U14s IMPRESS WITH QUARTER FINAL WIN
BANBRIDGE Under 14s 20 Virginia  5 
April 4, 2009

Action from the U14s win over Virginia

The visit of Ulster League play-off finalists Virginia represented the biggest challenge of the season to date for Bann’s Under-14 side. But to a man they rose to it magnificently, outscoring their opponents four tries to one to rightfully claim their place in the semi-final of the Ulster Cup.

Bann weathered some early Virginia pressure before showing their attacking flair. Half-backs Josh Coyle and Ryan Graham combined well to give their threequarters room in which to operate. And centres Andrew Sleator and William Baird made good ground before the latter linked with Kyle McConnell. The Rathfriland lad has played most of his rugby this season in the back five of the pack, but featuring in this game on the left wing, he showed he had pace to match his strength as he out-flanked the cover to score the opening try.

And it was McConnell who grabbed the second score, after his power took him through two tackles to touch down at the corner flag.

Taking a ten point lead into the second half, Bann were playing with growing confidence, with powerhouse runs from prop Thomas Carlisle and No 8 Jonny McCreery keeping Virginia on the back foot.

Flanker Neil Cochrane showed his enormous potential with a 25 metre run for a third try mid-way through the second half. And the win was sealed when out-half Graham chipped behind the defence and won the race to touch down in the right hand corner.

Virginia scored with the last move of the game, but it will have been scant consolation for the Co Cavan lads. Having lost the league final to Malone at Rifle Park, they will surely look on Bann’s home patch as an unhappy hunting ground.

Not that there was any luck attached to this impressive win for a Bann squad who have the potential to make a Ravenhill final for the first time ever at this level. To do that they will have to beat Carrick away, a match scheduled for Saturday 18th April.

The U14s scored four tries to win

U14s v Virginia

The U14s will face Carrick away in the semis