High flying Dungannon see off Bann challenge

Dungannon 41

RESULTS in recent seasons against Dungannon, including the closely fought Ulster League tie at Rifle Park earlier this season coined with Banbridge’s excellent run of form that has taken them to third in the All-Ireland League Division Three, would have given the visitors optimism going into the Ulster Senior Cup Quarter-Final at Stevenson Park.

However, in spite of this optimism a win for Bann would still have represented a significant cup upset against the side that knocked out last year’s cup winners Ballynahinch in the previous round.

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And as it turned out it was the favourites Dungannon who progressed, outscoring Banbridge five tries to three and crucially running four of these past Bann in a 17 minute period in the first half that left Bann 26-3 down and facing what looked like an insurmountable challenge.

But Bann fought back to bring the score to within nine points midway through the second half before Dungannon eventually closed the game out to progress.

Scrum half Neville Farr missed an opportunity to open the scoring for Banbridge when he pushed a penalty attempt wide in the opening minutes of the game.

But the home side were very soon on the front foot and their early pressure eventually yielded a try when prop Steven Sinnamon crashed over from close range after only 10 minutes. Out-half James Shiells added the conversion.

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A 40 metre break from hooker Richard Carleton following a lineout gave Dungannon good field position and when the ball was recycled, a chip over the onrushing Banbridge defence was gathered cleanly by centre Paul Magee who raced in from the 22. Shiells added the conversion to give Dungannon a 14-0 lead.

Farr closed the gap with a penalty following an infringement at the breakdown but the game looked to be slipping beyond Bann when Magee’s centre partner Neil Patterson extended Dungannon’s lead further when he crossed over for an unconverted try.

Winger Craig Gilroy compounded Bann’s misery with Dungannon’s fourth try inside the half hour when he gathered a chip and touched down under the posts to allow Shiells the straight forward conversion.

Despite the 23 point deficit the young Banbridge side, to their credit, refused to concede defeat, and eventually managed to breach the Dungannon defence. An initial surge for the line from No 8 Matthew Irvine was repelled but when the ball was recycled through a number of phases Irvine was on hand to break through for the touchdown. Farr missed the conversion.

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Dungannon full-back Conor Gaston quickly dampened notions of a comeback when he broke through the midfield and rounded full-back Adam Ervine for the home side’s fifth try, again converted.

But Bann refused to lie down and blind side flanker Ryan Patterson grabbed their second just before the interval. Banbridge again worked their way deep into the home side’s 22 and when the ball was moved left from the breakdown Patterson powered his way through for the score. Farr added the conversion to leave his side 33-15 in arrears.

Bann enjoyed their best spell after the interval and following a sustained period of pressure Jonny Weir broke through the Dungannon line from close range. Neville Farr added the conversion to make the score 33-22 and with Dungannon a man down following a sin-bin for cynical play, the outcome of the tie was far from certain.

The Tyrone club looked certain to wrap the game up midway through the second half but for a last-ditch Adam Ervine wrap-around tackle which prevented the ball being off-loaded and allowed the Bann defence to come to his aid.

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Dungannon elected to kick for goal when awarded a penalty five minutes later and Shiells duly obliged to give the home side some breathing space.

And No 8 Timothy Smith closed the game out, scoring their fifth try with 10 minutes remaining, exploiting some weak tackling to break through from the Bann 22.

Bann will now have a week off before attention returns to the All-Ireland League and with promotion all but beyond Bann’s grasp the target now will be to maintain their position within the top four for a play-off spot at the end of the regular season.

A tough trip south to Cork to face second placed Midleton awaits and if Bann return pointless, it will set up a very tense weekend of rugby on the 10th April when Divison Three newcomers Navan make their first visit to Rifle Park in the last round of the league.

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