'Bann' go seven up

Division Three leaders Banbridge won for the seventh time this season today in their hunt for promotion, as once again their dominant pack saw them to the points, but only just, winning 22-20 against visitors Old Wesley.

A good result in the week that saw Banbridge have three players named in the Ireland Youth squad during the week, with hooker David Weir, flanker Matthew Irvine and scrum-half Neville Farr featuring on the 26-man squad. The club seem to be going from strength to strength, as seven wins and one bonus point puts them three points clear of second-placed Inst.

Greystones and Highfield have strung together some decent results of late and continued their form with a 53-17 win for the Co. Wikclow men over Suttonians at Dr. Hickey Park and a 28-6 defeat of Naas for Wanderers, their fourth win in seven games.

Former table-toppers Instonians could only manage a draw, 9-9, with the visit of Portadown to Rifle Park. The game eventually turned into a penalty kick shoot-out between the home side’s full back Darren Dunlop hitting over three successful kicks as did the Ports’ Barry Gribben.

Elsewhere in the Division Corinthians and Clonakilty played out a 22-22 draw in Galway gales, Highfield moved to third with a 20-12 beating of Ards and there were away successes for Skerries (10-6 v Connemara) and Queen’s University who came away from Ballina with four points from a 22-17 win.