Long trip home for disappointing Bann

Banbridge 5

BANBRIDGE’S long journey to Midleton ended in disappointment as the home side picked up the win they required to confirm their promotion to Division Two of the All-Ireland League.

Despite a battling performance Bann came away without even a losing bonus point, with Nenagh’s 11-3 home win over Rainey allowing them to leap-frog over Bann in the table.

The Rifle Park lads now occupy fourth place and a win over Navan in the last game of the season will assure them of a top four finish. If Nenagh also win their last game, then Bann will travel to Upper Malone to take on runaway League winners Queen’s in the top four semi-final.

Team Manager Roy Stevenson said that while he was disappointed to have lost to the Cork side he was very pleased with the performance of his young squad. “They put on a really gutsy display against what was a physically superior Midleton side,” he said. “After a first half when we were really on the rack, the lads battled back to take the game to Midleton after the break.

“Shandon Scott had an excellent debut, initially at full-back and for the last quarter of the game at out-half, after Ashley Finlay had taken a number of late hits. But all the team played well and I am confident we can win our last game and deservedly take our place in the play-offs.”

Bann had to field without influential skipper Simon McKinstry and Adam Ervine, who has impressed in a number of out-field positions over the season. Scott took over the number 15 jersey, while Ryan Patterson moved to partner Chris Allen in the second row.

The heavy Midleton pack held sway in the first half and Bann were arguably fortunate to change ends just 8-0 in arrears. A try midway through the half was bettered by a penalty before the interval as Bann tackled like demons to limit the damage, with brothers Matthew and Stephen Irvine in the defensive vanguard.

Bann’s best chance came when they were awarded a very kickable penalty but the decision to take it quickly instead of having a shot at goal yielded no reward.

Conversely when Midleton opted for the same decision early in the second half they found a chink in the Bann defence to take their tally to 13 points.

For much of the remainder of the second half Bann had the edge as locks Allen and Patterson began to make their presence felt. A superb driving maul from a lineout took play 30 metres upfield. Finlay’s half-break led to Dale Black taking a switch ball and the winger raced in for a touchdown. The conversion went astray.

Finlay and winger Chris Leathem had further impressive runs as the home defence began to take on an air of fragility, but the second breakthrough proved beyond Bann and the game finished with Midleton in the ascendancy.