Malone take the win against Banbridge 2

Malone seconds continued their preparations for the McCrea Cup final with a hard earned 28 – 14 bonus point win over a strong Banbridge side at Gibson Park on Thursday night. It took 12 minutes before Malone registered their first points. After losing a scrum against the head the Malone pack quickly re-established themselves, winning a scrum five metres from the Banbridge line with number 8 Dan Henry touching down in the corner and out half Mark O’Connor adding the touchline conversion to give Malone an early 7 – 0 lead. The Banbridge team responded with a unconverted try to narrow the Malone lead to 7 – 5. Despite some adventurous open running rugby Malone were let down by some indifferent handling errors and indiscipline that handed possession and territory to the visitors. From one of these penalties Banbridge took a 8 – 7 lead after 20 minutes. An early injury saw the experienced front row forward Philip Eadie entering the action.

The Banbridge score seemed to focus the Malone players as they took advantage of Banbridge indiscipline to force a number of lineouts in the opposition half. From a lineout on the Banbridge ten metre line the Malone pack formed a driving maul and drove towards the Banbridge line with the visitors collapsing the drive. Malone retained possession with Tom Dullage claiming the touchdown and O’Connor adding the points to restore the Malone lead to 14 – 8 on 35 minutes. No further scoring took place to leave Malone leading 14 – 8 at halftime.

Malone exerted early pressure in the second half but again indiscipline crept in and allowed Banbridge to convert a penalty to reduce the Malone lead to 14 – 11 five minutes into the second half.

The Malone pack were now in total control of their opponents and gained reward for their efforts when from five metres out scrum half Callum Jeffrey scored his sides third try with O’Connor again adding the points to increase the Malone lead to 21 – 11 after 50 minutes. Increasing Malone indiscipline led to the team conceding their eighth penalty with Banbridge again converting one to narrow the Malone lead to 21 – 14.

Any thoughts of Banbridge salvaging anything from the game were denied 10 minutes from the end when Malone won a lineout near the visitors line. They set up the maul with hooker Connor Kelly taking the ball on before passing to Mark O’Connor to touch down for the all important bonus point fourth try with O’Connor again adding the points to increase the Malone lead to 28 – 14.

For the remainder of the game Malone laid siege to the Banbridge line with the pack electing to scrum from each of the penalties conceded by the visitors. The Banbridge defence held firm to deny the home side any further scores to leave the final score 28 – 14 in favour of the Gibson Park side.

This was an important win for Malone seconds as the game was played as a double header with the points moving Malone into 3rd place behind leaders City of Armagh seconds and second place Ballynahinch seconds. The next league game for Malone seconds is at home to City of Armagh seconds on the 7th April before they wrap up their league campaign with back to back games against Omagh seconds.

All eyes will be on the Kingspan stadium on Easter Monday the 2nd April when Malone seconds take on Cooke 1st xv in the Final of the McCrea Cup with a 12.30PM kick off. Can the seconds retain the Cup after defeating Cooke last season in this the clubs 125th Anniversary season.

Malone seconds: 1. Ricky Greenwood (captain), 2. Connor Kelly, 3. Lee Barlow, 4. Tiarnan Dillon, 5. Aaron McKechnie, 6. Tom Dullage, 7.Daryl James Maxwell, 8. Daniel Henry, 9. Callum Jeffrey, 10. Mark O’Connor, 11. Jack McMurtry, 12. Davy Irvine, 13. Ryan Spence, 14. Gareth Millar, 15. Jonny Betts, 16. Philip Eadie, 17. Andrew Baillie.

Thank you to Brian Greenwood for compiling this report.

Cheers