News
16-01-2012 Changes take toll on Thirds
Having notched up only their second league win of the season last week, Banbridge Thirds took the field against Ballyclare Seconds for the second time this season with renewed optimism.
15-01-2012 Bird impressive as Thirds avenge cup defeat
Two late tries gave Bann Thirds a rather flattering if deserved win against a Portadown side which had knocked them out of the Crawford Cup just a few weeks previously.
04-10-2011 Packie hattrick not enough as Thirds 'Downed by Ports
Bann Thirds travelled to Portadown last Friday night to take on their second string in a league encounter under floodlights. It was a very wet night and the pitch was particularly slippy after a day's heavy rain.
05-09-2011 Newly promoted Thirds win at Cooke
Bann Thirds travelled to Belfast to take on Cooke Seconds in their first league game since earning promotion. With a very different side than the one that did the league and cup double last season, coach Andy Duke was nervous going into the game.
16-05-2011 Thirds crowned Harden Cup Champions
Banbridge Thirds rounded off their long season in style by picking up the Harden Cup at Chambers Park on Saturday.
The trophy, awarded to the winners of the play-off between the winners of the five Junior League sections of Ulster rugby, last resided in the Rifle Park clubhouse in 1991, when Bann's Third XV, then operating under the nickname of "Heslip's Heroes", had brought it back from Ravenhill.
10-05-2011 Thirds crush Cathedral City cup challenge
aving eventually been declared Junior League Second Two Winners, Banbridge 3rd XV were drawn against Armagh 2nd XV, winners of Section One, in the quarter final of the Harden Cup.
10-05-2011 Thirds defeat Stags to make Harden Final
Having defeated Crawford Cup winners and Junior Section One champions Armagh Seconds 46-20 in the preliminary round of the Harden Cup, Bann Thirds might have been expected to stroll it against Junior Three winners Grosvenor Seconds in the semi-final.
That was anything but the case as the city side proved to be a well-organised outfit with a solid defence and pace aplenty in the threequarters, leaving Bann to fall back on the trusty boot of full-back Mark Doherty for their narrow win.
23-03-2011 Thirds continue winning form at Ports
Bann Thirds travelled to neighbours Portadown last Friday night for the teams' first league encounter of the season. It was a great evening for rugby, if a little dark on Port's 'reserve' floodlit pitch.
09-03-2011 Sweet taste of revenge for Thirds
Bann Thirds, battling with Dungannon Thirds and CIYMS Seconds for the Junior League Two title, avenged an early-season defeat by the latter in Saturday's vital game.
01-03-2011 Second half comeback not enough for Thirds
Having lost narrowly to Ballynahinch Fourths in the league the previous Saturday, Bann Thirds again travelled to the Hinch' to take on their third string in the Crawford Cup.
22-02-2011 Depleted Thirds lose at 'Hinch
The Bann Thirds side which travelled to play at Ballynahinch last Saturday was somewhat depleted for a number of reasons, particularly in the pack. This is an area in which Ballynahinch are strong, and their decision to take Bann to the short and narrow High School pitch spelt trouble from the start.
14-02-2011 Rampant Thirds stay on course for league title
The Thirds racked up a half century of points against Malone as the battle for Junior League Section Two intensifies.
31-01-2011 Thirds beat Instonians in Crawford Cup
League-leading Bann Thirds were paired against Instonians Thirds in the second round of this year's Crawford Cup on Saturday past. Rifle Park was buzzing with four home games, and the Thirds were keen to put in a good performance.
01-11-2010 3rds beat previously unbeaten Dungannon
On a beautiful sunny day, perfect for open rugby, Bann Thirds took on unbeaten Dungannon Thirds at Rifle Park last Saturday.
18-10-2010 5th Straight League win for 3rds
The Greers of Antrim sponsored Banbridge Thirds played their fifth League game of the season in front of a fairly large crowd at Rifle Park on Saturday. Stand-in Captain Andy Craig was hoping to keep the teams 100% record intact with this Lisburn team being seen as a stiff test. Manager Andy Duke and Coach William Kirkwood had a few changes to make as some players from last weeks win against Larne Seconds were injured or unavailable.
14-10-2010 Jardine double helps Thirds overcome Larne
With three wins from three starts under their belt, Bann Thirds took on Larne Seconds at Rifle Park last Saturday. Their opposition had also recorded three wins from three so a tough encounter was expected from the start.
04-10-2010 Three in a row for Thirds
The weather for this Junior League game was conducive to running rugby and that was exactly what Bann produced right from the start.
21-09-2010 Thirds put Bangor to the sword
Bann Thirds took the field at home to Bangor 2nds last Saturday with a good blend of youth and experience. From early in the game it was evident that the good attendances at training so far this season were really improving the teams performance.
06-09-2010 Boland and Jackson secure victory
The Greer's of Antrim-sponsored Thirds travelled to Ballymena for their first game of the season in Junior League Section 2. The team had a mixture of experience and youth with Jonny Singleton, Matthew Bird and Ryan Ringland, graduates from Bann's youth system, all getting their first outings as senior players.