LAWSON BOOTS BANN OUT OF CHAMBERS PARK
Portadown 3  24  BANBRIDGE 4THs 17
March 10, 2009

Banbridge 4ths travelled to Chambers Park to face Portadown 3rds in a Junior League floodlit fixture last Tuesday evening, and they were eventually undone by a player who graced the pitches of Rifle Park for a number of seasons. Colin Lawson, whose kicking had been so assured in the navy of Banbridge, proved equally as accurate in the royal blue of Portadown managing 14 points in total for the home side.

Bann travelled with a team sporting a mix of youth and experience and it was the strength and power of 18 year old Josh Neilly that yielded both of Banbridge’s tries. Prop Neilly acquitted himself well in the set piece as well with his experienced opponent commenting after the game on the scrummaging ability of the young player.

Portadown had opened the scoring with a converted try early in the first half before Neilly reduced the deficit, powering over from ten metres to touch down for a try. Albert Finney, who formed an impressive centre partnership with Ally Lewis, added the conversion to draw the teams level.

Lawson managed three penalties, to Finney’s single effort before the interval to give Portadown a 16-10 lead at half time.

Indiscipline saw Mark Lewis and Gareth Houston both spend ten minutes in the sin bin during the second half, forcing Bann to play part of the match with only 13 men. And it was while undermanned that Neilly got his second try, again using his size and strength to force his way over the line from close range. Finney added the conversion.

But despite Bann’s best efforts, another try for the home side and a penalty from the boot of Lawson was enough to secure the win for Portadown.