1st XV beat Bangor
Wednesday, 01 December 2010 17:14
Bangor 5 - Academy 58
On a shocking day elsewhere, the “faithful” (and me!) turned up to a balmy Bangor, not a hint of snow, just blue skies, and blistering sun……………
This was the first of a run of games which could cement us in Q1, plus indicate if we could push for bigger and better things. First up was a Bangor team that had been on the receiving end all season, now it was our turn, and many in maroon remembered a night in Bangor, not so long ago, when we were right royally stuffed, and Robbie H got crocked, along with pleasantries exchanged….
We were quick out of the blocks and after two mins, Coop kicked a pen when Bangor were caught offside: 0 – 3, a handy start. Would that spark Bangor to find the “kitchen sink” coach McKee saw on the way in? No way! We battered Bangor from the re-start and on four mins, after a solid scrum, Andy E spun out of a tackle and dotted down for Coop to convert: 0 – 10. Bangor seemed to sort themselves out and upped their game, however they played in front of our defence which held firm for the next 6mins, then on 10mins, we drove Bangor out of our half, with Kyle to the fore, breaking the Bangor defence to feed a hungry Andy E, on to Andy Crowe in off his wing, only to be stopped short of the line. “Cool Hand” Coop picked up and dotted down, then missed the conv: 0 – 15. Looking good.
The Bangor pattern was easy to spot – 2 or 3 ball carriers with the rest hoping to feed off any line break, interspersed with the odd hoof up the park form #10. We were well able to deal with this. On 15mins gone, we moved the ball crisply out right to Gav, who drove on, held up the play, fed inside to his support, who moved the ball out to the far left for Chris McCarey to dive over: 0 – 20. We were in the zone now and looking for the bonus point try – which came on 20mins from our scrum on half way, it wheeled towards Hubby, the ball was shoveled his way so he juked to the blind side, and side stepped his way past 6 men (no one got close) and huffed and puffed his way to the line: 0 – 25. We got one more before ½ time, and probably the best of the day, when that man Andy E shredded the Bangor midfield (after battering them in defence) from the half way line, and sprinted 40m to score, Coop converting: 0 – 32 and Half Time
We started the 2nd half for more of the same, and it took 9 mins for us to move the scoreboard again – the lumpies with Ricardo “Manscape” Press his belligerent self, leading the way, launching Chris McCarey to breeze past a softening Bangor defence: 0 – 39. Bangor gathered themselves and put a decent 10 mins together, getting a try for their effort, 53 mins: 5 – 39. Normal service resumed, and on 59mins, Gav said “thanks a lot” to an aimless clearance hoof and darted in from 30m, Coop on da money again: 3 – 46. Bangor struggled manfully, but we were comfortable in defence and on 69mins, we countered from a Bangor thrust into our half, Andy “Super – E” made the decisive break, drew #15 and floated a lovely pass to Andy Crowe who zipped in: 5 – 51.
Now I know I imagined the blue skies, and blistering sun earlier, but I definitely saw what came next………the return of the Ramjet!!!!!
Bangor were tuckered out by now and hadn’t much to offer at all. Another frantic hoof out of defence was gathered, this time by Coop at #15, who ran straight back at Bangor, over to James Blair, cruising up in support, who offloaded to the Ramjet, who went off up the park as if it was touch rugby, or the bailiffs were onto him……..he beat 15 defenders over 40m, slam dunked the ball over the bar and touched down under the posts!!! ……..honest!!! Coop converted.
Final Score: Bangor 5 - Academy 58
What a performance! Lots of happy faces……..not too many in Bangor though.
See y’all soon – December 11th: Dromore at the ‘fort
The Management……