With a sizable squad, and a limit of only 22 players allowed on a league match squad, there were a few changes to the team that faced Donaghadee the previous week. All of the young men who were donning the Bangor shirt were keen to make a favourable impression on the game.

There wasn’t a breath of wind in the air, and it was a beautiful, dry sunny morning. Perfect conditions for a game of rugby.

Bangor kicked off, attacking the Navar end of the 2nds pitch. The subsequent kick off was left to bounce by BHS, and the ball came to a stop in the BHS dead ball area. This was touched down by the BHS defender, and there was a subsequent goal line dropout.

On receipt of the drop out, Bangor attacked the right hand corner of the pitch, and the ball was subsequently knocked on. BHS were penalised on the resultant scrum, and a free kick was awarded to Bangor. Sean Hynes took the initiative and scored from a tap and go. This was converted by Steven Boyd. 7-0 to Bangor.

From the restart, Bangor gathered the ball, and after a number of phases ended up deep in the BHS 22. From a subsequent ruck in close quarters to the BHS try line, Steven Boyd had the vision and strength to exploit a gap, with a pick and go, to allow him to score. This was unconverted, making it 12-0 to Bangor.

On receipt of the restart following Steven’s try, Sean Hynes again found himself in possession of the ball. Sean began a charging run towards the BHS line, and ran some 40 to 50 metres, before scoring in the left hand corner. This was unconverted, and the score was now 17-0.

The game continued, and Bangor were rewarded a scrum on the BHS 10m line, for a knock on. Bangor’s tails were up, and from a subsequent pick and go, Sean Hynes again proved too much of a handful for the BHS defence, and scored under the posts. This was converted by Steven Boyd, 24-0 to Bangor.

The game continued, with BHS failing to assert any dominance on Bangor, and this allowed the young men to grow in confidence as the half progressed. From the restart that followed Sean’s last try, Steven Boyd was able to make a quick pick from the back of the ruck, and score under the posts, after another 40 to 50m sprint to the line. The score was now 29-0 on the stroke of half time.

Bangor made a raft of substitutions at halftime, and the second half commenced much like the first half ended, with Thomas Rice receiving the kick off, and scoring under the posts. This was another 40 to 50m sprint to the line – surely the Bangor lads were going to run out of steam! This try was converted by Steven and the score now 36-0 to Bangor.

Bangor’s last try was scored by Sammie Gourley, who again displayed some of his strong carrying ability that he had shown the previous week against Donaghadee. Another 40 - 50m dash for the line, evading and bumping a number of tackles en route, with Sammie proving just too strong for the BHS defenders. Sammie’s try was unconverted and the final score was 41-0. The remainder of the game was played as a friendly, as Bangor had reached the 40 point threshold, the game was stopped and declared a win to Bangor.

Both teams were keen to carry on playing rugby, so each set of forwards swapped teams, and the remaining time was played as a mixed team friendly.

Next week the young lads will face Carrick, at Upritchard Park, in what will be a much sterner test. The lads will be hoping for a win next weekend, following on from the loss in the last encounter between the two sides. It will be an 11:00am KO. Training on Wednesday 6:30 - 8pm. Please, a big effort by all players to attend.

Thanks also to all the supporters on the touchline. Just a reminder, can all parents / guardians please ensure that all subs for players are paid and up to date, as we will be enforcing a “NO PAY NO PLAY”.

(Report courtesy of Dave Henderson)