MIDLETON THE MASTERS
Ballynahinch  34  BANBRIDGE Under 16s 7
October 18, 2008

Richard Finlay looks for support

Andre Bester speaks with the players

Banbridge slipped back to third from bottom of Division Three after going down to a strong Midleton side in their tenth All-Ireland League game.

They could have no complaints about the outcome of this game after conceding two tries and only on the very rarest of occasions offering a threat to the visitors’ line.

From the outset the Co Cork side had the edge at the set piece, disrupting the Bann scrum and showing an efficiency and surety at winning first phase lineout possession that the home side could never match.

And in No 10 Jason Holland they had the key player in the game. The native New Zealander has been with Midleton for nearly a decade but, because of his role this season as coach to the Munster backs, makes only a few appearances for his club side. Unfortunately for Bann this was one of them and he pulled all the strings, kicking astutely or passing as the occasion demanded to keep Bann on the back foot for long periods.

Midleton’s early pressure earned a penalty in front of the posts and Jeff Hindmough had the simple task of opening his side’s account in the 11th minute.

Bann’s first foray into the visitors’ “22” almost produced a score. After Richard Finlay’s half break, Stuart Wilson’s cross-field kick allowed Simon McKinstry to pressurise the defence into conceding a scrum. An attempted clearance kick was charged down by Finlay but as the ball bobbled invitingly, just two metres short of the try line, the out-half knocked on as he attempted to gather and the chance was gone.

It was no surprise, given their dominance, that Midleton went further ahead after 25 minutes. Another poor Bann lineout eight metres from their own line led to a Midleton scrum. The surge was held but when the ball was re-cycled from a subsequent ruck, scrum-half Rob Smyth found a gap on the narrow blind-side to score the opening try.

Hindmough slotted over the most difficult of conversions and 12 minutes later added a penalty from 36 metres range to stretch his team’s lead to 13 points.

A break by Finlay, that saw him take ruck ball to ghost past several defenders, took play inside the Midleton “22”. The defence conceded a penalty and Neville Farr converted for what proved to be his side’s only points.

Down 13-3 at the break, Bann needed a comeback to match their second half display at Naas the previous weekend. Instead the opposition fielded the ball from the re-start and split open Bann’s defensive cover to put centre Junior Sifa off on a 45 metre run to the posts. Hindmough’s conversion was simple and Midleton looked set for a bonus point win.

But if Bann were largely ineffectual in attack there was no doubting their determination in defence. The visitors continued to dominate possession, but for most of the remainder of the game they were kept in check by a rugged rearguard defence.

Midleton should have increased their lead when they eventually broke through with four minutes remaining. But inexplicably replacement Paul Whelan managed to spill the ball when over the Bann line and under no pressure from defenders.

It was however irrelevant as his side already had the game won and a fourth bonus-winning try was probably beyond them. The win took Midleton into the top four in Division Three and within sight of a promotion slot.

At the other end Bann sit uneasily within striking range of second bottom Sunday’s Well. And with table-toppers Corinthians and third-placed Queen’s next up for the Rifle Park side, their supporters may have to wait until the last three games for the two wins which they need to take them clear of the threat of relegation.

Ards, Nenagh and Waterpark offer more likely possibilities in terms of garnering league points. But it all adds up to a nervous couple of months for players, coaches and supporters alike.

Relief from the pressures of All-Ireland League rugby comes this weekend in the unlikely shape of Ballymena, Bann’s opponents in the first round of the Ulster Senior Challenge Cup. Bann have managed a couple of semi-final appearances in this competition since their rise to the senior ranks. But even if the Eaton Park side have not been showing consistent form in Division One of the AIL, they still should have enough in their armoury to ensure Bann’s interest to this year’s competition is limited to one game.

Kick off at Rifle Park on Saturday is at 2.30pm.

Neville Farr kicks for goal

Stuart Wilson skips out of the tackle

Matthew Irvine is thwarted by the Midleton defence

Brian Hanna looks for a gap