VITAL LEAGUE WIN IN RELEGATION BATTLE
Ards  8  BANBRIDGE 1STs 10
March 28, 2009

Banbridge picked up their fourth All-Ireland League win of the season at Ards last Saturday thanks to a late try from Simon McKinstry. And as the results elsewhere in Division Three began to filter through it became obvious just how important this win was to the Rifle Park side’s hopes of retaining their hard-won senior status.

A win for Sunday’s Well over Barnhall took the Cork side level with their Kildare opponents on 21 points. Saturday’s win over their North Down opposition takes Bann onto the same tally, with only an inferior points differential keeping them in second bottom place in Division Three. But of the three sides, Bann appear to have slightly the easier run-in over the last two rounds of matches, with their last game at already-relegated Waterpark offering the real prospect of improvement on their points for/against differential, if not a four-try bonus point.

It could have been very different after Saturday’s encounter at Hamilton Park as both sides struggled in the swirling wind to produce any rugby of quality. Bann did enjoy majority possession, but after a couple of early attempts to run the ball foundered they largely kept it tight, relying on the pick and go tactic to make ground.

The wind played its part in Neville Farr’s failed penalty attempt from 30 metres in the 19th minute and a further 13 minutes had elapsed before Bann were able to reflect their dominance on the scoreboard. From a line-out deep in the Ards “22” the Bann forwards drove repeatedly at the fringe defence until flanker Darren Cochrane finally forced his way over for the touchdown. Farr was again off-target with the conversion attempt.

When the referee deemed McKinstry to have knocked on from the re-start Ards were able to make their first foray into the Bann “22”. The visitors won a penalty 14 metres out but again the elements prevailed as the kick blew wide of the uprights.

Bann finished the half on top and after McKinstry had hacked ahead on a loose Ards clearance kick, a home infringement allowed Bann to set up an attacking lineout 5 metres out. But the throw was blown off-line and Ards were relieved to change ends just the five points in arrears.

It took them just five minutes of the second period to get on level terms, but it was a score that owed very little to guile or invention. The visitors’ defence failed to deal with a ball bobbling on their 10 metre line and, as the Bann defenders dithered, Ards left winger David Armstrong gathered and ran in unopposed close to the posts. Again the conversion points went unclaimed.

With Bann conceding too much turnover ball, Ards were able to use the wind to take up an attacking position inside the visitors’ “22”. And they might well have taken the lead when they pounced on a tapped lineout ball to drive within inches of the try line. But the referee spotted a double movement and from the penalty Bann kicked clear.

With just 10 minutes remaining a high tackle gave Ards another pot at goal from 35 metres out. This time Michael Lawton judged the kick to perfection to give the home side a three point lead. It was to prove short-lived. From the re-start Bann No 8 Matthew Irvine was up quickly to charge down an attempted clearance kick. McKinstry was hot on his heels to collect the ball and charge the 10 metres to the try line. Richard Finlay’s attempted conversion was short but Bann were now in front with just 7 minutes remaining.

Bann dominated play for the remainder of the game. Finlay’s penalty attempt from 30 metres rebounded off an upright but Bann set up camp inside the Ards “22”, winning a series of scrums which, although not yielding any further points, did at least run down the clock until Jeff Dodds kicked to touch to bring the game to an end.

There was a mixture of jubilation and relief among the ranks of Bann players and supporters as they left the pitch to await the results from elsewhere.

They now know that Saturday’s win gives them a real chance of survival, but another win will be needed and possibly a bonus point or two. Nenagh Ormond travel to Rifle Park on Easter Saturday on the back of a six game winning streak which has included success over promotion-chasers Old Wesley and Midleton. That has lifted them into sixth place in the table, so Bann will have to make the most of their home advantage if they are to get any return from that game.

That just leaves a Waterpark side who have been everyone’s whipping boys this season. It would be nice to be travelling to Waterford for that last game not needing the win, but it is more likely that, just as in the Six Nations, the final outcome will not be known until the final play on the last day of action

Darren Cochrane opened the scoring for Bann