Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

Bann had shipped 50 points when the teams last locked horns in the Ulster League 12 months previously, with City of Derry going on to finish the season as All-Ireland champions thanks ultimately to Bann's win over Seapoint on the last day of Division Three action.

Given the result last August and the fact that Bann had eight players unavailable for a variety of reasons, the coaching staff will not be too dismayed by defeat at the hands of a Derry side that will operate in AIL Division 2A this season.

The home side went ahead with just five minutes played, as flanker Richard Baird forced his way over from close range after a couple of 5-metre scrums. Richard McCarter converted from close to the touchline.

The Maiden City side extended that lead on 23 minutes after Robin Thompson's fly hack on halfway set Derry full-back Peter Henderson off on a weaving run through a phalanx of Bann players before linking with centre David Funston. The ball was grubbered behind the last line of defence and winger Josh Lewis just managed to touch down before the ball went dead. McCarter's conversion attempt again split the posts to open up a 14 point gap.

Derry almost added a third try directly from the re-start as poor tackling let flanker Stephen Corr make ground deep inside the Bann half before an infringement allowed the visitors to clear the danger.

With Bann having to work hard to secure first phase possession the threequarters were forced to work off poor quality ball. When a scoring opportunity presented itself via a penalty award against the home side in an eminently kickable position, Bann opted for the scrum which ultimately yielded no reward, and half-time arrived with the first away points still to be registered.

Ten minutes after the break Bann flanker Mark Wilson picked up a yellow card for what the referee deemed was a high tackle. But three minutes later the Derry ranks were similarly reduced by Baird's dismissal and Thompson kicked the resultant penalty to the corner. Possession was secured cleanly and Colin Bickerstaff popped the ball up to allow hooker Paul Ross to cross for a Bann try to which Thompson added the conversion.

Derry picked up their third try in the 58th minute after Bann had spilled ball on their own 10 metre line, with prop Sam McAuley effecting the touchdown at the left hand corner flag. McCarter's kick into the wind fell short of the posts.

With the forward exchanges overheating, Derry's Bob McKillop and Bann's Chris Allen were shown yellow after a scrum broke up in a mini-brawl. But with the handling error count increasing on both sides, neither line was seriously threatened in the 18 minutes remaining.

Next up for Bann is a Queen's side which, despite having several players tied up with Ulster U-20s, ran Ballynahinch close last Saturday. Bann coach Daniel Soper will be hoping to have a greater choice when it comes to selection, but an improvement at the set piece will be needed if Bann are to pick up their first win at the expense of the student side.

Kick-off at Rifle Park is at 2.30pm.

Bann team v City of Derry:- Jonny Pollock, Andrew Kirkwood, Christopher Best, James Andrews, Stephen Cowan, Robin Thompson, Neville Farr, James McCrum, Paul Ross, Brian Hanna, Colin Bickerstaff, Chris Allen, Jamie McDonald, Mark Wilson, Stephen Irvine. Replacements: Lee Allen, Nelson Shanks, Alan Conn, Geoff Thompson, John Porter.