Banbridge 5ths XV 19 – 3 RAINEY 4ths XV Minor South 26th October 2013
Scores: Q Gilmore (1*Pen)
First Half
• As what usually happens Rainey got a good start and kept Banbridge camped in their own half, having few chances of scoring tries but just not getting the finishing touches
• Rainey won a penalty due to Banbridge indiscipline, although Scrumhalf Quintan Gilmores first attempt at the posts was just short of the posts and fell under
• This gave Banbridge a wake up call replied with a try, by rumbling it up through the middle of park through their much heavier pack and then they spread it out the blind side where they had numbers for an overlap and they went in to score the try in the corner, conversion unsuccessful. Banridge 5 – Rainey 0
• This in turn gave Rainey a wake up call and they kept the pressure on Banbridge, although the conditions weren’t good and this led to handling errors for both sides and things just never clicked in the centre of the park
• Banbridge then cracked under pressure and gave away another penalty due to indiscipline, Scrumhalf Quintan Gilmore decided to have another crack at the posts and this time, he struck it well and Raineys first points were on the board. Banbridge 5 – Rainey 3
• Rainey then kept the pressure on Banbridge and some great tackling by second rows Mark Eastwood and Francis Mulholland in the middle of the park caused handling errors for the Bann siders
• With 10 minutes of the first half left, Rainey were awarded another Penalty in which they went for the corner for the catch and drive and second row Francis Mulholland crossed the line, only for the referee to disallow the try as he claimed the ball had been knocked on in the lineout
• Half Time Score – Banbridge 5 – Rainey 3
Second Half
• Second Half never got off too well for Rainey as Banbridge took a good restart, the restart was good strong kick for Banbridge and the wind carried it well, although Raineys Scrumhalf made an effort to try and keep it in, he just couldn’t get a touch to it, although the Banbridge Linesmans eyes must have mistaken him as he gave awarded Banbridge the lineout on their 5 metre line, were they caught and drove for the line only to be held up
• Banbridge applied pressure on the Rainey side for a good 10 minutes of the second half with play going from left to right, Banbridge just kept going from phase to phase building momentum to finally crashing up through the middle of the park to finally score a converted try. This making it Banbridge 12 – Rainey 3
• The Rainey side never let the heads drop and all 15 men on the pitch gave it their all, against a much heavier and dominant Banbridge side
• Rainey kept Banbridge pinned back in their own half, but just couldn’t get the momentum due to the amount of stoppages for scrums and the weather on the day not suiting to play it through the hands and in the backs, although saying that there were a few times the rainey side should have been in for a few tries, but due to trying to force it, the mistakes occured
• In the final quarter Banbridge decided to turn up the tempo and put the final nail in the Rainey coffin and go over for another try, which was successfully kicked. This making the final score Banbridge 19 – Rainey 3
