Fourths see through the fog to secure points

Enniskillen Thirds 7

BANBRIDGE Fourths picked up two much needed league points at a foggy Rifle Park on Saturday.

Three penalties and a converted try were enough to see off an Enniskillen team who were down with Bann in the lower half of the table.

Kicking off, Bann enjoyed much the better of the opening exchanges and had 10 minutes of pressure on the visitors’ line, resulting in a 10th minute penalty, duly converted by Ally Lewis to give Bann a 3-0 lead. This seemed to spark the Fermanagh men into action and the first half thereafter was a much closer contest.

Nonetheless it was Bann who extended their lead on the half hour mark with a second penalty from out-half Lewis doubling the score to 6-0. Again, however, Enniskillen fought back and they were to take a lead into half-time with the closing play of the half.

With the visitors moving the ball to the left some 30 metres out Bann’s failure to push up and pressurise in defence would prove their undoing as it gave the strong-running Enniskillen centre space to build up a head of steam and storm in under the posts. The visitors’ scrum-half duly converted to give Enniskillen a 7-6 interval lead.

Bann took control on the resumption and they regained the advantage on the scoreboard with Lewis’ third successful penalty brining the lead back to 9-7 after some 12 minutes of the half. This then was built upon with Bann’s try coming midway through the half.

Sam Boyd, called up from the U19s to play in the somewhat unaccustomed position of centre, made a break from the 22 and when he was stopped five metres short the Bann pack arrived quickly to support. Having cleared the ruck to win quick ball the pass was popped up to Marc Eadie arriving to the left and the big second row drove over under the posts. Lewis conversion took the lead out to 16-7, giving Bann a crucial two score advantage.

Bann continued to hold the ascendency and had a couple of further opportunities to extend the lead but kicked the ball on and lost it when holding on and looking for a pass may well have been the better option.

Nonetheless Bann were delighted to have picked up the two league points with this well deserved win.

Best for Bann in the pack were hooker Stuart Forsythe, who worked hard round the field, winning turnover ball on a number of occasions, and Aaron Ervine, who consistently made good ground from the No 8 position. In the backs Martin Armstrong impressed through his fast and elusive running with the ball in hand and some strong tackling in defence.

This Saturday Bann are at home to Belfast High School Former Pupils Seconds. Having won with a convincing 38-7 score line in the corresponding away fixture earlier in the season, Bann will be hopeful of gaining a further two points to begin moving up the Junior League Section Four table.