Jardine double helps Thirds overcome Larne Share
BANBRIDGE 3RDs 30 Larne 2nds 14October 9, 2010
With three wins from three starts under their belt, Bann Thirds took on Larne Seconds at Rifle Park last Saturday. Their opposition had also recorded three wins from three so a tough encounter was expected from the start. Bann took the game to Larne straight away and very soon had a nine point lead, having won three penalties which were all converted by the ever reliable Mark Doherty. It has to be said that had Bann demonstrated the same enthusiasm as last week to move the ball wide, they might well have been three tries up! With Bann keeping the ball tight and kicking away some good possession, Larne got the chance to come back into the game. Their backs started to counter-attack and soon got their first try, which they duly converted. With the lion's share of possession still going to Bann, the backs started to pressurise Larne's defence, and out-half Scott Jardine went over for Bann's first try, converted by Doherty to give a half-time score of 16-7. Bann made a lively start to the second half and Jardine soon got in for his second try of the day. This try went unconverted leaving the score at 21-7. Doherty converted another penalty to put Bann 24-7 ahead, and into a fairly comfortable position. At this point Bann should really have cut loose and racked up a few scores, but instead they continued to take too many wrong options and soon let Larne in for their second try, which they converted to reduce the deficit to 24-14. Thankfully this was enough to wake up the Bann side and very soon they had scored twice more. First Andy Brown forcing his way over from a set scrum close to the posts for a try which Doherty converted. Then, the hard working Gary McKibben, who spent most of the match starved of the ball, finished off a good move with a try in the corner. It seems churlish to complain about a performance that resulted in a 36-14 victory over an unbeaten opposition, but this team has much more to offer. If they continue to train and get more clinical in their performance, there won't be an opposition side to touch them. The young players on this team should all be using these games to develop their skills, learning from the more experienced players on the team, and getting themselves noticed, with their ultimate goal to make the 1st XV squad.