With some players feeling the effects of the two recent games, Bangor fielded an unfamiliar line-up, with new players added and others having to play out of their normal position. Nonetheless, Bangor started the game confidently, playing into the wind. In keeping with the earlier encounter at Upritchard Park, both sides had their chances but were kept at bay by solid defending. The breakthrough eventually came after 15 minutes when some missed Bangor tackling allowed Ballyclare to slip through for the score and take the lead by 7-0.

Bangor continued to press forward, but suffered the set-back of having Jake Harrison yellow carded for conceding one penalty too many for the referee’s liking. To make matters worse, just 6 minutes later Freddie Black received a nasty cut above his eye and had to leave the field of play. For the next few minutes the 13 Bangor men hung on desperately until Harrison could return. While still re-adjusting to what had happened, Ballyclare were awarded another penalty which was converted, stretching their lead to 10-0.

As Ballyclare discovered when they lost a player at Upritchard Park, it is an uphill task to compete in circumstances like this, especially when the opposition is so strong. Bangor fought well, looking towards the half time mark when they could regroup and hopefully benefit from the wind that would be at their backs. However, in the last 5 minutes of the half, Ballyclare produced a burst that struck a severe blow to Bangor’s chances. Having kicked the ball forward, a fortunate bounce fell to the advancing Ballyclare players who made good use of their extra man to score wide on the left. Then, just 2 minutes later and with the end of the half in sight, another attack produced Ballyclare’s third try. This was converted bringing the score to 22-0.

As the teams turned around, the fickle wind conditions had changed and were now blowing mainly across the pitch. Although it looked like the odds were stacked against Bangor, they started the second half in determined fashion and came close after just 6 minutes following a mix-up in the Ballyclare defence. In fact, it was the depleted Bangor side that was asking all the questions in the first twenty minutes or so, only coming up short when perhaps the extra man would have helped. Eventually Bangor were rewarded for their hard work when a driving maul pushed the Ballyclare pack over their own line, allowing Jamie Clegg to drop on the ball and score. The difficult kick was missed, bringing the score to 22-5.

It looked like this is how the game would finish, as both sides were effectively cancelling each other out both in attack and defence. However, in the closing minute of the game, Ballyclare found a gap in the tiring Bangor defence to nip through and score their bonus point try under the posts. The kick was successful and, although there was just enough for one or two more phases of play, the scoreline finished 29-5 in favour of the home side.

Although doubtless disappointed to have finished what has been a great league campaign in this manner, Bangor can be pleased that their strategy this past week has paid off. When they reflect on the season as a whole, and review their scoring statistics, they should feel proud of their achievements and look forward to the new challenges in QL1 with confidence. It is unfortunate that Ballyclare’s chance of joining Bangor in QL1 was dashed by Portadown’s defeat in the round-robin process. However, it is surely only a short matter of time until they can progress by right.

Bangor team: J Harrison, A Jackson, P Dornan, F Black, C Stewart, M Leebody, R Latimer, J Clegg, R Armstrong (c), D Gordon, S Addy, M Aspley, C Morgan, C Harper, D Charles

Bangor scores: J Clegg (1T)