U18 CE BOWMAN CUP CHAMPIONS
Ballynahinch  18  BANBRIDGE Under 18s 20
May 9, 2009

Banbridge, sponsored by Gordons Chemists, lifted the Ulster Under-18 Cup last Saturday at Ravenhill after edging out great local rivals Ballynahinch in a thrilling final.

In the most recent of the team’s five previous contests this season, Ballynahinch had come from behind to claim victory in the semi-final of the Nutty-Krust competition. And when the Ballymacarn Park side won a penalty just to the left of the posts in the dying minutes of Saturday’s game, it looked as if Bann would again be denied. But the kick drifted wide, the final two minutes were played out and the celebrations began for this talented group of local players.

Bann almost grabbed the lead within three minutes of the first whistle, scrum-half Richard Henning picking up a charged-down kick only to be hauled down short of the posts after a 25 metre sprint.

Five minutes later ‘Hinch were ahead after they had taken advantage of three successive penalties awarded in their favour to push Bann 75 metres downfield. From the subsequent lineout the ‘Hinch forwards’ drive for the line proved unstoppable.

Bann’s opening score, in the 11th minute, came when the referee played advantage after the ‘Hinch centres had obstructed at an attempted mis-move. As play carried on Bann centre Chris Leathem intercepted a pass and out-paced the cover defence in a 50 metre sprint to the posts. Mark Doherty’s conversion put his side 7-5 in front.

‘Hinch regained the lead in the 21st minute with a try in the right-hand corner after Bann had been penalised at a lineout, with the excellent conversion from the touchline leaving the score at 7-12.

A strong mid-field run from Leathem brought play inside the ‘Hinch 10 metre line and when the defence conceded a penalty, Bann out-half Andrew Kirkwood struck a superb drop-goal from 32 metres out as the referee again played advantage.

Just before the break ‘Hinch restored the 5-point differential when they kicked a penalty from in front of the posts. Then it took a superb cover tackle from Sam Boyd to prevent the opposition from crossing the Bann line a third time.

The opening exchanges of the second half saw both sides making basic errors but as the tempo picked up Doherty was off-target with a penalty attempt before ‘Hinch went three points further ahead with a successful kick at the other end.

Fifteen minutes into the half it was Leathem who again brought the Bann supporters to their feet as he repeated his first-half trick, intercepting a pass and, after a brief stumble, regaining his feet to sprint the 30 metres to the posts. Doherty’s inevitable conversion brought the score to a tantalising 17-18.

After a good tidy by flanker Matthew Bird had averted a potentially dangerous situation, Bann won a penalty 37 metres out. The swirling wind may have been predominately in his favour, but Doherty still had to produce an excellent kick to steer the ball between the posts and give his side the lead.

There were still 14 tense minutes to play out and as ‘Hinch battled to regain supremacy, it took a 60 metre kick from Leathem to relieve further pressure on the Bann line.

Then came that heart-stopping but unsuccessful final shot at goal from ‘Hinch. As players from both sides received treatment for injuries and cramp, the referee signalled two minutes play remaining. Bann won possession from the lineout, thanks to the consistently impressive Nathan Martin, and pinned ‘Hinch in their own territory until that final blast signalled a deserved success.

After the disappointment of the league campaign, when Bann got the better of ‘Hinch in the Zone A league only to lose out in the Zone play-offs, followed by that Nutty-Krust defeat, this win was all the sweeter for Bann.

Coaches Willie Kirkwood and Marc Eadie have needed all of their big squad to cope with a succession of injuries. And while the players who missed out on the limited cup squad were inevitably disappointed, all twenty five shared in the deserved acclaim of the supporters.

This was the perfect end to the season, with ‘Hinch again proving worthy and sporting opponents in what was a great advert for youth rugby in Ulster.

The Bann team was:- Mark Doherty, Simon Adamson, Andrew Morrison, Chris Leathem, David Adamson, Andrew Kirkwood, Richard Henning, Jonny Harris, Jonny Murphy, Josh Neilly, Nathan Martin, Ross Semple, Sam Boyd, Matthew Bird, Stephen Irvine. Replacements:- Ryan Ringland, Jonny Weir, Matthew Graham, Andrew Orr, Peter Irvine, Clarke McAllister, Matthew Quinn.