Although missing the valuable experience of Mike Weir and Patrick Dobie through injury, Bangor were still able to field a strong side for this Junior Cup fixture. After last week’s heavy defeat by Dromore, it was hoped that Bangor would learn from their earlier mistakes and bounce back with a much needed win. However, given Bangor’s poor record at Stevenson Park, this was by no means certain.

Dungannon got the game underway, playing with the wind at their backs. It didn’t take long before the Bangor forwards started making their presence felt. Frankie Shivers started a break with a lovely line through the approaching Dungannon players, before passing to Thomas Boyd who forced play towards the Dungannon twenty two. Another good pass found Marty Withers who shook off the last ditch defensive tackles to force his way over for the opening try of the game. Rhys Larmour was unfortunate with his conversion attempt as the ball was blown off the tee just as he was about to take the kick.

Dungannon replied quickly after taking advantage of a friendly bounce of the ball that caught Bangor flat footed, allowing their big 2nd row to run through and score under Bangor’s posts. With the addition of the simple conversion, the home side were now in front by 7-5.

It took 15 minutes of play before the game had its first scrum, and Bangor immediately took control by winning a penalty as the Dungannon pack was pushed back. From this attacking opportunity, Bangor produced a flowing move comprising several players before Ali McIvor finished it off with a well taken try in the left hand corner. Clearly un-phased by his earlier conversion attempt from an easier position, Larmour expertly made the successful kick to put Bangor ahead by 7-12.

The good interplay between Bangor’s forwards and backs was soon evident again when a break from within their own twenty two was started by Danny Young, then taken on by Ryan Young, Frankie Shivers and then Marty Withers. Although Dungannon managed to halt the advance, they conceded a penalty in the process. Undeterred, Rob Gamble took a quick tap and, from 10 metres out, crashed over to score on the left hand side. The prevailing wind once again hampered Larmour as he took the conversion, with his kick being pushed onto the post and bouncing back.

Bangor were now looking the more at ease with the ball and their forward play was repeatedly giving the Dungannon defence problems. Shivers was unlucky when his drive for the goal line was held up, but within minutes Conor Lusty, playing in the unfamiliar role of Number 8, finished off another flowing move to score in the right hand corner. It was another difficult conversion attempt for Larmour which missed its target, but Bangor were now ahead by a more comfortable 7-22 margin.

From the Dungannon restart, Bangor failed to secure the ball and then made matters worse by missing their tackles. Dungannon were quick to pounce on this situation and, having gathered the ball, they ran through for their second and narrow the scores to 14-22.

Dungannon were clearly energised by this stroke of luck and pressed hard to add to their tally over the closing minutes of the first half. With play deep inside the Bangor twenty two, Dungannon were surprised when Bangor turned defence into attack, with another fine display of passing, tackling and rucking before McIvor was on hand again to make the final move and score. Larmour’s problems from the tee continued, but this score with the last play of the half put Bangor into 14-27 lead.

As Bangor got the second half underway, they now had the assistance of the wind at their backs. Despite Dungannon’s efforts to start with renewed vigour, it was Bangor who steadily forced play back into the Dungannon twenty two. As they made to pass the ball wide for what looked like another try, a Dungannon player was guilty of a deliberate knock-on and received a yellow card for his error. The resulting penalty and Bangor’s now additional manpower advantage proved too much for Dungannon to defend, with Adam Lowry diving over from close range, and Larmour back on target with the conversion.

A couple of minutes later Bangor were back on the attack and when they had a 5 metre scrum, it was Lowry who was on hand to dummy the stretched Dungannon defence and nip through for his second try. Larmour added the simple conversion to push Bangor further ahead by 14-41.

From the Dungannon restart, Bangor misjudged the flight of the ball in the gusting wind, and it fell loose. This slip-up was then compounded by an unfriendly bounce which wrong-footed the defence and allowed Dungannon to gather and run through for a somewhat fortuitous try and move the score to 19-41.

Bangor’s response, as the game entered its final quarter, was both immediate and without mercy. Two tries by Danny Young and another by Connor McKee saw Bangor streak away into an emphatic 19-60 win, and a place in the next round of the Junior Cup.

This was a much more composed team performance by Bangor, and one that should instil renewed confidence ahead of the return of league action against Limavady next Saturday at Upritchard Park. Although this is likely to be a much closer match given Limavady’s strong and unbeaten start to the season, Bangor will be hoping to build on their improved performance and upset the form book with a much-needed home win.