Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

Coach Daniel Soper was again forced to select from a squad severely hit by injury and unavailability, but the student ranks were similarly depleted. So it was to the credit of both sides that they put on an entertaining first half, the spectators being treated to a total of six tries with Bann finishing the half on the right side of a 25-22 scoreline.

Robin Thompson's 8^th minute penalty opened the scoring after Queen's No 8 Tom Patton had picked up a yellow card for a high tackle. Four minutes later Stephen Irvine's pass found Ryan Patterson on the right wing after a ruck five metres out and the stand-in lock just had to fall over the line for the opening score. Thompson struck over a fine conversion to take Bann 10-0 up.

Queen's out-half Stuart McIlwaine sliced through the Bann defence to set up a try for left wing Richie McMaster in the 15^th minute and Chris Quinn added the conversion.

From the re-start a blatant block earned Bann a penalty and Thompson's kick again found the mark from 30 metres range.

But when full-back Quinn gathered up a kick well inside his own half, he set of on a run which took him through the ranks of Bann defenders and clear to the try line, adding the points for good measure to give his side a 13-14 lead with 25 minutes played.

Bann's response was almost immediate, with Irvine picking up from a scrum to feed Jonny Pollock. The scrum-half found James Andrews and his pass to Stephen Cowan put the winger in under the posts, Thompson converting.

Eight minutes before the break Quinn again exposed the home side's defensive fragility and he brushed aside several tackles en-route to the try line. His conversion missed the mark but a penalty four minutes later edged his side 20-22 in front.

But Bann again struck back before the interval with Irvine and Mark Wilson being held out before Pollock's long pass was picked up by Paul Ross who dived over at the corner.

The tempo was less frenetic after the break, but Bann were fortunate to survive an extended period of pressure on their line during which winger Chris Best was yellow-carded for going over the top at a ruck three metres out.

Quinn's successful penalty in the 56^th minute tied the scores and the full back added the extras to McIlwaine's well-worked try 10 minutes later after the home defence had been stretched to breaking point.

A fifth Queen's try five minutes from the end denied Bann the losing bonus point their efforts deserved. And it was man-of-the-match Quinn who again did the damage, touching down and converting for a final personal tally of 29 points.

With the draw for this Saturday's Senior Cup giving Bann a bye, coach Soper has arranged a friendly fixture against Dundalk for this Thursday, 8^th September. Kick-off at Rifle Park is at 8.00pm.

Bann team v Queen's:- Andrew Kirkwood, Christopher Best, Jonny Little, James Andrews, Stephen Cowan, Robin Thompson, Jonny Pollock, James McCrum, Paul Ross, Nelson Shanks, Ryan Patterson, Alan Conn, Dale Carson, Mark Wilson (Capt), Stephen Irvine. Replacements:- Colin Prime, Jamie McDonald, Clark McAllister.