BANN TAKE SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS LEAGUE SURVIVAL
BANBRIDGE 1STs
20
Nenagh Ormond
13
April 11, 2009
Outhalf Richard Finlay kicks ahead
Banbridge finally edged themselves away from the relegation play-off slot in AIL Division Three thanks to a fully-deserved win over Nenagh-Ormond at Rifle Park last Saturday. Bann followed up their narrow win at Ards with a more comprehensive success over Nenagh, dominating the game for long periods and out-scoring the Tipperary side by three tries to one. Indeed when Bann’s third touchdown came with 27 minutes remaining, the home side were looking good for a bonus point for four tries. It may have been disappointing for the local supporters that their side was unable to engineer another try, but when the final whistle came they were only too glad to settle for a four point success that virtually ensures All-Ireland rugby at Rifle Park next season. The home side had the early possession without threatening to breach the Nenagh lines and a 40 metre run by centre Vima Tuidraki gave early indication of the visitors’ potential to create problems in the home ranks. Full-back John Lillis kicked a 27 metre penalty to give Nenagh the lead in the 14th minute against the run of play. Successive penalties gave Bann a strong attacking position deep in the Nenagh “22”, but after a series of “pick-and-goes” the ball was turned over and the threat to the visitors’ line cleared. When play moved into the other half, Bann were caught in possession and Tuidraki picked up and ran the 25 metres to the line without a hand being laid on him. Lillis added the conversion to take his side into double figures. On the half hour Bann were again caught in possession around their own “22”, the referee signalled that he was playing advantage to Nenagh and scrum-half Michael Fogarty slotted over a drop goal from his “free” shot. So despite largely controlling possession through a secure line-out and dominant scrum, Bann were now 13 points in arrears. However that scrummaging advantage was to yield its reward before the break. Nenagh were pushed off the ball on their own put-in close to the line and after a couple of short drives, Simon McKinstry forced his was over for the touchdown. Neville Farr’s conversion attempt into the wind was off-target. Nenagh came back strongly in the closing minutes of the half and it took a concerted effort by the Bann defence to limit the half-time deficit to eight points. The second half was just three minutes old when Bann narrowed the gap. Bann had kicked a penalty into the corner to set up an attacking lineout, only to lose out on the throw before re-winning the ball at the subsequent ruck. When out-half Richard Finlay received from a ruck in front of the posts, a dummy, shimmy and darting run took him clear to touch down under the posts, adding the conversion for good measure. McKinstry might well have grabbed a second try after Bann had broken from their own “22”, the final pass from Packie Downey just not going to hand with the unguarded try line beckoning eight metres away. Now clearly on top, Bann put together their best move of the game to create that third try, with both locks playing their parts. Finlay and centre Odendaal took play deep into the Nenagh half, before McKinstry provided a linking role in a slick handling move that finished with his second row partner Andy Brown finishing off at the corner flag. The conversion attempt failed as did a penalty effort four minutes later from 37 metres out. But with ten minutes left Finlay slotted over from 24 metres range to leave Nenagh needing a converted try to deny Bann the win and a precious haul of four league points. Bann played out the remaining time to deny them even a faint chance of getting that score. So with just one round of fixtures left, Sunday’s Well replace Bann in second-bottom slot. And with their only remaining fixture away to promotion-seeking Old Wesley, the Cork side look destined to play another fixture, probably against either Cashel or City of Derry, to save their senior status. A win at relegated Waterpark on Saturday will remove any remaining threat to a Bann side whose last two games suggest better times ahead next season for a young side which has had to learn quickly about the realities of life in Division Three of the All-Ireland League. The experienced forward trio of McKinstry, Brown and prop Colin Bickerstaff gave further clear evidence of their importance to the side, while flanker James Morton, a dual-status player on loan from Armagh, impressed after his entry to the fray as a second half replacement.
.
Pos
Team
P
W
D
L
F
A
Diff
TB
LB
Pts
.
1
Corinthians
14
12
0
2
279
162
117
4
1
53
.
2
Old Wesley
14
10
0
4
357
173
184
6
3
49
.
3
Midleton
14
10
1
3
355
132
223
2
2
46
.
4
Queens University
14
10
0
4
307
182
125
3
2
45
.
5
Co. Carlow
14
8
1
5
224
138
86
2
4
40
.
6
Nenagh Ormond
14
8
0
6
188
173
15
1
3
36
.
7
Portadown
14
7
1
6
217
198
19
2
3
35
.
8
Ards
14
8
0
6
193
207
-14
1
2
35
.
9
Naas
14
7
0
7
225
258
-33
1
3
32
.
10
Rainey OB
14
6
1
7
217
245
-28
1
3
30
.
11
Suttonians
14
5
1
8
232
215
17
1
6
29
.
12
Connemara
14
6
1
7
194
250
-56
1
2
29
.
13
Banbridge
14
5
0
9
168
213
-45
0
5
25
.
14
Barnhall
14
3
0
11
156
196
-40
2
8
22
.
15
Sundays Well
14
4
0
10
158
214
-56
0
5
21
.
16
Waterpark
14
0
0
14
139
653
-514
1
2
3
Ards v Connemara Co. Carlow v Suttonians Naas v Corinthians Nenagh Ormond v Portadown Old Wesley v Sundays Well Queens University v Midleton Rainey OB v Barnhall Waterpark v Banbridge
