BANN END ULSTER LEAGUE 'DOWN AT BOTTOM
BANBRIDGE 1STs 26 Portadown  39 
January 3, 2009

Outscored five tries to four, Banbridge were unable to avenge their December AIL defeat at Portadown in their final match of the Ulster League. Rainey’s surprise victory away to Ballymena means that Bann ended the Ulster League rooted to the bottom of the table, but this is purely academic with the All-Ireland League remaining the primary competition.

The Ulster League again offered the opportunity for teams to rest players and try out different combinations and both sides took advantage with a number of key players missing from both sides.

Whilst chilly at Rifle Park, the conditions were otherwise calm and conducive to good rugby and both sides contributed to an expansive game, netting nine tries in total.

Bann found themselves three points down within minutes of the kick off. Stuart Wilson was harshly penalised after he successfully stripped the Portadown ball carrier mid-tackle and full back David Whitten slotted the three points for the visitors.

Portadown were not to hold onto the lead for long. Centre Pieter Odendaal soon had Bann ahead when he created an opening for winger Ashley Finlay. Odendaal pounced on a loose ball near the half way line and broke through the midfield evading defenders. Running out of space he cleverly kicked off the outside of his boot into the path of the oncoming Finlay. The winger gathered the ball and palmed off a tackle in the corner to cross and run under the posts allowing Neville Farr to add the easy conversion.

Portadown reduced the deficit to a single point with another penalty from the boot of Whitten after Bann had been penalised for being offside at the breakdown.

Whitten was on the score sheet again for the visitors when he crossed under the posts for Portadown’s opening try. The visitors had attacked the narrow side following a lineout close in and when the ball was moved to the backs Whitten found space to break through the defensive line, adding the conversion for good measure.

Wilson reduced the deficit to a single point when he charged down a kick on the half way line. He retrieved the ball and broke clear to race for the corner, securing the touchdown despite the tackle from Whitten. Farr was unable to add the conversion.

Portadown’s response to Wilson’s try was swift. Pressure at the breakdown allowed them to turn over possession in the middle of the field. The ball was steadily worked down into the Bann “22” with backs and forwards working to move the ball from wing to wing through a number of phases. Eventually space was created for hooker Ciaran O’Kane to touch down under the posts. Whitten added the two points.

Portadown managed another score before half time to further extend their lead when their impressive second row crashed over, again after Portadown had worked the ball through a long series of plays. Whitten converted giving Portadown a 27-12 half time lead.

Bann rallied after the interval in an attempt to claw back the 15 point deficit and a score soon came through centre Odendaal. Bann worked their way deep into opposition territory and the South African broke through a number of tackles to touch down close to the uprights, with Farr adding the conversion.

However, Bann’s score was negated when wing forward Dairmuid O’Kane crashed through the middle of a five metre lineout from a pre-arranged move to score for Portadown. The conversion was missed.

And any hopes of a comeback were put to bed when Bann lost a lineout on the halfway line and allowed a Portadown forward to run clear of their backline. Support was on hand for the off-load and the try was scored under the posts giving Whitten another two easy points.

Home No 8 Matthew Irvine’s hard work was rewarded late on when he broke through a number of tackles close in to score the bonus point try for Bann, the successful conversion completing the scoring.

With the Ulster League now finished Bann’s attention can revert to the remaining games in the All Ireland League, with their next encounter in just under two weeks’ time at home to Co. Carlow. Carlow will no doubt prove tough opposition, currently boasting the meanest defence in the Division and sitting near the top of the table with an impressive five wins out of seven. Bann had managed to put together a run of three victories over the Christmas period, including successes over AIL Division Two sides Instonians and Malone, and will look to build on this when they return to action.