Optimistic Seconds fail to secure victory

However it was clear from the outset this wasn’t going to be an easy game, as the City of Derry backs attacked at every opportunity out wide and from two such attacks penalties were conceded and Derry raced into a 6-0 lead.

Bann were on the wrong end of a lot of decisions but failed to learn and their indiscipline untimately cost them the game.

Too many penalties were conceded giving away field position. Bann did score a beautifully worked try, in which initial good work by Stevie Cowan was finished off by skipper Paul Ross. In the mean time Derry had scored another which brought the score to 11-7 at the break.

Bann started the 2nd half well and after great hands from Glascar man Davy Little, Andy Cowan was on hand to nip over to give Bann an unlikely lead.

However the indiscipline crept in again and this proved fatal. With five minutes on the clock a series of penalties brought Derry close to the Banbridge line and with a man already in the bin Bann found themselves too stretched and the Derry prop crashed over to give the home side the win.

This was a disappointing result after such a long journey but the Seconds must get their attitude right for the remainder of the programme, as there is still plenty to play for in the Second XV League.