Banbridge met Malone on a sunny, but cold afternoon, at Gibson Park, in the Ulster Senior Cup. A biting wind, blowing diagonally across the pitch, only added to the wind chill factor.
Both teams sounded each other out, running the ball out from deep. Playing with the wind, Malone missed two long range penalties, before Banbridge opened the scoring when Conor Field scored wide out on the right for a 5-0 lead.
Both teams launched a series of attacks but there was no further scoring before halftime.
Playing into the wind, Malone gradually gained control when Dave Cave scored after 52 minutes, converted by Rory Campbell, to lead 7-5.
A Neil Alcorn try on 70 minutes, converted by Campbell, consolidated Malone’s lead, now 14-5.
Needing two scores to win Adam Doherty kicked a 78th minute penalty goal for Banbridge, but they were unable to get out of their half in the last minutes and Malone held on for a 14-8 victory in a pulsating tie.
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