Fifths win first game in six weeks

Queen’s Fourths 0

BANN Fifths hosted Queen’s Fourths in the Butler Shield not having played a match in six weeks as a result of the big freeze.

Queen’s enjoyed good possession for the first 10 minutes but the Bann defence stood firm. The home side gradually made their way into the opposition 22 and were unlucky not to score when a rolling maul was held up on the line.

Bann continued to press and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts when a Queen’s player strayed offside at a ruck. Mark Doherty opened the scoring with his first attempt at goal.

Bann kept the pressure on and made good yards with strong running in the centre by Gareth Kelly and Jerry Ramsey who released to Andy Laverty on the wing. He showed a clean pair of heels to his opposite number and broke through a tackle by the Queen’s full back to score in the corner. Doherty’s conversion attempt fell just short.

Jonny Harris came on at prop to replace David Hull who sustained a back injury.

In the second half Bann started well keeping Queen’s pinned down in their 22. Doherty broke from the base of a ruck and weaved his way through the defence before releasing to prop Adam Proctor who crashed over to the right of the posts having displayed a great turn of pace be in support. Doherty added the conversion.

The next try came shortly afterwards when No 8 Derek Moorhead picked up from the base of a scrum inside the 22 and fed out half, Mark Ferguson, who crashed through two tacklers to score a well worked try. Doherty obliged with the conversion.

Bann put the game beyond doubt with 10 minutes to go when Wayne Kerrigan stole a loose ball at a line out on the left side of the field. The ball was moved quickly along the backs to Stephen ‘Jacko’ Jackson who had sprinted from his wing to join the line in the centre. He dodged an attempted tackle easily to score beside the posts. Once again Doherty converted to give Bann final score of 29-0.

In the pack it was the young guns, Harris and Proctor who stood out and in the backs Laverty and Jackson, both returning from injury had strong games. Mention also goes to Doherty who did not look out of place playing at scrum half as opposed to his usual position of full back.