Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

Bann started well getting the better of the set play but eventually the competitiveness of the visitors told as they turned over several rucks to gain quality possession. They used this to good effect kicking for position with the wind at their backs, then moving the ball wide. Bann made some poor decisions under this pressure and gave away three tries in a twenty minute period which rarely saw them out of their own half.

With the score at 0 - 17, Bann pushed into Malone territory with ten minutes left until half time. They were rewarded with a try from Peter Cromie, who broke from the centre after some fine back play. Malone were quick to reply and after some poor rucking from Bann they again crossed the home line.

Bann were spurred into action and started to get some quality posession which the backs used at every opportunity. This created gaps in the Malone defence and gave Cromie his second try when he burst onto a pass from Macauley Little and touched down under the posts. This left the half-time score at 12 - 24.

Bann started the second half with the wind advantage, but a well organised and determined Malone carried the ball back at them with some fine off-loading in open play. The home team tried to force the game and were in too much of a hurry to make up the points difference. Malone capitalised on this and kept up the pressure until they eventually won a penalty, which they kicked to give a 12 - 27 scoreline.

Bann now started to go through the phases but still turned over too much ball in the rucks, giving Malone chances to keep their offloading game going. Eventually however, Bann got a well deserved try when after good scrummaging pressure and several penalties they moved the ball across the back line for winger Ben Cross to score. Bann finished the match encamped in the Malone "22" but could not manage another score and the match finished 17 - 27 to the visitors.

This was an under-par performance, where Bann seemed to leave all their hard work on the training ground behind them. Next Saturday is the second league match against Carrick and a big improvement in the contact areas will be needed. The man of the match, this week, was Peter Cromie but there were also good performances from Johnny Adams, Ryan Dennison and Mathew Lindsay.