It was a pleasure to welcome Monkstown to Upritchard Park – there has been a close and hospitable relationship between the two clubs going back to the days when both enjoyed senior status, so to meet again several years later in another All Ireland competition was eagerly anticipated. For the second time in this competition, Bangor’s opponents both played in blue and gold, so again it was greatly appreciated that Bangor Grammar School were able to make their jerseys available as an alternative for the home side. Perhaps the youthful enthusiasm of school rugby would rub off on some of the players…..

Unfortunately, as Monkstown kicked off, it was obvious that this was not the case, with the visitors making most of the early running. While the Bangor set pieces looked sound, possession was repeatedly lost through forced passes being dropped and turnover ball being conceded in the loose play. It was therefore somewhat against the run of play that, after 13 minutes, Bangor took the lead. David Bradford made a break and, seeing free space behind the approaching Monkstown players, kicked through into the visitors’ twenty two. Both he and Jason Guthrie set off in pursuit and, although beaten to the ball by the Monkstown full-back, harried the defender into touch just 5 metres from the goal line. The resulting Bangor line-out and drive proved too much for Monkstown to withstand, with Andrew Jackson making the final move to score close to the corner flag. Mark Widdowson was unable to convert, but Bangor had struck first and were 5-0 ahead.

Despite this score, Bangor still didn’t look at ease with their game and, coming under renewed pressure from some purposeful attacks, they conceded two penalties in front of their own posts which were successfully kicked, putting them now behind by 5-6 after 22 minutes.

Bangor could, and should, have regained the lead after a good build-up that saw them close to their opponent’s line. However, a hurried pass was dropped allowing Monkstown to counter-attack. Bangor’s covering defence then conceded another penalty, but this was missed. If Bangor were relieved by this let-off, it was to be short-lived. The twenty two metre drop-out was well taken by the Monkstown forwards, then one pass inside gave the Monkstown kicker enough time to produce a well-taken drop-goal to extend their lead to 5-9.

With just 5 minutes of the first half remaining, Bangor looked to be getting back into gear and were raising the tempo as a result. Another break by Bradford was taken on through Guthrie, Stewart and Weir, bringing play right up to the Monkstown line. Although Weir was stopped short, the ball came back quickly to Stewart who had a clear run through to score under the posts. With the added conversion, Bangor had regained the lead by 12-9, which is how it remained as the first half drew to a close.

Having regained the lead and now beginning to look more composed, Bangor were quickly punished for another mistake. Within a minute of the second half kick-off, another hurried and misjudged pass saw the ball bounce off a Bangor chest and into Monkstown’s hands. This was quickly passed across the backs from right to left before being chipped over the heads of the Bangor defence. In the resulting sprint to get to the ball, it was Monkstown who got there first, touching down in the left hand corner. To add insult to injury, the difficult touchline conversion was successfully kicked, putting the visitors back in front by 12-16.

Monkstown’s cause wasn’t helped when, after 8 minutes, they received a yellow card for tackling a Bangor player as he jumped for the ball in the line-out. However, it took Bangor another 5 minutes before they took full advantage of the extra man. A line-out from just within Monkstown’s twenty two was safely won and a driving maul was formed. With good shape, control and extra weight, this rumbled all the way to Monkstown’s line before Stewart got the ball down for his second try of the day. Widdowson added the conversion to put Bangor back ahead by 19-16.

Within minutes of the restart, Rob Gamble – who had come on for the injured Davy Charles – showed great pace out of defence and down the right wing. Although he looked to have just evaded the last Monkstown defender, the ball slipped from his grasp and the chance was gone. However, play was now back in a good attacking position, and Bangor began to patiently build the pressure. Several phases through Bangor’s forwards kept play camped on the Monkstown line. Having been held up a couple of times, Bangor quickly switched the ball across the backs to Gamble who this time made no mistake, sliding over in the right hand corner for the score. Although not converted, a more comfortable gap was opening up at 24-16.

With Monkstown now appearing to be feeling the pace, Bangor were now producing their trademark surge. Just 5 minutes later, following strong runs by the forwards which brought play just in front of the Monkstown posts, slick handling by Guthrie and Morgan got the ball to Desi Fusco who nipped through a gap in the defence to score on the left hand side. The kick was successful, and now Bangor were comfortably ahead by 31-16.

The best try of the day came just a few minutes later. From a fairly ordinary approach, and with the forwards setting an attacking platform in the middle of Monkstown’s twenty two, Bangor looked to have options to both left and right. However, almost out of nowhere, Guthrie popped the ball to Gamble who had come in from the wing and simply cut a diagonal line through the completely wrong-footed defence. As everybody stood looking, he ran through unhindered to score under the posts. Widdowson converted the straightforward kick, bringing the final score to 38-16.

Once again, Bangor’s ability to come from behind was clearly evident. One wonders what the score might have been if they could have got into gear earlier. Certainly, as the opposition gets tougher in the semi-finals, and with a testing away fixture to Clogher Valley in the league next weekend, this would need to be the case.

Bangor team: P Dornan, A Jackson, P Whyte, M Ferguson, D Kelly, C Burton, J Clegg (c), D Bradford, J Guthrie, J Morgan, M Widdowson, M Weir, D Fusco, R McCloskey

Subs: C Stewart, F Black, D Kennedy, R Gamble, A McCusker

Bangor scorers: A Jackson (1T), C Stewart (2T), R Gamble (2T), D Fusco (1T), M Widdowson (4C)