Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

The home side started strongly and had the visitors conceding penalties at the breakdown. From one of these John Ferris kicked the penalty 5 metres short of the line. The clean ball gained on the line out put Bann in a strong position, and their patience on the drive over the line rewarded second row Philip Jordan with the first try. The conversion by Clarke McAllister gave Bann a 7-0 lead.

The next five minutes saw Bann give a passage of play to the visitors, who, after failing with a penalty kick, took their points through a well taken drop goal to reduce the home side's lead to four points.

Bann's response was immediate, with another lineout five metres out being driven close to the Cavan line. Scrum-half Andy Cowan picked up from the ruck and darted through a gap on the blindside to touch down, leaving McAllister to add the extras.

With Bann now well in control up front, where the forward effort was being spearheaded by No 8 Andrew Davidson, the threequarters began to threaten the Cavan line. Strong runs from Adam Waugh, Jordan Weir and Calum Boland almost yielded a third try. But the visitors' line held firm and further challenges from forwards Lee Allen, Michael McKee and Davidson were repelled.

Then Cavan put a speculative kick over the top of an erstwhile solid Bann defence. The cruellest of bounces saw the ball fall right into the arms of the only chasing Cavan player who raced in for a converted try to leave the interval score at 14-10.

Two promising moves early in the second half were spoiled by knock-ons but eventually clean lineout ball delivered Bann's third try. Philip Jordan provided the initial thrust, supported by Davidson, but it was McKee's 20 metre burst that took play to the Cavan line where the supporting Cowan was on hand to take the scoring pass. McAllister's hit the mark with the conversion before transferring his services to the Firsts on the adjacent pitch as replacement winger.

Eventually Bann were able to get the score they deserved with 15 minutes to go. A scrum inside their own half produced quality ball for the backs to initially break down the right. The forwards were quick to support and when the ball was then moved left, they got involved in the support play that took them into the Cavan "22". Bann kept the ball in hand and this allowed Jonnie McKim the luxury of not needing the extra man on the wing as he was able to sprint through for the try. Ferris moved the score on to 28-10.

Unfortunately, Bann seemed to go back into a ‘game won' passage of play, and with five minutes to go, they allowed Cavan to drift up the pitch unopposed and score the try that their efforts deserved, but one that the home side should not have allowed.

Overall, given the changes in personnel over two matches, this was a satisfying result, with a number of players giving evidence of their ability to step up when required.

The Man-of-the-Match award was a closely run thing between Andy Davidson and Andy Cowan, but the latter got the nod for his two crucial tries.