Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

Unfortunately due to the quirky nature of the Ulster Branch Regulations, the Co Antrim side were declared League Champions by virtue of having scored the first try.

It was a cruel outcome for the young Bann side who had battled back from behind to tie the scores on 17-17. Indeed they finished the game pressing inside the Carrick half for the winning score and when it didn't come they assumed that they would share the title.

That wasn't to be, but every one of the squad can hold his head high after matching a very good Carrick side in every aspect of the game.

Carrick looked threatening from the outset, encamping in the Bann half for the first 15 minutes until centre Matthew Fisher broke through for an unconverted try.

Bann scrum half Josh Cromie and lock Matthew Beck spearheaded a fightback, making inroads deep into Carrick territory. As Bann maintained the pressure through good ball retention James Waugh found room on the right for a try just on the half-time whistle.

It looked ominous for the Rifle Park lads when Sam Wallace broke through to score under the posts just three minutes into the second half, adding the conversion to give his side a 12-5 lead.

Carrick took a scrum against the head just inside their own half four minutes later. But when the ball was knocked on Bann retrieved it and a couple of passes put Waugh in for his second try from 20 metres out.

Unfortunately Bann knocked on from the re-start and Carrick took full advantage with Fisher touching down at the corner flag for a 17-10 lead.

Going into the final 10 minutes Bann were looking the stronger and a series of penalties took play deep into the Carrick "22". When a defensive kick was charged down Bann centre Cameron Cromie was on hand to pick up and cross for a try at the posts, with his conversion drawing his side level.

A draw was probably a fair reflection of the exchanges between two sides who had each won their home games in previous encounters this season.

Bann will now focus on the Ulster Cup, and with one win already under their belts at the Group Stage, they look forward to taking on Inishowen at home this Saturday and Ballymoney away the following week, with a quarter-final tie beckoning if they win those two games.