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Report. Malone U18s & Banbridge U18s.
Nutty Krust Tournament Malone U18’s v Banbridge U18’s Wednesday 20th February 2019
The first of this season’s games got underway in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament under the floodlights at a very mild Chambers Park when Malone U18’s and Banbridge U18’s played on Wednesday evening. The Banbridge U18 team recorded a well contested 14-8 victory with the scoreboard having read 14-3 in their favour at the break. A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams. Among the group watching the game was Jonny Gillespie, the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Manager.
The Malone team started the game strongly and kept the Banbridge defence busy in the early stages of the game. Nine minutes into the game the Banbridge scrum half, Philip Jackson, finished off the first foray of the Banbridge team into the Malone “Red Zone” with a fine try. Philip added the extras to his try to give his Banbridge team a 7-0 lead. Both team s displayed great attacking plays with the ball in hand but, unfortunately many promising attacks broke down because of some careless handling. It was not until the end of the first half that the Malone team got their first points of the evening. A series of Malone attacks forced the Banbridge team into conceding a penalty. Matthew McDowell stepped up to convert the penalty opportunity and reduce the Malone deficit to 7-3. From the restart the Banbridge team laid siege to the Malone line and Robbie Mathers, the Banbridge No 8, finished a series of attcaks off with a try. Philip Jackson added the conversion to see the Banbridge team into a 14-3 lead at the break.
Malone made a number of changes at the break and brought on Matthew Hamilton. Matthew seemed immediately to put pep in the step of the Malone team. Banbridge started the second half with a series of attacks which were effectively dealt with by Matthew. Ten minutes into the second half Matthew combined with Oran O’Neill before Ryan McKenzie finished things off with an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 14-8. Both teams continued to play the game in a very positive fashion with Jack Hamilton and Ryan McKenzie impressing for Malone and Robbie Mathers, Jake Beattie, Philip Jackson and Jack Kelly doing likewise for Banbridge. Despite the best efforts of both teams there were no further scores and it was the Banbridge RFC U18 team that celebrated their hard earned victory at the no-side whistle.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Scrummies” kitchen, and organised by the ever present Sid Rowe. All players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Brian Irwin, Chairman of Irwin’s Bakery and sponsor of the Nutty Krust Tournament was present to see Sid Rowe, a vital member of the Nutty Krust Committee, present the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Philip Jackson, the Banbridge RFC U18 scrum half, and was accepted on his behalf by his Banbridge U18 team mate, Ulster U19 squad member, Robbie Mathers.
The second of the quarter-final games in the 2019 Nutty Krust Tournament will see Armagh U18’s play City of Derry U18’s at 7-45pm on Wednesday 27th February under the Chambers Park floodlights. All supporters will be made to feel very welcome.
