It was a quick dash from the hockey to capture the schools senior friendly between Larne and Banbridge at Upper Cairncastle Road.
There was no score when I arrived part way through the first half but Banbridge were applying pressure on the Larne line. The visitors got the scoreboard up and running minutes later with Noah Bell driving over from a lineout maul. Andrew Jackson added the conversion to give Banbridge a 0 – 7 lead.
Larne hit back five minutes later with Ryan McDowell picking a good line to score close to the posts. Ethan Duncan hit the conversion to take the score to 7 – 7 and that’s how it remained until half time.
The home team were caught napping at the start of the second half with Banbridge’s Luke Charmen running one in from the half way line, converted by Jackson, to take the score to 7 – 14.
The grammar team responded nine minutes alter as Charlie Patterson chased down a chip from Duncan to dive on the ball in the in-goal area. Duncan added the extras to pull it back to 14 – 14 mid way through the second half.
Banbridge found that something extra in the closing quarter with hooker Callum Little finding the line after a period of pressure in the Larne 22.
Five minutes later Charmen picked up his second try and the Academy’s fourth after finding some space on the right. Jackson converted to take the score to 14 – 26 with five minutes left.
Larne finished the game on the attack but they were unable to break down the Banbridge defence, the game ending with out further score.
Match Gallery
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