On Thursday eveningt Malone entertained Banbridge in an Ulster Rugby Premiership Division 1 game, under lights, at Gibson Park.
After their exertions in the AIL, both sides fielded much changed sides from the weekend.
Both teams sounded each other out in the 1st quarter with Malone having the better of the play. However it was Banbridge who took the lead after 28 minutes with a try and conversion by Aaron Kennedy.
Malone replied 5 minutes later when Matthew Neill, sent the defense the wrong way and sniped over for a try, converted by Callum Smith, to level the scores.
On 37 minutes Andy Bryans try, converted by Smith gave Malone a 14-7 lead, which they took into halftime.
The 2nd half was barely 3 minutes old when Banbridge equalized with a Robin Sinton try, converted by Kennedy.
Only 2 minutes later Malone pressure lead to a penalty try to restore Malone’s 7 point lead, at 21-14.
Banbridge kept the scoreboard ticking over with a Kennedy short range penalty goal and they took the lead, 24-21 with a Colm Finnegan try, converted by Kennedy.
A further unconverted Ross Cartmill try and a long range penalty goal by Kennedy, stretched the lead out to 32-21 for Banbridge after 74 minutes.
Malone had the last say when Neill scored his second try in the corner, after 77 minutes.
All in all a very entertaining game and a deserved win for Banbridge.
