Corinthians 26 Banbridge 11
Corinthians had to dig deep to hold out against lowly Banbridge in Corinthian Park on Saturday. The home side playing with the wind at their backs started very slowly. Banbridge got stuck in from the beginning and brought their game to the division 3 leaders. With solid driving by their pack they got themselves into the Corinthian 22 and with quick ball recycled No 8 Mathew Irvine got in at the corner flag. The conversion was missed by scrum half Neville Farr. Corinthians got on the scoreboard after 25 minutes with a penalty by centre Wayne Williams. The same player converted 2 more penalties before the break, and Corinthians were luck to lead at half time as the whistle blew for half time with Banbridge camped on the Corinthian line.
After the break the Banbridge pack ableley led by 2nd row Simon Mc Kinestry drove forward and earned them a penalty but was missed by scrumhalf Neville Farr. The home side eventually got their act together and after a quick drop out by the visitors outhalf Richard Finlay, replacement hooker Barry Mc Cann collected the high ball and linked up with fill back Darren Claasen who made great ground and had Wayne Williams on his shoulder to score out wide, he failed to convert his own try but that left the score at fourteen points to five. From the restart Banbridge put Corinthians under pressure with substitute fly half Kenny Diffenthal conceding a penalty which was put over by Neville Farr. Banbridge started to open their game and were caught with a sucker punch try after Corinthian winger Richard Forbes intercepted and kicked up field for man of the match Sean Gerrighty to collect and touch down. Kenny Diffenthal added the conversion and the home side was now leading by 21 points to eight.
Banbridge continued to attack with great gusto and a mix up between Claasen and winger Dave Murphy resulted in a penalty to the away team which was put over by Farr. With the score now standing at twenty one points to eleven the visitors pressed hard for another score to at least get a bonus point, but the home side defense stood firm. Corinthians eventually broke out of there own half with back rowers Rory Connelan and Aurelian Casanova and lock Seamus Murphy driving up the pitch, Corinthian scrumhalf Michael Roache got the ball out wide after a great block down by Gerrighty which set Claasen free who after breaking through some tackles touched down in the corner. This left the final score at 26-11.
There was a minutes silence before the game for club PRO Mary Hughes father who sadly passed away in South Africa, all Corinthian members would like to sympathize with the Hughes family at this sad time!
