Bonus point after win over Seasiders

Bangor 15

DROMORE got back their Qualifying League campaign back on winning ways on Saturday with a superb bonus point win over Bangor.

The home side started the match in fine form and ran the bigger Bangor side ragged for the first 10 minutes before opening the scoring, when openside flanker Bekker finished off a fine period of Dromore play by diving over at the posts. Brigl converted to send Dromore on their way.

Dromore seemed to dominate all exchanges at this point but Bangor showed they we here for a match when they charged down a Brigl clearance and scrambled the ball over the Dromore line to level the scores at 7-7.

The Dromore pack upped their game and rumbled up to the Bangor line when young winger James Gibson barged over from close range to give Dromore the lead again 12-7. Bangor added a penalty from a Dromore infringment before Dromore took the game by the scruff of the neck.

They added two further tries before the break when Stuart Russell barged over after a great drive by Steven Robinson into the heart of the Bangor defence. Bekker then grabbed his second try of the afternoon when quick hands by the Dromore halfbacks pushed him through a gap.

Dromore started the the second half refreshed with the pack and lineout functioning well. Stuart Russell bagged his second of the day when he was fed by Bekker in the corner, Bangor turned the their game around and added a fine solo effort by their winger to reduce the score to 29-15 with 30 minutes to play.

Coach Jacques Benade urged his players to close the game out and they dominated the game for the remainder of the half. Dromore speedster Chris Leathem had been threatening the Bangor line all afternoon and got his reward when he was fed wide by Brigl, and Leathem left three Bangor defenders in his wake as he scored inder the posts.

Dromore continued to attack and with 10 minutes remaining produced the move of the day when the impressive Bekker cut a line and showed his pace as he burned off the covering defence and raced to the Bangor red zone. He seemed to be crusing for his hat-trick try but unselfishly fed Gareth Fitzpatrick who was steaming up on his outside but unfortunately Fitzy fumbled as he dived for the line and the score was lost.

Fitzpatrick then redeemed himself when he did finish off another move by the Dromore backs and this time safely flopped over to conclude the game and a fine win for Dromore.

Captain Harshaw was happy with the five point win. He said, “I’m delighted that all our training is paying off, it was a good win for the lads but at times it still felt a bit rusty but we now look forward to the Towns Cup match next week against rivals Lurgan.

“We scored a lot of good tries today and i hope we can carry that into next weeks game. The players are now enjoying these matches and the banter in the dressing room has been good lately.

“I was interested to see Dewet Bekker give up a certain hat-trick try. He has claimed he was being unselfish but the lads have suggested that he did not want to buy a jug of beer that comes with the honour of scoring a triple.”

Coach Benade added, “The boys are now playing for each other and training well. We blooded young prop Mark Hylands who did himself proud and Mathew Russell completed his comeback today after a shoulder operation and did really well.

“We have a lot of rugby still to play and we will remain focused on improving our overall game week to week.”