After recording a resounding victory against City of Derry the previous weekend, the big question was if this was just a flash in the pan, or the start of something much more promising. Randalstown had suffered a heavy defeat at Enniskillen, but had a number of key players now available and were hoping to pick up their first league points of the season.

Randalstown got the game underway, playing down the slight slope, and with the wind gusting across the pitch. Surprisingly, this wind was causing both sides problems. Within the opening quarter, several kicks to touch didn’t find their mark, and a normally kickable penalty for Randalstown in front of the Bangor posts was blown off course. However, the Randalstown kicker learned from his earlier experience and, just a few minutes later, converted another penalty to put the home side 3-0 ahead after 26 minutes.

This scrappy, error-strewn opening period masked the fact that it was Bangor who were showing much of the attacking play although, so far, unable to capitalise on it. However, as the game progressed, Bangor’s pack was starting to exert its pressure and, from a 5 metre scrum penalty, looked to have found the goal line with their drive. To their credit, Randalstown’s defence dug in well and looked to have weathered the storm. However, as the ball came free from the back of the scrum, Adam Lowry was on hand to make the final stretch and touch down for Bangor’s opening try. The difficult conversion by Danny Young, both in terms of position and prevailing wind, was unsuccessful, but Bangor had managed to nudge ahead by 3-5.

With the first half drawing to a close, Bangor were hoping to have more to show for their efforts. Once again, it was the security of Bangor’s lineout that provided the next scoring opportunity. The lineout and rolling maul was similar to Bangor’s earlier driving attack, but this time Andrew Shaw was able to peel off the maul and dive over for the try which, although unconverted, had given Bangor a slightly more comfortable 3-10 margin going into the second half.

Within minutes of the game resuming after the half time interval, Shaw looked to have got over for another try after a strong attack, but the ball was held up by the determined Randalstown defence. Undeterred, Bangor went right back on the offensive, but this time through their backs, where a flowing move was finished off by Danny Young on the right wing.

Bangor’s slick handling was on show again just a couple of minutes later when the ball was moved to Conor Scollan in space on the left wing. With his immediate route to the goal line blocked, Scollan chipped over the home defence and the chase for the ball was on. The Randalstown full back looked to have the danger covered, but the final bounce of the ball put it out of his reach and into the path of Scollan who gratefully grabbed it and ran through for Bangor’s bonus point try. This time the conversion by Young was successful which helped Bangor stretch their lead to 3-22 with 30 minutes left to play.

Such was Bangor’s apparent control of the game that it looked like another big winning score was on the cards. However, an intercepted pass allowed Randalstown to sprint clear and touch down for an opportunist try under Bangor’s posts. The simple conversion was added, narrowing Bangor’s lead to 10-22.

Although this was against the run of play, Randalstown seized on this turn of events and played with a renewed sense of confidence. This swing in momentum was brought into sharp focus when, from a scrum inside Bangor’s twenty two, the ball came to the Randalstown out half who produced a looping run around and through the hesitant Bangor defence to score under the posts. With another successful conversion, Randalstown were suddenly within touching distance of Bangor at 17-22, with 15 minutes left to play.

This 10 minute Randalstown blitz shook Bangor out of their complacency and spurred them to play more of the more accurate passing moves that had been evident earlier. Once again this stretched the Randalstown defence, especially when Ryan Young moved up from full back to create a clear overlap on the left hand touchline. Young made good ground before passing back inside to Scollan in support who ran through for his second try of the game, this time converted by Ally McIvor. It was Scollan’s pace and fitness that helped him secure his hat-trick of tries just a few minutes later. From a Bangor lineout on the halfway mark, the ball came to Scollan who had come into a central position in the backline. Sensing a slowing Randalstown defence, Scollan set off on a looping run across field towards the left hand side, evading tackles as he went. Leaving the Randalstown players in his wake, Scollan finally cleared the final defender and ran through for a superb solo score, and completed his hat-trick of tries in the process. McIvor added the conversion to put Bangor back in control at 17-36.

Given Ryan Young’s good work in creating and supporting earlier tries, it was fitting that he should have the final say. Once again he joined the attacking back line from full back, and this time had enough space on the left hand touchline to outrun the home defence and complete the long run in to score Bangor’s seventh try, which McIvor converted, and bring the final tally to 17-43 as the referee blew for the end of the game.

Despite the slow and erratic opening quarter, Bangor once again showed their attacking credentials, both through the forwards and backs. With a rest weekend ahead, Bangor can prepare and look forward to hosting Ballymena 2nds in the second round of group games in the Junior Cup. Given their poor showing against Portadown in the opening round, this is a must-win game if Bangor hope to progress to the knock-out stages later.