On a cold and wet Saturday afternoon, Bangor travelled to Fivemiletown for their semi-final match against 2013/14 cup winners Clogher Valley. The Cran is never an easy place to play, and recent meetings between the two clubs at this venue have been relatively comfortable wins for the home side. However, with a full-strength side and a cup final appearance at the Kingspan Stadium at stake, Bangor were hoping to cause an upset.

Bangor got the game started, playing down the slope but with the cross-wind partly in their faces. In contrast to recent games, Bangor looked sharp right from the off, giving their opponents little opportunity to mount any meaningful attacks. However, after 7 minutes of play, a high tackle by Bangor gave Clogher the first scoring chance of the game. However, Clogher’s normally dependable kicker, Holme, pushed the penalty wide.

Despite enjoying the territorial advantage for most of the first quarter, it was not until the 21st minute that Bangor got their first shot at goal. Mark Widdowson judged the wind well and slotted home his kick from the left hand side of the posts to put Bangor ahead by 0-3. Just a few minutes later, another Clogher infringement gave Widdowson another opportunity, this time from the other side. Once again the kick was good, and Bangor had moved further ahead by 0-6.

As the first half entered its final 10 minutes, Clogher used a penalty opportunity to kick for touch close to Bangor’s line. Clogher’s clinical execution of the lineout and drive is well-known, but Bangor were prepared and managed to disrupt this set play and deny their opposing pack the scoring platform. Having failed to score from some close quarter forward play, Clogher opted to kick a subsequent penalty, to get some points of the board and halve Bangor’s lead to 3-6 as the first half drew to a close.

As expected, the second half was a tight affair. However, it was Bangor who looked more at ease with the situation and were playing the conditions better. In their attempts to disrupt and turn over Bangor’s rucks, Clogher were repeatedly found guilty of coming in from the side. The resulting penalties were well used by full-back Ross McCloskey, whose kicking to touch was outstanding in such difficult conditions, and turned defence into attacking situations on several occasions.

As the game entered its final quarter, the wind and rain returned with a vengeance. Worryingly for Bangor, Darren Kelly had to limp off with a twisted ankle, and David Bradford with a knee injury. However, after some additional strapping and a splash of the physio’s magic sponge, Kelly was able to return to the fray. This desire to play in the face of adversity was later to be suitably rewarded. With less than 10 minutes remaining, it was Bangor who were looking the more determined and more good play in the loose forced another penalty from Clogher, this time close to the 5 metre line. As Bangor’s lineouts were not as secure as they would have hoped for, they opted for the tap-and-go, with Phil Whyte making the first few metres before being stopped. Patience was key and, after another drive was held up, the ball was eventually driven over from short range by Kelly, much to the delight of his fellow players. Widdowson added the conversion, and Bangor were now 3-13 ahead with little time remaining.

Although forced back into their own twenty two following the restart, Bangor displayed a growing maturity through their sensible ball retention, and denied their opponents any meaningful attacking opportunities. As the minutes counted down, Bangor’s defence held firm until the referee brought proceedings to a close and the celebrations could begin.

Words of praise are due both to the coaching team for their preparation and plan of attack, and also to the players for putting it all into action. The travelling support who endured the awful conditions are also to be thanked. The reward for everybody involved with Bangor Rugby Club is a mouth-watering encounter against the current Junior Cup holders Instonians at the Kingspan Stadium on the evening of Tuesday 15th December – clear your diary and plan to be there. In the meantime, the players now have to regroup and gear up for another tricky away fixture, this time against Omagh, where they will hope to maintain their lead at the top of Qualifying League 1.

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

Subs: O McIlmurry, D Caughey, M Weir, G Burton, A McCusker

Bangor scorers: D Kelly (1T), M Widdowson (2P, 1C)