Its a family affair for Banbridge Fours amid comfortable win

Saturday was a big day in the Sinton household. Maynard (54) got the opportunity to line up for the 4th XV v Ophir alongside his two sons Timmy and Robin.

Ophir turned up with 12 men, and after some debate it was agreed that Banbridge would take the league points and also play with 12 men, to give everyone a game.

The day was a very special occasion because Maynard Sinton, an ex Banbridge 1st XV lock, played with his two sons, Tim and Robin, the latter having only turned 18 years of age on Saturday.

Maynard got a real taste for the game again and had to be dragged off the pitch to accommodate the rolling substitutions.

As if to mark the occasion, Robin, who was making his senior debut, ran the length of the pitch to score a superb solo try.

Five minutes into the match Jerry Ramsey broke the line, kicked through and scored under posts. John Woods narrowly missed the conversion.

Ophir came back quickly and cut through the Bann defence to score. The conversion was missed leaving the score level at 5-5.

A quick penalty to Bann run by Woods led to his try under posts. Again no extras were added.

A great break by Ramsey supported by the veteran lock Paul Cairns resulted in a try for Cairns under the posts. A Drop kick conversion by Geoff Little saw Bann go 17-5 ahead.

When Cairns broke out of defence from their 22 the ball was taken on by Danny Andrews, who passed back inside to Cairns who popped to Johnny Sleator to score under posts. The conversion was missed by Little.

A tremendous run with the ball going through nearly everyone one’s hands, was finally taken on by Neal Cochrane to score. Conversion missed.

Another break from Ringo Ringland to run around 13 players (including one of his own) ended with a super score in the corner.

From the second half kick off the new outhalf, Matthew Bird broke out of defence and passed to fullback Anderson who ran in from halfway, with two dummies and scored under the posts.

Ringo again broke from the middle of the park and ran to the 22 where he fed Ramsey to run in for score.

Sinton senior then took a line out ball, passed to number one son, Tim Sinton who fed the ball to brother Robin Sinton. The ball was moved on to Ringo on halfway who ran length of of pitch to score.

Paul Cairns and Maynard Sinton joined forces in the second row, with a combined age of 103 years, which must be a record.

Ophir had a late rally and scored a converted try but Paul Cairns added another for Banbridge to leave the score 57-12.