Bann’s Under-19 side proved themselves the province’s top team by adding the Ulster Cup to the Nutty Krust Trophy they had picked up just eleven days previously.
As in the floodlit tournament final, Bann struggled in the early stages to impose themselves on a Portadown side which had obviously travelled to Ravenhill intent on belying their underdogs’ tag.
Indeed play in the first half was largely focussed in Bann territory as the heavier Portadown pack set about their task with no little determination and intensity. They earned an early reward for their efforts, with out-half Graeme Currie slotting over a first minute penalty after Bann had been penalised for a ruck offence.
The Co Armagh side’s driving maul from lineouts had proved particularly effective in the Nutty Krust final, with both their tries coming from that source. But when they tried to deploy the same tactic in the 7th minute of this game, the Bann forwards stepped back to prevent the maul being formed and Portadown were penalised.
However Bann were still largely in defensive mode and it took a crunching tackle from hooker Peter Cromie to stop a bulldozing run from Portadown lock Justin Allen. The Ports’ threequarter line was brought into action and a sweeping move was halted just seven metres out from Bann’s line.
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Currie’s effort to double his side’s lead from a second penalty attempt drifted wide before Cromie eventually broke out to set Kenny Wiltshire on a run down the right flank which was only halted by a high tackle.
Macauley Little was forced to retire from the action with a knee injury and Adam Doherty came off the bench to take over at out-half. A penalty kicked to the corner gave Bann an attacking lineout and from the scrum that followed Wiltshire was tackled into touch short of the line.
But Bann were penalised at the lineout and for the next 15 minutes they were again on the back foot until skipper Ryan Dennison carried out of his “22” to relieve the siege.
Doherty kicked a penalty to touch to win his side another five metre lineout which Richard Graham won at the back. Glen Rowan set up ruck ball deep in the “22” and after Cromie had taken play close to the line, the ball was switched right for Graham to cross over at the corner flag.
Doherty was just short with the difficult conversion but at least Bann were now able to go into the interval narrowly ahead, albeit against the territorial balance.
Matthew McDonald took over from Rowan at the break and made an immediate impact, slipping out of two tackles to cross for his team’s second try after a lineout 30 metres out. Doherty’s conversion took Bann 12-3 ahead and from then on the Rifle Park side were largely in command.
Thirteen minutes into the second half centre Ben Cross showed some deft footwork as he stepped inside a tackle and raced away from the cover defence for the third try, Doherty again splitting the posts with the conversion.
Portadown rallied briefly, but despite winning three penalties in as many minutes to set up a series of lineouts close to Bann’s line, they were unable to break down a resolute defence, with Cromie eventually kicking clear to halfway after Bann had won turnover ball.
Doherty’s neat chip almost brought another try with the bounce just beating the chasing players. But the replacement out-half added the fourth touchdown four minutes from the end, after a decoy runner off a scrum 18 metres out had opened up the gap that gave him a clear run to the posts.
With all 22 Bann players getting pitch time, this was truly a squad effort and the large crowd of Bann supporters, with their cheers echoing round the old Ravenhill stand for the last time before its demolition, showed their appreciation as Dennison was presented with the cup by Ulster Branch Vice-President John Robinson.
Bann team:- Chris Watt, Kenny Wiltshire, Ben Cross, Glen Rowan, Adam Stirling, Macauley Little, Jason Gribbon, Lee Geddis, Peter Cromie, Neal Cochrane, Stuart Walker , Kyle McConnell, Ryan Dennison (Capt), Richard Graham, Adam Kelly. Replacements: Tim Savage, Jonny McCreery, Alan Thompson, Jonny Adams, Adam Doherty, Matthew McDonald, Julien Funes. Coaches:- Willie Kirkwood & Marc Eadie.
