BANBRIDGE 31 COOKE 5 Banbridge eased themselves into the new rugby season with a win over Belfast side Cooke at Rifle Park last Saturday. With four new faces in their starting line-up, this was an encouraging opener for Andre Bester’s team, albeit against a Cooke side which features in Qualifying Section One of the Ulster League. They too enjoy the coaching services of Bester and the South African will have been pleased with the efforts of both sides as they worked hard to overcome the effect of the accumulated off-season rust. Bann’s back-row included a summer recruit from Enniskillen in No 8 Jamie Johnston and flanker Chris Allen, who had played a season at Lurgan after recovering from a serious road traffic accident before returning to Rifle Park. Both showed up well with Johnston’s ball-carrying ability evident throughout and Allen contributing significantly to Bann’s lineout efforts. In the backline out-half Robin Thompson, who had come through Bann’s mini rugby ranks before going on to play for Banbridge Academy, Queen’s and Ulster Under-20s, gave clear evidence of his potential to be a major player in the AIL campaign. In the centre another recruit from Lurgan in the shape of James Andrews did enough to suggest that he has the skills and physical presence to make an impact in senior rugby. Bann’s winning try tally of 5-1 was no less than might reasonably have been expected given the difference in status between the teams. But there was no doubting Cooke’s right to that single score, coming after a long period of dominance in terms of territory and possession in the final quarter of the game. By that time however, Bann were already 24 points ahead, thanks to first half scores from open-side Darren Cochrane and full-back Ashley Finlay and further tries after the break from Paul Ross and Cochrane. Bann’s response to Cooke’s 76th minute try was immediate, with replacement Alex Malcolm making the break from the re-start to set up Johnston for his debut try in Bann colours. Conversions from Robin Thompson and replacement Jeff Dodds (2) made up the final tally. BANN SECONDS 28 COOKE SECONDS 3 The Second XVs from Bann and Cooke had battled it out before their respective Firsts went head-to-head. Again it was the home side that prevailed, scoring four converted tries to a penalty. School-leaver and former Ulster Schools (U-19) centre Alex Malcolm was a summer recruit to the Bann ranks and he registered his first try for his new club on the half-hour, cutting through the Cooke midfield to score at the posts, leaving Jurgen Schumann to add the easy conversion. Cooke kicked a penalty just before the break and the 7-3 interval scoreline fairly reflected what had been an evenly fought battle. Over an hour had been played before Bann were able to extend their lead, Malcolm’s powerful run setting impressive open-side Ryan Patterson off on a 30 metre gallop to the line. The experience in a young Bann side came largely from the presence of Andy Brown and the No 8 showed that his experience in picking up from a scrum and evading the defence on a short run to the try line. Two minutes from the end Malcolm capped an excellent display with another surging run which ended with a touch-down under the posts.
