Bangor travelled to a cold, wet and windy Omagh for a crunch game against one of the few remaining sides with an unbeaten record in the league. With heavy conditions underfoot, and a strong wind playing across the pitch, this was never going to be a pretty game to watch. The pitch and conditions obviously suited the home side, as they ran and passed the ball with confidence. Despite their superiority in the first half, at the turn Bangor were 0-3 leaders. Early in the second half a well taken try and conversion saw Omagh take the lead. Bangor responded well, forcing Omagh into their own twenty two and, following a number of attacking scrums close to the Omagh line, they regained the lead with a try, making the score 7-8 which they held to the final whistle.

With long grass, soft ground and some standing water, the pitch was just about playable, but it was certainly not to Bangor’s liking. From the outset, Omagh stated their intention by getting the ball to their backs and running at the Bangor defence. The Omagh forwards supported well and, within the first three minutes, won a penalty for Bangor not rolling away from the tackle, but missed the kick to goal. In the following 15 minutes, Omagh were awarded a further two penalties – one for a deliberate knock-on, the other for hands in the ruck.

Fortunately for Bangor, on both occasions the kicks were missed. With the game being played largely in the middle of the pitch, it was on one of a few Bangor incursions into the Omagh twenty two that they were awarded their first kickable penalty. Keith Rossan took the opportunity making the score 0-3, a lead that Bangor held until half time.

What little slope there is on the Omagh pitch now favoured Bangor, and whatever coach Rupert Preston said at the break, his players certainly started to pick up their game. Omagh, however, always looked dangerous on the break and, with just 12 minutes of the second half gone, a great back line move cut through the Bangor defence, allowing Neil Browne to score under the posts. With Stefan Hamilton’s conversion, Omagh now led by 7-3.

Bangor stuck to their task valiantly, using clever kicks to keep Omagh pinned down in their own twenty two. With conditions worsening, and legs tiring, Bangor’s forwards started to grind down the metres to the Omagh line. The Bangor pack was working well and, following a number of scrums just to the left of the Omagh posts, Rob McCausland picked up from the back of the scrum, fed it quickly to Ricky Armstrong who in turn flicked it on to Michael Aspley who charged over from a few metres to score in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed, but Bangor now led by 7-8.

With just under 20 minutes left, Bangor kept their heads and played sensible, strategic rugby by using the reliable boots of Jason Morgan and Keith Rossan to keep the ball in Omagh’s twenty two, hence denying them the opportunity of an attacking position. With the clock running down, Omagh had no option but to try and force their game, but in doing so made mistakes that in turn increased the pressure on them. Even so, Omagh always looked dangerous on the break, and it was only a fine tackle by Jamie Foulkes (or was it James Ferguson?) that prevented a possible scoring opportunity by the Omagh winger. In the closing minutes, Bangor pressed forward again and came close to crossing the line again, but desperate Omagh defending kept them at bay. As the whistle went for full time, and with the score remaining at 7-8, Bangor’s relief and Omagh’s disappointment were obvious in equal measure.

While there were notable failings in Bangor’s game play, the team’s attitude to the game is to be applauded, especially given the fact there were a number of eleventh hour changes in the side. With such a slender lead, and given the difficult conditions, Bangor played to their strengths and in so doing, secured this important victory. Omagh will no doubt rue their missed penalty opportunities, but at least have gained a losing bonus point for their efforts.

With no 1st XV game scheduled for Bangor next weekend, there will hopefully be time for players to return to full health and fitness, as well as time for the coaching staff to work on the mistakes of today. The next league game is away to Larne on the 5th November. All Bangor fans are encouraged to show their support from the touchline and enjoy the exciting rugby that Bangor are now beginning to produce.

Bangor team : P Morrow, A Jackson, B Worthington, F Black, R Corbett, D Lynn, I McBurney , R McCausland (C), R Armstrong, K Rossan, M Aspley, J Morgan, J Ferguson , J Foulkes, C Morgan

Bangor Scores: K Rossan (1P), M Aspley (1T)