Bann Seconds make it 10-in-a-row away to Ards

Ards Seconds 7

Banbridge Seconds 52

BANBRIDGE Seconds made their way to Hamilton Park in Ards for this League fixture and duly recorded their 10th straight win to maintain their push for a third place finish.

After defeating the top two teams in their previous outings they were aware that complacency could be their downfall, but the first 10 minutes of the game saw them forge ahead in determined fashion.

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Straight from the kick-off Andy Davidson fielded and set the ball up for the backs to put centre Alan Gibson off on a run deep into the home 22. The quick support caused Ards to concede the penalty.

Instead of taking the easy three points the quick tap was taken and the finishing touch was applied by prop James McCrum with Shandon Scott adding the extras.

The confidence in the Bann team was evident as their second try came one minute later when Ards put a clearance kick into the Bann half. The ball was fielded and then flashed quickly from right to left where Stevie Cowan collected on the halfway line. He then followed up his high kick ahead and a fumble by the defending full-back allowed him to score an unconverted try.

Bann again worked their way into the home side’s half with some quickfire rucking forced Ards into conceding another penalty which Robin Thompson kicked down the line.

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A quick ball off the top of the lineout was spread quickly through the backs’ hands where centre James Andrews received the ball at speed. He used his power to take the defence with him over the line for Bann’s third try, converted by Scott.

With the score at 19-0 after 10 minutes, other teams would have folded but, to their credit, Ards then came into the game more. For the next 20 minutes they time and again found themselves in good positions but were stifled by the Bann defence. However the line was eventually breached by some well-worked support and inter-play in the home backline.

With the points differential back to 12 points and Bann having received this wake-up call they again set about playing the structured rugby that has been the basis of their recent successful run.

For the next 10 minutes the home defence was exploited time and again with a mixture of probing kicks by Thompson and Scott and also forging drives by the forwards.

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On 32 minutes Bann had again worked their way towards the Ards line. Safe takes in the line and good driving mauls ensured that the home team were on the back foot.

When one such drive moved near the five metre line the impressive David Little took advantage the lack of cover on the blind side, taking scrum-half Craig Mulholland’s pass to crash over for an unconverted try.

From the re-start some excellent counter-rucking won the ball for Bann and off one such steal on half way Mulholland moved the ball quickly to the blindside where the home team were surprised to see second row Ross Semple taking the ball at speed.

He made good ground as he shrugged off tackles and then found winger Philip Morrison who finished off under the posts. Scott again was again on target with the conversion.

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The renewed vigour of the visitors then resulted in the Ards second row being somewhat harshly yellow-carded as his team tried in vain to stem the Bann attacks but with the half drawing to a close the visitors used the numerical advantage to the maximum by scoring again.

After a couple of attempts at pushover tries Bann eventually came up trumps with the home side a man down, Mulholland effecting the touch down after the depleted Ards scrum had been marched back over their line. Scott’s conversion left Bann a comfortable 38-7 in front at the break.

The second half saw a series of injuries interrupt the Bann momentum, most notably to flanker Andy Baird whose ankle injury effectively saw Bann play the second half a man down. The home side enjoyed more time in the Bann half but they found the defence to be unyielding.

After 25 minutes action in the second half Bann added to their tally after another impressive burst from Andrews had set up good field position. Mullholland made the initial break from a ruck and then fed the supporting Semple to pump his legs through the defenders and run in from 20 metres range. Scott’s simple conversion took the tally to 45-7.

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The final score of the game came seven minutes later when the Bann pack dug deep to win a penalty off a defensive scrum on their own line. From the subsequent line-out the backs worked their way deep into the home 22. The pack was there in numbers to set up clean ball and a beautifully angled run from Gibson saw him scythe through the defence for a well-deserved try under the posts. Inevitably Scott added the extras.

Bann’s dominance was as convincing as the score suggests in that they played a very controlled game virtually throughout against a team that, although outplayed, battled gamely for the 80 minutes. Another total team performance but the players who really stood out were forwards Davidson and David Little.

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