Fourths fight back to beat Coleraine    Share

BANBRIDGE 4THs 39 Coleraine 4ths 16

January 29, 2011

The Fourths faced Coleraine at Rifle Park and it was the visitors that started the match the stronger. Within the first five minutes Coleraine had pressurised the Bann "22" and two penalties were converted to give them a six point lead.


But the home side were not about to be pushed around. Neil McKinney and Barney McKevitt drove through the middle and the first back line move gave Bann an opportunity in the corner. The final pass didn't go to hand but Bann held the territory and soon after a rolling maul crossed the line, with Jonny Sleator emerging with the ball to claim the touchdown. The conversion was pushed wide.


Coleraine continued to press and their pack drove over to score. Bann had hardly recovered from this when the visitors again forced their way over the line for the second time in five minutes. This gave Coleraine a 16 - 5 lead on the half hour.


Bann's response was impressive as they began to dominate the possession and field position. John Ferris strategically kicked to the corners and Ben Martin was stealing lineout ball. But the final try of the half came from a defensive error when McKevitt slipped three tackles to run through and score under the posts. Ferris knocked over the conversion to leave his side 12-16 down at the break.


Where the first half had been a forwards' game with all scores coming from the pack, the second half couldn't have been more different. A few moments after the re-start Ferris slotted a penalty to take Bann within a point of the visitors.


The Bann pack drove up the middle then Ross Mulholland made a break down the narrow right side before floating a pass in front of Chris Berry who collected and dived into the corner to score.


Bann were soon back on the offensive and when Coleraine failed to clear their lines, Stephen Jackson attacked from deep releasing the Colin Hamilton/Andrew Jordan centre partnership to breakthrough the oncoming defence. Kris Coleman got the touchdown in the corner with Ferris again slotting over the kick.


The last score of the game came from a clever crossfield kick from Ferris which Jackson gathered to score. Ferris again added the extras.


This was a very impressive performance for the Fourths ahead of the Forster Cup match this week against Omagh 3rds.

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