthony Molloy adding the conversion.
The second half saw Kris Coleman moving into the scrum half position and this seemed to provide an added zip to the speed and quality of ball that Bann’s backline were receiving.
Within a ten minute spell Matthew Quinn scored two tries. The pick of these was his second when he outpaced his opposition winger and as the fullback came in to challenge him he chipped up the line and then Messi-like dribbled the ball over the try line to score.
Bann finished off the opposition with further two tries from flankers Rab Graham and Matthew Wilson who were impressive throughout.
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