Ravenhill loss for Bann U15s

Malone U15s 15

BANN’S U15s had to settle for runners-up medals at Ravenhill last Saturday after coming off second-best to a strong Malone side in the final of the Ulster Cup.

After conceding an early try, the Rifle Park lads hit back to take a 7-5 lead into the interval thanks to a try and conversion from out-half Macauley Little.

But the injury-enforced retirement of the talismanic play-maker reduced Bann’s attacking options and a second Malone try 10 minutes into the second period left the Belfast side firmly in the driving seat.

Malone drew first blood, a delicately-placed crossfield kick leaving the chasing fielder with a straight run in near the posts for the opening score on 15 minutes.

But Bann were undeterred by this setback, showing a refreshing willingness to run the ball back at their opponents whenever the opportunity presented. When impressive full-back Michael Moore gathered a kick on his own 10 metre line he managed to get his pass away under intense pressure. Jonny Adams linked with Ben Cross and he sent James Waugh off on a threatening run down the left flank.

The centre was tackled into touch but hooker Matthew Beck was quick to pounce when Malone dropped the line-out ball. Josh Coyle found Richard Graham waiting for his pass and the outstanding flanker set off on a storming run through several attempted tackles deep into Malone territory.

Little was on hand when Graham’s progress was eventually stalled and the out-half fended off two tackles as he weaved his way to the try line, adding the conversion to edge his side ahead.

Bann held off some Malone pressure late in the half to retain that marginal advantage at the break. But after Little’s retirement from the fray, the Gibson Park side edged 10-7 ahead when their threequarters created a fine try in the left hand corner 10 minutes into the second half.

With Bann struggling for possession from the lineout, quality ball was limited but they still managed to put together some promising moves, albeit too far out to seriously threaten the Malone line.

And when a Garryowen created havoc in the Bann defence Malone showed just how to make pressure count as their right winger was put away for a third try.

Still Bann refused to lie down with Waugh, mobile prop Thomas Carlisle and skipper Neal Cochrane all testing the Malone defence as they tried to claw back the deficit. No 8 Cochrane looked to have found a gap as he raced through with the line at his mercy, only to be called back as the referee awarded Bann a scrum.

But Malone dug in to snuff out any Bann hopes of a late comeback and at the final whistle there was no denying the Belfast lads their success.

While there was great disappointment in the Bann ranks among players, coaches and supporters alike they can all reflect on a tremendous season in which a great deal was achieved with a relatively small squad.

The hard work of coaches Alan Harvey and Richard Jennings and all the players paid off handsomely with a second successive Ravenhill final appearance. The squad grew in confidence as the season progressed, playing some excellent rugby in their cup run, before finally succumbing to a Malone side which has enjoyed great success over the past two seasons.