Bann finish Ulster League with win at Dub
Queen’s University 10 BANBRIDGE 1STs 20
March 9, 2013
Banbridge travelled to upper Malone to play Queens knowing that a win would secure their highest ever finish in the Ulster Senior League.
Constant rain and strong wind made the opening exchanges error strewn. The students took the lead after a well worked converted try on the right flank. A penalty in the 30th minute extended their lead to ten points as their fast off loading game paid dividends against the heavier Bann pack.
The visitors started to impose their dominance at the set piece before the interval and after a series of scrums, a strong run and neat offload from Chris Allen resulted in a try for Peter Cromie, leaving Bann trailing 10-5 at the break.
With the wind at their backs in the second half Banbridge enjoyed long periods of territorial supremacy. Adam Doherty reduced the lead to 10-8 after a scrum penalty, and the young out half went over under the posts for a great try after good work from debutant scrum half Jack Irvine.
Bann now led 15-10, and the longer the game went on it was the County Down men who looked more likely to score again. Strong runs with ball in hand from Jonny Graham and Michael Cromie and some intelligent play from another debutant, Jonny Darling, in the back row, kept Banbridge on the front foot, as several opportunities to extend the lead went awry.
Andrew Morrison had given the Queen´s defence problems all day and he was unlucky not to add to his impressive try tally as he shrugged off the advances of three would be tacklers before being stopped just short of the line. From the resultant ruck and quickly recycled ball Jonny Little crashed over for an unconverted try.
The final 10 minutes of the game saw Bann empty their bench and work hard for the bonus point try but it wasn’t to be. No fixture next week will allow good preparation time for the visit of Seapoint in the AIL as Bann look to finish the season strongly.
Stirling performance from Adam sees 19s progress
BANBRIDGE U19s 34 Ballymoney 0
March 9, 2013
Banbridge Under-19s recorded the second win at the Group Stage of the Ulster Cup,scoring six tries without reply against Ballymoney.
The visitors had travelled a man short but still put in a strong scrummaging performance and Bann had to work hard for all their scores. Winger Adam Stirling has missed much of the season through injury but he’s making up for lost time, and the first of his hat-trick set Bann on the path to success in this game.
Jason Gribbon picked up the second after Kyle McConnell had chased his kick ahead to pressurise the defender into coughing up the ball. Flanker Richard Graham raced 30 metres down the wing for the third, converted by Gribbon, but prop Lee Geddis just had to force his way over from two metres out for the fourth try.
Jonny Adams was proving as effective at lock as he had previously in the centre and his storming run found its way via Macauley Little to Stirling for the first try after the interval.
A slick threequarter move set up Stirling for his hat-trick and now only Coleraine stand between Bann and a place in the quarter-final of the Cup.
Win at Dub sets up league decider for 2nds
Queens 2nds 19 BANBRIDGE 2NDs 26
March 9, 2013
Bann travelled to ‘The Dub’ to play this rearranged league fixture on the back of two defeats, all be it that those games were on the 2nd and 16th February. Having not played in three weeks you would have thought the 2s would have been a little rusty, but the opposite was the case. Bann went at the young Queens pack right from the off showing that they just wanted to play. Strong running from the pack and direct running from centres James Andrews and Stephen Cowan allowed Philip Jordan to crash over. The conversion was missed but Bann looked strong and led 5-0.
Banbridge failed to keep this up and let the students back into the game. In open play they looked dangerous and the onus was on Banbridge not to let them have the ball. On a number of occasions Bann had the chance to clear their lines but failed and from one such kick, Queens came back at Banbridge and scored in the corner. The conversion was again missed and left the half-time score 5-5.
Banbridge now playing with the wind fancied their chances, but after another missed touch with a clearance kick Queens ran in a try which was converted to take the lead at 12-5. Lesser teams could have folded, but there is a lot of fight in this Banbridge side, who weren’t about to lie down, and after securing good field position, a series of rucks ensued allowing that man Jordan to crash over again, bringing Bann back on level terms.
This ignited the Banbridge burners and wave after wave of Banbridge attack hit the Queens defence and after Captain Paul Ross and James Andrews crashed over from close range Banbridge were home and dry. There was just enough time for Queens to score in the corner with the last play of the game and a super conversion left the score 26-19 at the refs whistle.
The win puts Banbridge level at the top of the league with Queens, but with a game in hand. Both teams play again this Saturday at Rifle Park which could very well decide the league. Ross, Brian Curran and Jordan with his two tries were excellent for Bann, but man of the match goes to the returning Sam Boyd who had one of his best games in a Banbridge shirt.
