Great start for Bangor in AIL

Having just missed out in the promotion play-offs last season, and having beaten Bangor both at home and away in the process, Tullamore were looking to continue this good run. However, Bangor are a year older and wiser, and now want to improve on the less successful results of last year.

Playing with the wind and rain at their backs, Tullamore kicked off and within a minute were ahead after taking advantage of Bangor’s slow start. A break through the centre was met with slack and ineffectual tackling, allowing the Tullamore number 8, Lemeki, to cruise through for a try under the posts. The straightforward conversion was taken by R Dunne, giving the visitors an early 0-7 lead. Just 2 minutes later, Bangor had an opportunity to claw back some points with a penalty, but Gareth Millar’s effort drifted wide of the posts. Bangor’s woes continued when, after 18 minutes of play a chip through by Tullamore wasn’t gathered by the Bangor defence allowing Sean Rigby to take full advantage of the mistake and touch down, putting his side further ahead by 0-12.

While the home spectators may feel the pressure, it isn’t something that seems to bother the Bangor players. By way of reply, Bangor upped their game and started to turn the tables on their opponents. As Bangor advanced into the Tullamore twenty two, the ball was passed to Chris Jordan on the left wing. With defenders ahead, his route to goal looked blocked. However, as he spun out of tackles he managed to stay on his feet long enough to stretch over the line despite having to carry a Tullamore player with him – a great opening try for the youngster in his first season of Senior rugby. Millar produced a great conversion into the wind to make the score now a more respectable 7-12. However, just as Bangor looked to have played themselves back into the game, they conceded a penalty that was kicked by Tullamore to extend their lead to 7-15.

Despite the adverse scoreline, it was now Bangor that were playing most of the rugby. Provided they could cut out the costly mistakes, they certainly looked the more likely to score again. Hard work in the loose resulted in Andrew Shaw breaking away with the ball. His strong run was brought to a halt just short of the Tullamore line but excellent support saw the ball quickly recycled and moved left where it found Ross McCloskey who produced a determined drive which saw him squeeze over in the corner for a try. Millar then produced a superb kick from the touchline which added the extras and brought Bangor to within a point at 14-15. With just a couple of minutes remaining in the first half, and with the prospect of having the wind advantage in the second, Bangor were in a much more healthy position. The last play of the half saw Bangor with a scrum inside the Tullamore twenty two – what could possibly go wrong? Throughout the game, Bangor’s scrum had once again looked imperious. However, on this occasion, they managed to lose possession and soon found themselves under unnecessary pressure. Thankfully the Bangor defence proved too hard for Tullamore to break through, forcing them to attempt an unsuccessful drop goal attempt.

By complete contrast to how they started the first half, Bangor began the second with purpose and determination. A powerful drive from Dave Caughey forced play deep into the Tullamore twenty two. With plenty of supporting players in attendance, the ball went through another couple of phases before coming to Lewis Stevenson who made no mistake from a few metres out. The addition of Millar’s conversion now put Bangor ahead for the first time in the game by 21-15.

This six point lead was by no means comfortable as a converted try by Tullamore would snatch the lead back. They obviously realised this and set about laying siege to Bangor’s line. For what seemed like an eternity, but was probably more like 10 minutes, Bangor had to defend as though their lives depended on it. However, this proved to be a decisive point in the game. Despite seeing Tullamore come within touching distance of their line on repeated occasions, the well-drilled Bangor defence held firm and eventually repelled the attacks. This seemed to demoralise Tullamore and hearten Bangor by equal measure and, from that point on it looked more like Bangor’s game to lose.

With just 7 minutes remaining, Millar had a chance to not only put the game to bed but also deny the visitors a losing bonus point when a penalty opportunity came his way. However, on this occasion his aim was off and the chance was gone. However, with the final whistle shortly afterwards this was soon forgotten and the victory could be celebrated.

With a home win now under their belt, Bangor face the next two weeks on the road with games against Seapoint (Dublin), then Midleton in County Cork.