A hat-trick of tries in the first half from centre Andrew Morrison paved the way for a third bonus point win for Banbridge in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League.
With hooker Jonny Weir also crossing for a try before the break Bann were guaranteed at least a bonus point, but the 24-7 lead they had built up virtually assured them even at that stage of a full haul. And so it proved as they doubled their tally after the break to cement their place at the top of Division 2A.
A third successive win looked an unlikely outcome in the first ten minutes when Bann failed to get their hands on the ball and Highfield used the power of their big pack to rumble over for a 4th minute try, courtesy of prop Cyprian Jouve, converted by out-half Paddy O’Toole.
Out-half Adam Doherty, making his first AIL start, kicked his drop-out direct to touch and when Bann were penalised at the resulting scrum, the kick to touch had the home side again forced into grim defence. Eventually Bann won a penalty, but Highfield secured the lineout ball and almost grabbed a second try.
A second Bann lineout, on the halfway line, saw the ball knocked back on the opposition side, but this time Bann dived through to secure. And after they had gone through the phases to stretch the Highfield defence, Morrison found room on the right flank to cross untouched for his side’s first try, with Ian Porter mis-hitting the conversion attempt.
Bann should have made more of the field position created by Morrison’s tidy chip kick, but Highfield stole the ball under their posts to clear to halfway. And after Michael Cromie had punched an enormous hole in the Cork side’s defence with the first of several barging runs he made during the game, Bann were turned over at the ruck deep inside the Highfield “22” and another scoring chance was gone.
Bann eventually took the lead with 31 minutes played. The Highfield full-back tried to run Porter’s grubber kick out of his own “22” but was caught and robbed in front of his posts. The ball came out to Jonny Weir who sold a trademark dummy and forced his way over despite the close attention of two defenders. Porter added the extras.
Bann were now well in control, despite a mis-firing lineout, with two more tries from Morrison in the final three minutes of the half serving to underline their dominance. A well-timed pass from Doherty put the young centre in for his second touchdown and the third came at the end of a 50 metre run when the Highfield defence seemed to open up in front of him. Porter converted one of the two to give his side a 17 point interval lead.
Doherty was almost in for a try five minutes after the break after good runs from Cromie and No 8 Jonny Graham. The try of the game came five minutes later after Ashley Finlay had caught a kick deep inside his own “22” and fed Greg Taylor. The full-back’s run took him to the halfway line where his neat switch with John Porter set the right winger off on a 50 metre run, weaving and shimmying past a host of bemused Highfield players en-route to the posts, where he touched down to make brother Ian’s conversion a formality.
Another blistering run from John Porter took Bann close to the visitors’ line and after a couple of phases Ryan Patterson forced his way over for the sixth try and what his side’s fourth in a 16 minutes blitzkrieg either side of the interval.
Highfield were in no mood to capitulate and when Bann spilled ball at the base of a scrum, the visitors’ lock Dave Kelly used his size and mobility to crash through for a try from 25 metres range.
Their left winger Sean Quaid might well have grabbed his team’s third try a couple of minutes later when he found himself with only Cromie to beat. But the burly Bann prop collared and grounded his man and Patterson was on hand to turn over the ruck ball and the danger was averted.
John Porter touched down a second time, only to be denied by a foot in touch, but his side added further tries through hooker David Weir, after a loose ball had been hacked through, and full-back Taylor, after a storming run from the hard-working replacement flanker Patterson.
Just as Highfield had opened the scoring they also rounded it off, with another impressive run from Kelly rounded off by No 8 Dan Keogh’s touchdown at the posts.
But in between Bann had just too much firepower, especially in the threequarters, who oozed confidence every time they were in possession.
After those opening kicking mishaps Doherty settled down to lead the line effectively as he benefitted from Ian Porter’s slick service. And while Morrison earned deserved praise for his hat-trick, his less flamboyant centre partner Jonny Little also had an excellent game as his strength and guile proved the perfect foil for Morrison.
Bann travel to Queen’s on Saturday for what will be a clash between the teams at opposite ends of the league table. But at this early stage of the season those placings can be deceptive. Bann have never found wins easy to come by at Upper Malone and with a couple of injury doubts they will not be over-confident despite their impressive start to the season.
Footnote:- Banbridge has always seen itself as a ‘family club’ but it is believed that this was the first time that three sets of brothers lined out in a First XV squad for the club. Michael (tight-head) and Peter Cromie (replacement hooker), David (hooker) and Jonny Weir (loose-head) and Ian (scrum-half) and John Porter (winger) may well have created history against Highfield.
Bann team against Highfield:- Gregg Taylor, John Porter, Andrew Morrison, Jonny Little, Ashley Finlay, Adam Doherty, Ian Porter, Jonny Weir, David Weir, Michael Cromie, Stephen Irvine, Simon McKinstry (Capt), Dale Carson, Mark Wilson, Jonny Graham. Replacements:- Peter Cromie, James McCrum, Ryan Patterson, Craig Mulholland, Matthew Johnston.
