Banbridge return from Cork empty-handed after defeat

Highfield had enjoyed the benefit of a diagonal first-half wind. But the fine tactical kicking of out-half James Taylor had largely been negated by his team-mates’ tendency to give away penalties. Bann’s best attacking efforts had been initiated by Ben Carson’s 14th minute intercept and a strong carry from Callum Reid on 22 minutes. But handling errors brought both to premature ends, so for the first 35 minutes of the game play had mostly taken place between the two “22s”, with little threat to either try line.

Then from a seemingly innocuous lineout 35 metres out, the home side launched an attack which put Paul Stack in for the deadlock-breaking try, which Taylor converted.

A 7-0 interval scoreline, with the wind at their backs in the second half, should have provided the basis for a good outcome for the away side.

But within 55 seconds of the second half starting, the deficit had doubled. Doherty’s clearance kick was fielded and run back.

The impressive Taylor then sliced through Bann’s mid-field, linked with Luke Kingston who found scrum-half Chris Banon with the scoring pass and the out-half added the conversion.

Robin Sinton came off the bench to replace Ryan Hughes and made an immediate impact.

In the 48th minute Highfield were penalised at a lineout and again at the scrum which followed.

When the scrum was re-set, the replacement number eight picked up and before the defence could react he was over the try line.

Doherty’s conversion attempt drifted wide in the wind, but with just six minutes remaining the full-back kicked a penalty from the halfway line to put his side in sight of a losing bonus point.

But from the re-start Bann failed to chase Aaron Kennedy’s box kick with the necessary energy and organisation.