Cromie grabs winner for U15s in Lurgan Share
Lurgan 12 BANBRIDGE U15s 19December 10, 2011
Lurgan started off this game as every home team should, encamping themselves in the Bann "22" waiting for an opening. It took some great defending from the Bann pack to keep Lurgan at bay, with the back row cutting short all Lurgan progress and a try-saving tackle from Samuel Mount. A rare piece of Bann possession gifted the opposition their first score when an intercept between the centres allowed the Lurgan 13 to run in under the posts for the seven pointer. Bann were starting to find their rhythm with Josh Cromie pulling all the strings between forwards and backs. A Bann penalty saw the scrum-half quickly tap and go and feed prop Jake Dennison who crashed through three tacklers to score his first try of the season. His celebration clearly should be an example of what it means to wear the Banbridge shirt. Once again Bann re-grouped and with surging runs from Megaw and Josh Cromie they were soon back in the Lurgan "22". A Bann scrum saw Josh Cromie once again outwit the opposition and power his way over the try line carrying two tacklers with him to leave the full time score at 12-19. Ballymoney visit Rifle Park next Saturday and the team would need to improve on this performance if they are to hold onto second place in the Ulster League. The team relied on a few players to carry the rest. In the pack once again Alex Megaw was involved in all the action, making himself available for everything in attack and defence. The work of Ross Haughey and Jake Chambers at the ruck is invaluable, with them regularly putting their bodies on the line to thwart any opposition progress. In the backs the pace and trickery of Keelan McCambridge posed a constant threat. The best man in a Bann shirt was undoubtedly Josh Cromie, who scored a try and played a big part in creating the other two. He took responsibility for Bann when things weren't going well and led his team by example in attack. His awareness of space and where the opposition are likely to attack are second to none.
Bann responded immediately when pressure from Keelan McCambridge forced a Lurgan knock on from the re-start. From the resulting scrum Cameron Cromie quickly changed direction and fed William Wilson on the wing to run in and touch down in the corner to leave the score at 7-5.
The second half started like the first with Lurgan dominating the exchanges, but the Bann defence again was solid, with Ross Haughey, Jake Chambers, Alex Megaw and Josh Cromie all making big hits to keep Lurgan at bay. Eventually some quick thinking from the Lurgan scrum-half saw him pick up from the back of the ruck and ghost in for the equalising score.