SECOND TRY IN SECOND START FOR BULLER
Cavan 2  10  BANBRIDGE 5THs 27
April 4, 2009

Try scorers Tony McCrea and Robert Buller

Bann 5's made the long journey on Cavan on Saturday in their latest league encounter. The home side won the toss and elected to play with a slight wind advantage however it was Bann who stated more strongly.

From the first scrum of the match Bann broke upfield in the centre only to be stopped just inside the 22. The ball went loose in the tackle and Jerry Ramsey was on hand to guide the ball towards the line displaying considerable dribbling skills in the process. He won the race to the line to score the opening try. The conversion attempt from Mark Ferguson struck the upright.

Bann maintained the pressure with Paul Cairns and Aaron Ervine controlling the lineout, winning all their own ball and spoiling most of Cavan's.

It was from a lineout just inside Bann's half that the next score began. The ball was secured and driven forward by the pack, then released to Mark Ferguson who broke through the defence before passing wide to winger, Robert Buller, who sprinted past the defence to score his second try in only his second appearance in a Bann jersey. The conversion attempt went wide.

Bann did not have it all their own way and gradually Cavan used the wind advantage to gain ground through the boot of their out-half. Cavan drove forward through some solid mauling but were held up short of the line by some stout defending from Bann. Cavan maintained the pressure and were awarded a penalty inside the 22. Cavan elected to run the ball and crashed over the line to bring the score to 10 -7 in Bann's favour at half-time.

From the restart Bann put Cavan under sustained pressure through some inch perfect line kicking from Mark Ferguson. Derek Moorhead picked up from the base of a scrum inside the 22 and drove forward. The ball was set back and Mark Ferguson made further yards before releasing to Kris Coleman,who darted through a gap to score under the posts. Ferguson added the conversion. Bann were now in control of the game and kept Cavan pinned down in their 22.

Tony McCrea was next to score when he showed great awareness to steal the ball at a lineout and charge over unopposed to increase Bann's lead with his first touch of the ball.

Bann's final score came from a lineout on the left side of the pitch. Aaron Ervine caught the ball cleanly and the pack drove towards the line. The ball was controlled at the back by Derek Moorhead, who broke off and crashed over assisted by several members of his pack.

Cavan got a consolation score five minutes from the final whistle when Bann's concentration slipped momentarily but it was too little too late. The final score 27-10 to Bann.

This was another solid performance by Bann, with winger Robert Buller unlucky not to get a hat-trick of tries having been forced into touch inches short of the line on two occasions