Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

If Bann coach Daniel Soper had any pre-match concerns about his players' minds being on the up-coming Senior Cup final, they were allayed in no uncertain terms as his young charges clocked up four tries in the opening 17 minutes.

Ards kicked-off but before they had their hands on the ball again they had conceded a try, Bann No 8 Stephen Irvine touching down in the third minute after his pack had driven Ards over their own line at a 5-metre scrum.

Bann knocked on after the re-start but as Ards ran the ball across their back line Jonny Pollock intercepted inside his own "22". Stephen Cowan and Brendan Ward were in support and the latter's pass left Adam Ervine a clear run to the Ards posts, with Robin Thompson adding the conversion.

Ards out-half Paul Cox missed with a penalty attempt in the 10th minute before two tries in two minutes from Andrew Morrison clinched the bonus point for his side and ended the match as a contest. Quick ruck ball put the centre in space for his first and Pollock slipped out of a tackle 70 metres out to set up the second, which Thompson converted.

Irvine retired with an injury midway through the half, but with Dale Carson coming off the bench, the pressure on the visitors was unrelenting. Thompson's deft grubber kick saw Ward effect the fifth touchdown, with the out-half converting and before the break the unanswered tally was 36 points, courtesy of Michael Cromie's close-range try.

Chris Allen's yellow card early in the second half might have offered Ards hope of a respite but when they dropped the ball inside Bann's "22" Morrison hacked it upfield. A couple of controlled kicks later and the ball was over the Ards line with Morrison just winning the race to touch down for his hat-trick.

Ards' troubles were compounded by the yellow-carding of hooker Conor Piper and Bann picked up their eighth try when a slick Pollock pass put Thompson in at the posts.

To their credit Ards had not given up and replacement Andrew Foster forced his way over after play had focussed for a period in the home "22".

But after Bann had been denied by a deliberate knock-on two metres out from the Ards line, Pollock broke clear to put Ward in for the final try.

Bann team against Ards:- Brendan Ward, Jonny Pollock, Andrew Morrison, Stephen Cowan, Andrew Kirkwood, Robin Thompson, Adam Ervine, Michael Cromie, David Weir, Brian Hanna, Chris Allen, Simon McKinstry (Capt), Andy Brown, Mark Wilson, Stephen Irvine. Replacements:- Jonny Weir, Colin Bickerstaff, Dale Carson, Neville Farr, Geoff Thompson.