I caught up with Banbridge and Malone in an AIL 1B match at a cold and windy Rifle Park on Saturday afternoon. With only five wins between them this season both teams had slipped into the bottom three of AIL 1B before the league was paused at the end of January.

It was a fairly scrappy match in difficult conditions. Malone had a period of pressure in the Banbridge 22 in the opening quarter, without reward, before a break out ended with a try for Banbridge out half Andrew Morrison, after a couple of phases, on the 14th minute. Adam Doherty added the extras to give Banbridge a 7 – 0 lead.

Malone picked up a penalty, through the boot of Callum Smith . . .