Bann win mid-season friendly
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Old Wesley 12. Banbridge 35.
BANBRIDGE won the last of three mid-season friendlies in emphatic style, running in seven unconverted tries at Donnybrook in their final outing before the All-Ireland League programme resumes.
On the two previous weekends Bann had put in battling, although ultimately losing, performances against Malone and Queen's. The two Ulster sides, like Old Wesley, compete in the Division above Bann, so the performances in the 12-8 loss at a muddy Gibson Park and a 29-42 reversal at the hands of the students were hardly discouraging.
A Ryan Patterson try and Robin Thompson penalty made up Bann's tally at Malone and, in the defeat to Queen's, Bann were outscored 7-5 on tries, with the immaculate boot of the students' Ulster Ravens out-half James McKinney maximising their points tally.
Bann had taken a 19-7 lead with tries from Andrew Morrison, Dale Carson and Adam Ervine before Queen's racked up two tries either side of the interval to go 19-35 ahead.
Colin Bickerstaff's 68th minute try from a five metre scrum was more than cancelled out by another converted Queen's touchdown before home skipper Simon McKinstry crossed for the final score of an entertaining game.
With a number of players carrying knocks, the Bann squad that travelled to Dublin for last Saturday's game showed several changes.
And when Wesley scored an intercept try in the opening minutes it was looking ominous for the visitors. But that was to the last time the home side crossed the Bann line until the final play of the game yielded a second try.
In between it was Bann calling the shots, with Brendan Ward (2), Adam Ervine, Chris Allen, David Weir, John Porter and Andrew Kirkwood touching down.
With the important Nenagh game next up for Bann, this was a fine team display and perfect preparation for the trip to Co Tipperary.
On their first visit to New Ormond Park, in the 2005-06 season, Bann went down 30-26 to the newly promoted Nenagh. Two years later the Rifle Park lads came home with a bonus point after a 43-3 success. But their most recent visit, in 2009-10, saw Nenagh come out on top on a 28-22 scoreline.
The Division 2B table shows Nenagh just five points behind Bann and Barnhall, who are both one point behind second-placed Rainey on 29 points. So Saturday's result could have a big bearing on the final placings.
After the Christmas shut-down the Ulster League win at Instonians and more especially the performances in those three friendlies should ensure that Bann arrive at Nenagh well-placed to perform close to their best. The hope is that that will be good enough to bring home the winning points.
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