BANBRIDGE 3RDs 29 Portadown 2nds 13
Two late tries gave Bann Thirds a rather flattering if deserved win against a Portadown side which had knocked them out of the Crawford Cup just a few weeks previously.
Alan Robinson’s eighth minute penalty for the visitors was neutralised by a Clarke McAllister effort nine minutes later. But Portadown were enjoying the better of the early exchanges and when Bann knocked on at a lineout 15 metres out from their line, Portadown used the advantage to put Robinson in for a try, aided and abetted by some indifferent tackling. The burly centre, who was to prove his team’s main attacking threat, converted his own touchdown to take his side 3-10 clear with 24 minutes played.
McAllister was off-target with a penalty attempt on the half hour but six minutes later Bann crossed for their first try. A neat grubber from Chris Craig forced Portadown to defend a lineout five metres out. Matthew Bird collected the loose ball at the tail and burst through the somnolent Portadown defence for the try. McAllister’s conversion attempt drifted wide of the target but the Bann full-back found the mark with the last kick of the half to give his side a single point lead at the break.
Bann applied the early pressure at the start of the second half, forcing Portadown to defend a series of 5-metre scrums. From the last of these Andy Cowan picked up and fed Francois Viljoen down the narrow side. The out-half did well to get his pass away to Packie Downey and the winger showed impressive strength in forcing his way past three defenders to touch down one-handed for his side’s second try.
That seemed to hand Bann the initiative but the opposition were far from being a spent force and Robinson’s 40 metre penalty reduced the deficit to 16-13. There were only ten minutes left when McAllister slotted over a penalty from 27 metres range to stretch his side’s lead to a still vulnerable six points.
But a late flurry of scoring took Bann well clear as they capitalised on their superior forward power. Prop Stuart Cromie was unfortunate that the referee was unsighted when he touched down from a ruck close to the line, but two minutes later Andrew Baird forced his way over for the third try.
Three minutes from time No 8 Sam Boyd scored in the same spot after he had enjoyed David Little’s assistance in driving him over the try line. The conversion was missed but Bann were now 16 points clear. The winning margin might have been greater after lock Little intercepted just outside the “22” and set off on a sprint to the try line, only to be hauled down by the chasing Portadown defenders at the posts.
This was an encouraging win for Bann, just their second in what has been a difficult league campaign. Cromie worked hard in the tight and loose, Boyd’s power caused problems for the Portadown defence and centre William Taylor’s strength in the tackle won his side several turnover balls.
But the accolade of man-of-the-match must go to skipper Matthew Bird. The flanker gave another all-action performance, carrying ball to great effect as well as setting a great example with his rugged defending.
Newcomer Haughey impresses in U15 win
BANBRIDGE U15s 36 City of Derry 26
After the long journey to Rifle Park, Derry took to the field and immediately set out their intent by taking the game to Bann through their back row who were working tirelessly. Against the run of play Bann capitalized on a Derry mistake when Lee Jackson picked up a loose ball and crashed over the line for the opener.
Again Derry took the game to Bann through their forwards. Great work from the ever improving Ross Haughey saw him turn over the ball in a ruck and quick thinking from Josh Cromie saw the ball flashed out to Jason Jardine to score left of the posts. Derry got reward for their possession when poor tackling from Bann allowed their winger to race in around the back of the defence to leave them just 10-7 in arrears at the break.
A quick score for Jason Jardine followed by one by the City of Derry out-half quickly brought the score 15-12 within 5 minutes of the re-start. Bann knew they had to re-organize their defence and some stern words from captain Alex Megaw seemed to spur the boys into action. Three Bann scores followed, firstly when Cameron Cromie quickly changed the direction of play, caught the Derry defence on the open side and weaved over to score and convert his own try.
Megaw, who could probably play anywhere on the pitch, popped up in the centre and fended off three tacklers to score under the posts. With Bann on the attack again a scrum deep in the Derry “22” saw Josh Cromie score his now trademark try when he picked up from the base of the scrum and fended off the defence to score under the posts. Derry had the final say with the last two tries to bring the final score to 36-26.
Derry travelled to Rifle Park with a very positive attitude, making Bann work hard for their win. Through some poor tackling and low numbers at rucks Derry were able to capitalize on Bann’s inability to turn training ground routine drills into practice on the pitch.
Best player for Bann on the day was flanker Haughey, who just joined the club this season. His work rate and attitude on and off the pitch are second to none. He is always first onto the pitch and leads by example. His regular turnovers are invaluable to the team and have set up many tries, including his own maiden score for the club in the away victory at Ballynahinch.
Three for McDowell in nine try win
Enjoying much better weather than during their last match, and with some very welcome side-line support, Banbridge took on City of Derry, playing into the wind in the first half. The opening exchanges were high energy and of good quality with long passages of play without knock-ons or other infringements. City of Derry had a high quality out half and strong centres and were confident moving ball in hand. Bann’s forwards were initially stronger in the loose and at the break-down.
A clear early Bann strength was supporting ball carriers, enabling re-cycling of ball during attack, and this led to four unconverted tries, which maybe caused the team to relax too much. Derry pulled themselves together later in the half and began a concerted effort in attack and had a number of close efforts before succeeding in a converted try to end the half with a score line of 20 – 7.
Bann started the second half with solid pressure, quickly converted into points as Alistair McDowell crashed over for one of his three tries on the day. City of Derry however would not accept second best and kept stringing together good passages of play to stay in contention. Further Bann tries were matched by three Derry tries; thanks to their effective set scrum and weak first phase tackling by the home side. Bann tended to advance the ball through taking contact but popping quickly to supporting players.
Bann cleared their bench to get all the subs on and finished strongly, having the final say with a converted try on full-time. As well as McDowell’s aforementioned hat trick, tries were also scored by Troy Pinion, Jack Myles, Jamie Mullan, John Buller, Peter Sleith and Daniel McBurney, with Buller succeeding with two conversions.
