Bangor suffered a disappointing 22-0 defeat to UBL 2A team Queens at the Dub in the first of their three consecutive SONI Ulster Premiership Div 2 games over the Xmas-New Year period.

This was the first run out for both teams since the completion of the first half of the UBL programme in early December. Despite a biting westerly wind blowing straight across the pitch and making life uncomfortable for those spectators braving the stand, the dry but overcast conditions and firm pitch augured well for an open game of rugby. Bangor showed four changes from the team that started against Sligo. In the pack, Darren Kelly came into the second row and Curtis Stewart dropped back to No 8 in place of the unavailable David Bradford. A new half-back pairing of Gareth Wright and Gareth Millar replaced Ali Lockhart and Jason Morgan, while Ross McCloskey returned from injury at fullback. Further alterations in the threequarters saw Mark Widdowson move to outside centre and Phil Broderick switch to the left wing.

Queen’s kicked off from the Upper Malone end, and a clean take and drive by Curtis Stewart set up good ball. However, Bangor struggled to gain ground and retain possession. Following five minutes of sustained Queen’s pressure and good defence by Bangor, a clean break by the lively student backline almost led to the first score but for a knock on ten metres from the posts. This stirred Bangor and a series of pick and drives by Curtis Stewart from the back of a solid Bangor scrum saw the visitors take control and make steady ground into the Queen’s half. Bangor’s half backs were now spreading the ball wide and with confidence, but poor execution spoiled two good try scoring opportunities over a five minute period midway through the first half. Firstly, with the Queens defence stretched, a poor final pass cost Bangor a likely try in the left hand corner. Then, a few minutes later, with Bangor playing well, a great inside break by Mark Widdowson on the Queens 22 looked like opening the scoring. However, as he ran in behind the posts, the chasing Queen’s defender stretched out from behind and knocked the ball from his grasp for a 22 drop out. Despite this setback, Bangor kept pressing and with their defence thwarting Queen’s attempts to run the ball, it was only intelligent and accurate kicking for field position that brought Queen’s deep into Bangor’s half, and that on just a few occasions. Bangor nevertheless kept coming back, but despite sustained periods of pressure inside the 22, a resolute Queen’s defence kept them at bay.

Bangor then lost Ross McCloskey to a head injury after 28 minutes. Mark Widdowson took over at fullback, Mike Aspley moved to the centre and James Stewart came off the bench into the pack. A dominant Bangor then turned down a simple penalty goal opportunity in front of the posts and went for touch. The lineout was won cleanly, but as the ball was moved wide, the Queen’s outside centre picked off the ball and ran the length of the pitch to score an opportunist try in the left hand corner. Bangor were to suffer a further setback a few minutes later when James Stewart was yellow carded for a careless neck roll when clearing out at a breakdown on the Bangor 22. They weathered this well but as half time approached, Queen’s showed excellent handling skills in moving the ball wide under pressure on halfway. This gave their left winger just enough time to beat the defence with an excellent kick down the touchline which he followed up at pace to score Queen’s second try in the corner and leave the half time score 10-0.

As the second half began, Queen’s had to defend well before cutting loose after just three minutes. Their out-half created the space for one of their forwards to cut a great line close to Bangor’s 22 and set up a converted try under the posts. 17-0 to Queen’s. Bangor’s fortunes didn’t get any better, and as they used their bench, the team now began to struggle to win ball from both scrum and lineout. With Bangor chasing the game and Queen’s now playing with renewed confidence, errors began to punctuate Bangor’s play more frequently. Queen’s were proving very adept at ripping the ball out in the tackle, and one such turnover proved costly after eleven minutes when quick ball saw the Queen’s fullback cut a great line through a disorganized Bangor defence from halfway to score their fourth try to the right of the posts. Score 22-0 to Queen’s.

Despite this setback, Bangor fought back with determination. A couple of brilliant fifty metre breaks out of defence by Mike Aspley caused Queen’s serious problems, the scramble defence managing to disrupt the final pass sufficiently to prevent a couple of Bangor scores. However, despite some strong individual performances, the team could not break through a resolute Queen’s defence and the game finished with Bangor pressing hard inside the Queen’s 22. Final score 22-0 to Queen’s.

This was a good run-out for Bangor and they will have learned a lot from competing against a Queen’s side whose aptitude for defending well, winning turnover ball, and counterattacking accurately with width and at pace was impressive. The next two weeks will hopefully give Bangor sufficient time to resolve those aspects of their game which caused them problems against Queen’s and take on Rainey OB at home (Thursday 5th January at 7:45pm) and Belfast Harlequins away (Saturday 14th January at 2:30pm) with renewed confidence.

Bangor team: P Whyte (c), A Shaw, J Leary, C Burton, D Kelly, M Aspley, R Latimer, C Stewart, G Millar, G Wright, P Broderick, D Fusco, M Widdowson, R Gamble, R McCloskey.

Subs: C Piper, A Jackson, G Burton, J Stewart, A Lockhart.

(thanks to Norman Gault for this report)