Bangor 45 vs 0 Lisburn League
Good form returns against Lisburn
On a cold but sunny afternoon Bangor hosted the return game against Lisburn at Upritchard Park. After a slow start, a good team performance resulted in a 45-0 bonus point victory, running in 7 tries in the process.
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With a swirling wind blowing mostly across the pitch, Lisburn got proceedings underway. For the first 15 minutes, neither side seemed able to take control, although it was Lisburn who were enjoying most of the territory and possession. However, it was becoming apparent that the strong Bangor pack was on form again. Having won a scrum on the left hand side just inside the Lisburn twenty two, the ball got moved into the centre. The forwards had moved quickly into support and when it eventually came to Chris Schofield, he was unstoppable over the 7 metres he had to make before scoring under the posts. With Keith Rossan’s conversion, Bangor had got the scoreboard moving by 7-0.
From this point, it looked like a weight had been lifted from Bangor’s shoulders. They started to move the ball with confidence, and gave Lisburn few opportunities to mount any kind of attack. This was made all the more obvious when just 5 minutes later, and with the referee playing advantage from a Lisburn infringement, man of the match Mike Aspley made a break from the half way line, then passed to Jamie Clegg on his right. Clegg’s wing forward partner, Nick Hatton was then on hand to receive the ball and squeeze over in the right hand corner for a try. Although the difficult conversion was missed, this well-worked move brought the score to 12-0.
Lisburn were using their kickers to good effect and having taken the play deep into Bangor’s half they were rewarded with a penalty, but the kick was just wide of the posts. From the resulting drop-out, the Bangor forwards won back possession. Curtis Stewart started off on a great run, fending off tacklers as he took the game back into Lisburn’s half. Some desperate defending resulted in a penalty to Bangor just 7 metres from the Lisburn line. Opting for the scrum, the Bangor pack once more provided a controlled ball to scrum half Ricky Armstrong, who quickly popped the ball to Keith Rossan, who powered over to score just to the left of the posts. His simple conversion added the extras, and Bangor were now 19-0 ahead.
From the restart, Bangor collected the ball and kicked for position close to Lisburn’s twenty two. Lisburn kept the ball in play and kicked a high return into Bangor’s half. The ball was caught cleanly by prop Chris Schofield who started off on a charge down the right hand touchline. Having forced his way past a couple of Lisburn players, in true maverick style he decided to chip the ball over the advancing defence. This obviously confused the visitors, as Schofield followed up the kick with another kick forward which the supporting Darren Lyttle then pounced on as it crossed the Lisburn line. Rossan was successful once more with the conversion, bringing the score to 26-0.
Not content with having secured the bonus point with this fourth try, Bangor once more came straight back from the restart. The much improved handling and well-timed passing was evident again as fowards and backs combined through Clegg, Armstrong and finally Hatton to score under the posts. Rossan once more added the conversion and, with the score now 33-0, the game was all but over as a contest. Bangor almost got another try on the stroke of half time when Stewart produced a powerful run and stretched over for what looked like a try. However, he was judged to have made a double movement and the score was not given. Nonetheless, this was yet another example of Bangor’s dominance in the forwards, and something that that augured well for the second half.
It was, however, probably a tall ask to expect a repeat performance as Bangor had little else to prove and Lisburn were determined to both stop the rot and restore pride through scoring themselves. If Lisburn had decided to come out of the blocks fighting, this was soon snuffed out by another good try by Lyttle, extending the lead to 40-0.
Unfortunately, after 20 minutes of the second half, Jamie Clegg suffered a calf injury and had to leave the game. Although a considerable setback, the Bangor players coped well and, within just 8 minutes of his departure, added their seventh try of the game through Jamie Foulkes on the left wing. The kick from the touchline was wide of the posts, but the score was now 45-0.
Although Lisburn laid siege to the Bangor line for the following 7 or 8 minutes, they were denied a score both by the determined Bangor defence and some unfortunate handling mistakes at key passages of play. As the referee blew for full time, Bangor were able to celebrate another good performance that keeps them in second spot in the league, having played one game less than leaders Ballyclare. Bangor will certainly be looking to maintain this level of performance when they face Larne at home next Saturday.
