Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

The home forwards were now beginning to impose themselves on the game, with the prominent Paul Ross at the forefront of most play, ably assisted by Andrew Davidson, Lee Allen and Sam Boyd. The backs were also showing up on the times they were able to be set free by Craig Mulholland, with John Ferris, Geoff Thompson and Stevie Cowan looking threatening.

As Armagh used the wind advantage to kick deep into the home team's half, the field positioning and safe handling of full back Adam Waugh transferred confidence back into his team. Unfortunately Bann went 6-0 down five minutes before the break when Armagh kicked a snap drop goal.
Bann knew that patience was the main aspect to focus on as the lineouts, scrums and general ball movement were good, and with wind advantage, they knew they had what it took to overturn the points deficit.

Unfortunately Bann lost their open-side flanker Andy Baird from the kick off, giving Jonnie McKim an opportunity. Improved forward aggression and long surging line kicks from Ferris and especially Waugh saw the opening spell of play take place in the Armagh half, and much of it in their "22".

Bann were now asking a lot of questions of their opponents, with Ferris varying his options through chips, and half breaks. Boyd and Cowan were also coming more the fore, and indeed it was the latter who finished off the incisive move that registered the game's only try. From a Ferris line kick, Bann won more clean ball in the line-out. They took the initial drive to put Armagh on the back foot. When Mulholland fed his back line, they were arriving at speed. Cowan received the ball 20 metres out, and then showed his strength in breaking the initial tackle, before carrying over another two defenders to touch down under the posts. Ferris added the simple extras to put Bann 7-6 in front with 25 minutes remaining.

Five minutes later the confidence in the Bann backs was evident and should have yielded a try. From a scrum the ball was switched left to Ferris who released Cowan. His quick hands back to Ferris allowed the out half to put a chip over the defence for the impressive Waugh to gallop on to, but an uncharacteristic handling error with the line at his mercy saw an opportunity missed.

With 18 minutes to go Bann lost their inspirational hooker to the sin bin after a very unfortunate tackle injured the Armagh out-half, but this was down more to the muddy conditions than any malice from a very committed Ross.

In this period Bann were still able to play the territory game which yielded another three points from Ferris as Armagh were forced to concede under pressure. Bann were now 10-6 in the lead. Armagh, too, then found themselves down to 14 players when the referee penalised their in-discipline after a ball was thrown into the face of a Bann player. After winger Jordan Weir was adjudged not to have grounded the ball before it went dead, Bann were awarded a penalty which Ferris converted to leave Armagh needing a converted try to level the scores.

The return of Ross from the sin bin saw the hooker keen to make up for his 10 minute absence, and soon he was on the receiving end of another controversial decision. He was, yet again, the first player to react to a break through the away defence, and went surging through on the loose ball. As the ball went over the line, his speed beat the retreating Armagh back, who then tackled Ross without the ball as he was about to touch down. The decision to yellow card the defender, but not award the penalty try, bemused the Bann players and supporters alike.

Overall this was a hugely satisfying result given the fact Bann had gifted the same opponents the league game three weeks previously. They showed great patience throughout to justifiably claim their place in the quarter-final of the Junior Cup, without yet hitting the form of which they are capable.

With sound performances from the team in most positions, Waugh and Cowan stood out in the backs, but for his all round display in both defence and attack, as well as his set piece play which generated confidence in the rest of the team, Paul Ross was the clear winner of the Man of the Match award.