U19s finish runners-up

BANBRIDGE U19s went into their final league game knowing that Larne, the only team to have beaten them this season, had already won the league.

With the home pitches unplayable, the team travelled up to the Banbridge Academy pitches to play their first game in over a month.

Their rustiness showed and it took 15 minutes to finally break down the Randalstown side, with scrum-half Jason Gribbon picking up from the back of a ruck and sprinting to dive in at the corner flag, adding a superb conversion for good measure.

Just before half time Captain Ryan Dennison picked up and bulldozed his way over the line to give his side a 12-0 lead at the change around.

Five minutes into the second half Ulster U18 out-half Macauley Little scored on his return from a six month injury layoff. He looked as if he had never been away and his return couldn’t come at a better time with the U19 Cup and Nutty Krust Tournament just round the corner.

Randalstown got a consolation try midway through the half but they never threatened to overhaul the home side, whose win leaves them runners-up in the Ulster Premier League.