Bangor team: S Schofield, P Dornan, J Harrison, D Lyttle, P Corbett, N Hatton, J Clegg, C Stewart, R Armstrong (c), K Rossan, J Foulkes, M Aspley, M Leebody, D Charles, P Gray
Bangor scores: C Schofield (1T), N Hatton (2T), D Lyttle (2T), J Foulkes (1T), K Rossan (1T, 5C)
Bangor 2nds 47 vs 7 Coleraine 3rds
Bangor crush Coleraine 3rds
Bangor welcomed Coleraine 3rds to Upritchard Park on Saturday, but the welcome was as warm as the weather. With Coleraine arriving late and the home side well warmed up courtesy of Phil Neill, Bangor controlled the game from the start, eventually winning
With captain Ian McBurney electing to play up the slope into the breeze, Bangor’s Ben Worthington caught and drove the ball back into the oppositions half. The forwards showed their intent to be physical from the off with aggressive rucking securing the ball safely for scrum half Matthew Baillie. From this ruck the backs were unleashed, and finished off with clinical precision. The ball was transferred wide with slick hands and dummy running causing panic in the Coleraine defence leaving a mass of space for winger Neil Cuthburtson to score under the posts, even with the attention of a late comer Coleraine player illegally entering the field and attempting to tackle him. With Ryan Law’s conversion added, it was 7-0 with 3 minutes played.
The action ebbed and flowed for the next ten minutes with Coleraine settling and using the wind to good effect, however Bangor’s willingness to compete at the breakdown eventually told. After turning over a Coleraine ruck, out half Ryan attacked the space on the left only to have his head nearly taken off by a dangerously high tackle. Ryan got up though and slotted the penalty between the sticks, 10-0.
What happened next is a coaches and spectators dream to watch. With a kick into touch on Bangor’s 5m line, the natural assumption is catch, drive, clear. On this occasion however the catch and drive went to plan though Jordan De’Pledge spotted his opposite number out of position and attacked the space. Slick hands and lines of running by the backs placed the ball in the arms of winger Neil whose pace had him in the corner to score. Having players with the confidence to see and take any opportunity is what Bangor’s coaching staff are trying to implement so was great to see it bearing fruit. Score now 15-0.
It was now time for the forwards to capitalise on their hard work up front. Steven Gilliland finished off some aggressive running and offloading skills by the pack to surge over the line showing great strength and determination to beat three defenders and take the score to 20-0.
The customary lapse in concentration and ill discipline allowed Coleraine to score perhaps the softest try this coach has ever seen. With repeated penalties for silly indiscretions, the Coleraine winger picked the ball up from a ruck, and with no defenders on the right hand side ran through untouched to score under the posts. Wake up call for Bangor who were just reminded they were not in a one sided contest. The lead had been reduced to 20-7.
From the restart and a great tackle by flanker Daniel McNally, Coleraine knocked the ball forward. From the resultant scrum on the 10m line, no 8 Andrew Jackson sprinted (yes sprinted) past all flailing defenders to score under the posts. Ryan’s conversion made it 27-7.
AJ again got on the act on the stroke of half time. Strong running by props Pete Nicol and Ben Worthington set lock Tony Brown free. Tony was stopped just short of the line but presented the ball quickly for Baillie and Law to transfer the ball to AJ who dummied the full back to cross the white wash again. With the half time whistle, the score now stood at 32-7.
From the Restart Bangor were reduced to 14 men. Flanker Daniel McNally was binned for 10 minutes for tackling a man without the ball. From the lineout that followed on Bangor’s 10m line, Bangor’s pack stole the ball and surged forward. Winger Steven Addy, who made a welcome return after 2 seasons out, crashed into the heart of the Coleraine defence. The ball was recycled quickly and AJ found himself in acres of space and surged forward. He was tackled on the 22 and injured his ankle and had to leave the field. Bangor were now down to 13 men. The ball was knocked forward in this incident and from the resultant scrum the ball was kicked clear by Coleraine. Only as far as full back Phil Neill, who on the 10m line weighed up his options and struck a sweet drop goal.
Jordan De’Pledge was next on the score sheet, hacking forward a clever chip by Matthew Baillie. The centre beat the cover defence to gather the ball and score in the corner.
Not to be outdone on his return, winger Steven Addy was rewarded with a score on his return match. To be fair the lad’s work-rate and willingness to be involved was evident for all to see and both the team and supporters were delighted when he crossed the line to round off a sterling performance. Ryan’s conversion took the full time score to 47-7.
The selection for man of the match went to Glenn ‘Dixie’ Irwin, who was perhaps the only non-flamboyant member of the squad on the day though his slick handling , clever lines of running and flawless defence, in tackles made and rucking skills left the coaches with no doubt that for an all round performance he was a worthy recipient. It was a tough decision though with all the team putting their hands up.
A great win but injuries to AJ and Ian McBurney left a bit of a sour taste. The coaches wish a speedy recovery to both.
Next up, it’s Ballynahinch 5ths away, which is a top of the table clash. This coach is hoping a similar performance and result is on the cards.
