Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

The home side may have wanted to win this all-Ulster clash but Bann had to win if they were not to lose touch with the pace-setters. And that knowledge drove them on to produce one of their most impressive, if not classic, performances of the season.

A titanic forward effort allied to an aggressive defensive display denied the previously free-scoring Rainey side the opportunity to bring their attacking talents into use. So the Magherafelt side which had been averaging close on 30 points per game was restricted to a single penalty while Bann notched up two tries to seal the win.

Rainey had the better start with the diagonal wind in their favour but they turned down a couple of penalty opportunities to go for 5-metre lineouts which were held out by the rugged Bann defence.

Then with 11 minutes played Bann got the first chance to bring their backs into the action. No 8 Stephen Irvine made good ground from just outside his own "22" to set up quick ruck ball. Andrew Kirkwood came round off the blindside wing to link with Brendan Ward and the full-back's pass put Jonny Pollock in space just inside the Rainey half. As the last defender closed in Pollock shaped to go inside before rounding his man on the outside and leaving him in his wake on a sprint to the line.

Robin Thompson effected the tricky conversion to extend the lead. Rainey battled strenuously to get back on level terms but with their scrum frequently on the back foot, and in the face of a fast-closing Bann backline their threequarters never looked like breaking through.

Rainey kicked themselves into an attacking position towards the end of the first half and when Bann had prop Brian Hanna yellow-carded for a technical offence it looked ominous for the seven forwards left to defend an attacking scrum. But the scrum wheeled, Bann had the put-in to the re-set and the danger was cleared.

Still numerically disadvantaged going into the second half, Bann put themselves under further pressure when Thompson's attempted penalty kick to the corner went ‘dead', allowing Rainey a lineout on halfway from which they worked their way steadily into the visitors' "22". A kickable penalty was tapped by Peter Sciascia but the closely-watched scrum-half failed to penetrate the alert Bann defence, the ball was turned over and the danger was cleared.

Ten minutes into the second half Bann won a penalty 43 metres out and Thompson struck it over. But straight from the re-start Bann were penalised and Gavin Martin's successful strike restored the differential to seven points.

The Bann pack was really beginning to dominate at scrum time and in the 65th minute they drove the Rainey eight over their own line from a set-piece 11 metres out. When Irvine picked up and dived over the referee signalled a try, but was alerted to the touch judge's out-stretched flag. After consultation with his fellow-official, the referee showed Bann's Colin Bickerstaff a red card and awarded Rainey a penalty.

It was a decision which left every spectator, home and visiting, baffled and caused consternation in the Bann team management ranks. But the Bann players reacted with renewed determination and with ten minutes remaining the teams were level numerically thanks to Rainey skipper Simon Hawe's yellow card for a lineout offence.

When Bann resumed their offensive on the home line, another series of scrums ended with hooker David Weir following up on Irvine's pick-up and drive to burrow over for Bann's second try.

There was no way back for Rainey in the time remaining, with Bann denying them even the sniff of a chance to pick up a losing bonus point.

This Saturday Bann host Ards, who have just one win to their credit this season, and that against fellow-strugglers Wanderers. Obviously this is a game Bann might reasonably expect to win, but the North Down side's precarious league position could make them dangerous opponents. The home team will need to be fully focussed, not playing with their minds on the Senior Cup final the following Wednesday.

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

Latest news:- Following discussions with the match officials on Monday, the IRFU rescinded the red card sanction imposed on Bickerstaff, leaving him free to play in Saturday's AIL game and the Senior Cup final.