BANN BATTLE HARD FOR VITAL WIN
BANBRIDGE 1STs 16 Suttonians  11 
December 13, 2008

A battling second half performance saw Banbridge collect their second All-Ireland League win of the season and allay the supporters’ relegation fears.

With Simon McKinstry unavailable because of a family bereavement, skipper Colin Bickerstaff teamed up with Andy Kennedy in the second row. No 8 Matthew Irvine made a welcome return after missing several games through injury while Ashley Finlay made his first AIL start on the right wing.

Bann showed some early mid-field enterprise, but it was the visitors who carved out the first scoring opportunity, almost putting right winger Kevin Mpambou Da D’ in at the corner flag.

When a Bann lineout throw went astray, Suttonians were given a penalty chance for holding on after the tackle, but Tyrone Taiera’s kick from 38 metres failed to hit the target. The ensuing “22” drop-out was charged down, Bann were again penalised and this time the Suttonians out-half bisected the posts to open the scoring in the 8th minute.

Seven minutes later Bann created more problems for themselves when an attempted clearance kick was charged down inside their “22”. Suttonians retrieved the loose ball and when it was transferred to the left flank full-back Paddy Maguire found space to touch down at the corner flag.

Bann fought back and Ashley Finlay underlined his potential with a threatening run from the visitors’ “22” which was halted one metre short of the line.

With Suttonians centre Alan Dodd picking up a yellow card for his work at the ruck that followed, Bann were able to keep the opposition on the rack. A knock-on gave the visitors a temporary reprieve but the pressure eventually earned Richard Finlay a kickable penalty opportunity and he duly obliged.

Despite picking up another yellow card, with prop Emmett Conroy the culprit, Suttonians finished the first half looking the stronger of the sides. Their efforts earned two further penalty chances for Taiera as play centred largely on Bann territory. His first effort added three points to his side’s tally with the aid of the crossbar, but the second rebounded into play off the crossbar, leaving Bann facing a 3-11 deficit at the break.

The opening exchanges after the interval mirrored the start of the first half, with Bann showing a level of confidence that belied their recent run of form. The Suttonians defence was tested down both flanks before a neat chip kick from Richard Finlay won Bann a lineout deep inside the opposition “22”. With first-phase possession safely secured Bann drove forward through a series of rucks before open-side flanker Darren Cochrane sliced through the disrupted Suttonians defensive line from 15 metres out.

The first half withdrawal of the injured Adam Waugh saw Stephen Cowan take his place at full-back. And when Stuart Wilson similarly had to retire from the action in the 54th minute, a reshuffle in the Bann ranks saw Barro Kessler come on to partner Bickerstaff, with Kennedy moving to No 6 and Geoff Thompson transferring from flank forward to join Alan Gibson in the centre.

But such was Bann’s control of the second half proceedings, Suttonians had to wait until the 58th minute to gain a foothold in home territory, and only then when Bann were penalised for a late tackle. It proved to be a brief sojourn as Bann went back upfield, Jeff Dodds put in a neat kick to force a lineout deep inside the “22” and Richard Finlay dropped a goal to level the scores.

Bann’s superior scrummaging got a further boost with the introduction of John Nelson in the 67th minute and the veteran prop got an early opportunity to show that he has lost none of his power. When Bann won a scrum 5 metres out from the Suttonians line a controlled drive sent the defending eight into reverse gear. As the concentrated shove drove the set piece remorselessly towards the Suttonians try line, scrum-half Dodds orchestrated manoeuvres before adding the coup de grace, his touchdown giving Bann a five point lead they were not to relinquish.

Bann spent much of the remaining 10 minutes in their own “22”. Indeed a Suttonians score looked more than a possibility as they repeatedly drove at the home line from close range in the dying minutes. But there was a steely resolve to Bann’s defensive effort that refused to consider a draw, much less another narrow defeat, as an acceptable outcome.
The final whistle was greeted as much with relief as delight by the home supporters, who must be hoping that this result heralds a long-awaited turnaround in the team’s fortunes.

Man-of-the-match Irvine certainly made a major contribution to this success, with his powerful hits taking the steam out of the Suttonians ball-carriers, while Kennedy’s return to first-team action, even if only on a short-term basis, has had a telling effect.

Bann finish off their Ulster League programme over the next three Saturdays, with Instonians visitors to Rifle Park this Saturday, Malone hosting the locals on December 27th and Portadown travelling on the first Saturday in the New Year . Coach Andre Bester will no doubt want to maintain the momentum created by this success and is likely to field his strongest team with an eye to the next AIL fixture against Co Carlow on 10th January