Older heads make a differencefor Seconds

Banbridge Seconds 10

BANN Seconds travelled to Hamilton Park to take on an Ards team that had already registered a win against Ballymena Seconds.

Bann fielded most of the same youthful team that had been so cruelly exposed two weeks previously against Ballyclare, with the significant addition of three ‘older heads’.

The opening exchanges of the game, played in atrocious weather conditions, saw a rampant Bann pack put Ards on the back foot for long periods but frustratingly the finishing touches were marred by over-eagerness.

With Bann producing a steady supply of opportunities from the ruck, the backs were showing an encouraging willingness to move the ball. However, with nothing to show for their early pressure, it was no surprise that when Ards conceded a penalty under intense pressure at a set scrum, Bann opted to go for goal. Clarke McAllister slotted the testing kick home and Bann were up and running.

With points now on the board Bann pressed again but the conditions were anything but conducive to constructive rugby. However, the impressive scrummaging again produced the opportunity for points.

Ards were awarded a scrum 35 metres out and when Bann drove them off the ball No 8 Andy Craig controlled the ball for Colin Hamilton to collect.

The scrum-half caught the scrambling defence flat-footed at the fringe of the scrum and his quick burst left him with no opposition on his way under the posts. McAllister duly added the extras to move Bann into a 10 point lead at the interval.

The second half resumed with the driving rain now producing a wind advantage for the home team. Bann’s continuing efforts to spread the ball may not have been the most judicious tactic given the conditions.

On the other hand, Ards were playing a pressing game and keeping the ball tight but the confident Bann were able to thwart most of their moves with a mixture of hard tackling and good counter-rucking.

Ards did reduce the arrears with a penalty with 20 minutes play remaining but Bann held firm to make it two out of two in the League with this deserved win.

On a day when the backs were well marshalled by Adam Waugh and Geoff Thompson it was Hamilton who provided the essential link time and again. However the entire pack deserves credit in very demanding conditions, and in particular the improving prop Andrew Wilson, as well as Alan Conn, who even though switched to lock, was able to get in some great tackles in the loose.

Next week the Seconds go to Armagh Firsts in the Junior Cup, and Bann know they will have to raise their game significantly if they are to cause an upset against what is, undoubtedly, the top qualifying side in Ulster.