Its back, our 3rd anual beer festival is set for the 23rd of November. The annual event will have the usual festivities with traditional Bavarian music, beer and games. Tickets cost £10 and come with a FREE half chicken.
Convincing win for Under 19s over ‘Hinch
BANBRIDGE U19s 46 Ballynahinch 5
November 9, 2013
After conceding an early try to visitors Ballynahinch, Bann’s Under-19 team took control of this game, eventually running in eight tries while restricting ‘Hinch to that solitary opening score.
But coach Willie Kirkwood said it was far from being a complete performance. “We still took the wrong options too often,” he said, refusing to get carried away. “We weren’t nearly clinical enough and considering the amount of territory we had, we should have had even more scores.
“But we can work on decision-making and I’m confident there’ll be improvement as the season goes on.”
After that early setback Bann dominated all aspects of play, with their stronger pack creating opportunities galore for the threequarters. Winger Julien Funes did well to touch down at the corner flag to level the scores. And full-back Keir Patterson’s pace was key as he scorched in for the second try near the same spot.
Neither of Jason Gribbon’s conversion attempts had the ‘legs’ to made the posts but the out-half did add the extras to his own score on the half hour, a delightful dummy allowing him to ghost between two defenders and touch down under the posts.
Despite the home side’s dominance the score remained at 17-5 until midway through the second half, but in the final quarter Bann added five tries to underline their superiority. Powerhouse flanker Richard Graham finished off a take and drive from a lineout 12 metres out. And the same player was on hand to pounce when ‘Hinch dropped a pass near their own line, picking up and diving over for the fifth try.
Another defensive error saw the ball go loose just inside the ‘Hinch ‘22’. Kyle McConnell, making his comeback as a replacement winger after injury, picked up and fed Gareth Liggett and the centre fended off two attempted tackles on his way to the line.
A bulldozing run by Graham punched a hole in the ‘Hinch defence and when he was eventually halted, prop Neal Cochrane’s supporting run saw him take a great off-load and touch down under the posts.
With Macauley Little adding conversions to the last two scores Bann were now 41-5 ahead. A blistering 50 metre run by Ben Cross should have yielded a score, but he was hauled down two metres short of the line. However ‘Hinch’s clearance kick was fielded by hard-working hooker Timothy Savage, who set up the counter-attack which ended with Cochrane going in for his second score.
The U-19s’ next game is on Saturday week when Omagh are visitors to Rifle Park.
Under 15s lose out to Lurgan
BANBRIDGE U15s 0 Lurgan 0
November 9, 2013
Bann U15s took to the field under the captaincy of Jamie Mullan looking to get their league campaign started after the previous defeat to Letterkenny.
They encamped in the Lurgan ‘22’ for the first 20 minutes. William Cousins and Jack Myles were working tirelessly to get the team over the try line. However the dangerous Lurgan centre found himself picking up a loose ball in his ‘22’ and when his attempted kick for touch took a fortunate bounce back into his hands he ran 70 metres to score the opener.
Things got immediately worse for the home side when the same player caught the restart kick and left the Bann defence in disarray, running almost the length of the pitch to score again under the posts. Bann didn’t let their heads drop and were awarded a penalty deep in the Lurgan half. Cousins received the ball quickly from the ever alert Morgan Topping and made his way towards an almost certain score. The scrambled Lurgan defence stopped him short but a well presented ball allowed Aaron Duggan to react quickest and get the touchdown, leaving the half-time score at 19-5.
The second half saw the powerful Alistair McDowell return from injury and have an immediate impact. The visitors were awarded a scrum deep in their own half. Eager to get possession back hooker Duggan was aware of the importance of this scrum and was able to take it against the head. No 8 McDowell picked from the base and powered his way over the line for the five pointer.
Lurgan showed their superior power and pace when they then ran in two quick scores through their No 8 and tricky out half. Then came the try of the day when John Buller was able to show his array of skills. He gathered a defensive kick, evaded three would-be tacklers and chipped the ball over the defence. He adeptly reclaimed the loose ball and although tackled short of the posts, the second re-cycle saw the ball returned to the full back and this time there was no stopping him as he crossed the whitewash.
However there was no questioning Lurgan’s greater firepower and two further scores sealed a fully merited win.
Banbridge U15s will reflect on this performance at training on Monday and Wednesday night, 7-8.30pm. Although they scored three tries they still weren’t clinical enough with the possession they had. Lurgan had a very quick and skilful three quarters and with a little more organisation the home backs could have disrupted their supply more efficiently.
In the threequarters Adam Buller made the tackle of the day and Buller scored that try which all at Rifle Park enjoyed. Ben McArdle impressed and Topping showed his versatility playing 9,10 and 12. In the pack the front row of Ben Smith, Andrew Jardine and Duggan caught the eye with the latter once again taking scrums against the head. Cousins and Myles also had solid games.
The 15s travel to Virginia on Saturday and know that the points are a must on their travels.
