Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

It was great to see Stuart Wickie, Justin Gerring and Kris Eadie all back and starting a rugby match after extended breaks. With three home matches already due to be played at Rifle Park, Banbridge Academy kindly allowed use of one of their pitches for the match.

Within minutes of the kick-off Bann had made their way into the Ophir half and set up camp. Good Bann possession through the forwards saw an Ophir player coming in from the side and the resultant penalty allowed the Bann outside half, Jake Fisher, his first shot at goal for the day. Unfortunately the attempt was wide of the posts.

However, the Bann forwards were maintaining the pressure and a rumbling maul saw Fisher held up over the line. Within 15 minutes Bann lost Elliott Fisher with a shoulder injury. This was soon followed by injuries to Mark Lewis and Justin Gerring and Bann had to re-group with the introduction of their three substitutes.

The larger Ophir pack was applying the pressure on the Bann eight and a number of breaks from their lock forward had to be dealt with. Wickie and Marc Eadie were able to contain the threat on the Bann try line with a series of tackles. Once possession was retrieved Kris Eadie was able to break the gain line and set up a good attacking postion. The Bann pack created the perfect rolling maul and Wickie broke off at the opportune moment to score close to the posts. Jake Fisher converted.

In the second half Bann again pressurised in the Ophir "22". Having been provided with quick delivery from a Bann line-out, centre Jerry Ramsey worked a neat switch with midfield partner Chris Nelmes who broke the line at pace and scored under the posts. Fisher's kick added the extras.

Bann were now playing their best rugby of the game and with Paul Cairns and Wickie supplying quality ball from the line-out, Bann's backline was able to move the ball wide to bring Russell Anderson in from full-back. Anderson and winger Matthew Quinn linked up well following a chip ahead, only for the full-back to be bundled into touch five metres out.

Play remained in the Ophir "22" and from another quality lineout Jerry Ramsey sold an outrageous dummy and raced in under the posts for a third converted try. Ten minutes later Mark Eadie scored out wide following some good work from the pack.

The final points of the game were scored by Ophir whose committed pack were able to score from a rolling maul that commenced 25 metres out from Bann's line. The try was converted leaving the final score at 26 - 7, a deserved win for a Bann team who look forward confidently to the second round.