BANN FINISH 11th POSITION WITH BONUS POINT WIN
Waterpark
13
BANBRIDGE 1STs
28
April 18, 2009
Some of the players after their win in Waterpark
The sun was shining at Ballinakill for the last Saturday of the season as Bann duly picked up the win that copper-fastened their place in the All-Ireland League next season. If there have been times during the season when the Rifle Park faithful have had grave concerns about Bann’s future in senior rugby, those worries seemed far away on Saturday. The biggest travelling support for many years had made the three hour plus journey to Waterford to provide tangible evidence of their backing to the players and coaches. Within four minutes of the start Bann had taken the lead against a Waterpark side whose fate had been sealed several weeks ago. Out-half Richard Finlay chipped delicately behind the Waterpark front-line defence for Bann flanker James Morton to gather and dive over the line under the posts. Finlay added the conversion and another heavy defeat for the relegated Munster side looked on the cards. However they seemed determined to sign off from the national league with a bang rather than a whimper, as they battled gamely to play the next 15 minutes in Bann’s half, with only the clear lack of a cutting edge preventing them from crossing Bann’s line. However a penalty from hooker Brendan Walsh did yield three points after 19 minutes play. Three minutes later, however, Bann went further ahead. Scrum half Jeff Dodds picked up from a ruck just inside the opposition “22” and dummied to feed his support before nipping through the gap that opened up, sidestepping past the ‘Park full-back to touch down. Finlay’s conversion attempt was again on target. Walsh kicked a second penalty on the half hour to keep his side in touch but five minutes later Bann picked up their third converted try. After a series of rucks inside the ‘Park half, flanker Darren Cochrane made inroads with a strong run at the opposition midfield defence. When the ball was moved blind, right winger Packie Downey was given enough latitude to underline his potential with a searing run that left the defence in his wake. With three tries already under their collective belt at the break, Bann would have been expected to comfortably pick up the fourth try which would bring their only winning bonus point of the season. Midway through the half a strong run from Pieter Odendaal preceded firstly Cochrane and then Downey being stopped short of the ‘Park try line. But they were rare moments of excitement in an otherwise dull second half that was littered with mistakes and penalty offences. Indeed it wasn’t until the least five minutes that Bann were able to break through for that previously elusive fourth touchdown. By then Waterpark had given their own supporters something to cheer, centre Craig Doyle racing through a glaring gap which opened up in the Bann defence in the 70th minute, with Walsh’s conversion bringing his side to within eight points of Bann’s tally. With the clock running down, Downey was put in possession on the halfway line. As the defence closed in he chipped ahead and re-gathered from a kindly bounce to sprint the 30 metres to the posts to ensure Bann’s season finally finished on a high note. This third successive win lifted Bann into 11th place in Division Three of the All-Ireland League but more importantly suggested that this young batch of players could look forward to their next season of AIL rugby with optimism. They have come to terms with the loss of seven experienced members of last year’s squad and shown a spirit and increasing confidence which will see players, coaches and supporters alike looking forward eagerly to the new campaign. Bann’s team was:- Adam Waugh, Packie Downey, Alan Gibson, Pieter Odendaal, Ashley Finlay, Richard Finlay, Jeff Dodds, Michael Cromie, Paul Ross, Brian Hanna, Simon McKinstry, Andy Brown, James Morton, Darren Cochrane, Matthew Irvine. Replacements (all used) Colin Bickerstaff, John Nelson, Geoff Thompson, Neville Farr, Jonny Little.
