Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

Unfortunately, due to players' injuries and unavailability, mostly on the teams above, there were a lot of changes both in position and personnel.

On a great day for running rugby, the game started very briskly with both teams keeping the ball in hand. Bann had the better of most of the play but only managed a penalty goal, converted by Jake Fisher, to lead by three points at half time. Despite pressurising the opposition line on many occasions, Bann could not find a way over for the try they deserved.

A great tight performance by Andy Wilson saw Bann dominate the scrums, at least for the first half, and David Little was immense in both the loose and lineout. James Mathers, playing at No 8, was also very prevalent around the park.

If there was one criticism that could be made of the Bann team in the first half it was that they didn't move enough ball out to the backs and really test the opposition. On the few occasions that they got to run the ball, centres Packie Downey and Chris Craig looked dangerous. With the supporting back three of Calum Boland, Fisher and Michael Ross supporting them, Bann could, and should, have breached the ‘Clare defence.

The second half started with more of the same, and twenty minutes in the game could still have gone either way. However, a momentary loss of concentration, and a resultant missed tackle, allowed the Ballyclare centre to touch down for a score which they duly converted to take a 3-7 lead.

Bann tried hard to get back into the game, but a number of wrong options continued to frustrate them, and when Ballyclare scored again with a carbon copy of their first try, also converted, then the 11 point lead was simply a "bridge too far".

Bann did play hard right to the end but were unable to close the gap and the County Antrim returned home with the two league points.

Yet again, the fact that the players never seem to get to play together as a team for two weeks in a row had a huge bearing on the result. Thanks to all those who filled in at very short notice.

It is important that all players in the club consider the knock-on effect down the teams before they make themselves unavailable for anything other than the most genuine of reasons.