Nutty Krust Match Report
Nutty Krust Tournament Banbridge U18’s v City of Armagh U18’s Wednesday 15th February 2023.
The fifth of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games got underway in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament under the floodlights at a cold but dry Chambers Park when the Banbridge U18 team played the City of Armagh U18 team onWednesday evening.
The Banbridge team recorded a well contested 48-7 victory with the scoreboard having read 38-0 in their favour at the break. A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
Ulster Society Referee, Donal Farrelly, encouraged both teams to play with the ball in hand and the Banbridge and Armagh teams clearly did so from the outset.
The Banbridge team scored six first half tries through Pearse Magill, who touched down twice, Matthew Magee, who scored a brace, Calum Toal and Darragh McCann. Denis Kerr was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The second half was a much more evenly balanced affair. The Armagh team controlled both territory and possession in the opening stages of the second half. Players such as Matthew Monaghan, Matthew Morrison, Jude McAtarsney and Tom Nicholson all combined to create the opportunity for Glen Montgomery to crash over the whitewash to put five points on the board for the Armagh team. A fine conversion from Matthew Monaghan saw their deficit reduce to 38-7. Darragh Lennon and Joe Flanagan were stopped just short of the line on a number of occasions by well-organised and committed Banbridge defence.
Towards the end of the game good work from Conor Corrigan, Kailen Cantley, Darragh McCann and Frank Doherty paved the way for two unconverted Ryan McMurray tries to leave the final scoreboard reading Banbridge U18s 48 City of Armagh U18s 7.
Having won this Nutty Krust Group Stage game the Banbridge RFC U18 team will now take their place in the final of the Nutty Krust Tournament on Wednesday 29th March.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Flat Dogs Gourmet Food” Restaurant, and organised by Ryan, the Flat Dogs proprietor. Ryan was assisted by his father, Tom, in serving the food. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf from Richard Jackson on departure.
Barney McGonigle, former Portadown College, King’s Scholars RFC and Portadown RFC player, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Darragh McCann, the Banbridge U18 team No 2.
The sixth, and final, of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games will be played on Wednesday 15th March when the Dungannon RFC U18 team will play the Omagh RFC U18 team at 7-45pm. All visitors and supporters will be made to feel very welcome to attend.
The winners of this County Tyrone “Nutty Krust Derby” game will play the Banbridge U18 team in the Nutty KrustFinal on Wednesday 29th March
