Power-packed Ballynahinch

Power-packed Ballynahinch

18 January 2023

BALLYNAHINCH travelled to Dublin to take on the UCD students and were determined to build on the victory over the same opponents last weekend at home. 

Coach Adam Craig and his team had been happy with the bonus point victory but disappointed in the performance against an under-strength UCD side. 

Marcus Rea and Cormac Izuchukwu were released by Ulster and this proved timely as skipper Tommy Donnan continues to serve out a ban and Jamie McCartney nurses a bad shoulder. 

Fergus Jemphrey continued on the left wing and Ethan Graham returned from Ireland age-group camp to take his place on the bench.

Despite some early UCD possession, Ballynahinch dominated the opening half with conditions in their favour. 

The set-piece continued its dominance and the forwards provided plenty of quick ball for the backs. Greg Hutley ran his back line with confidence and opened the scoring himself by running a great support line to take an inside pass from George Pringle after he had been sent through a gap by his centre partner Mark Best. 

A Hutley penalty sent them further ahead and despite a reshuffle in the backs when Best went off with a head knock, they continued to threaten the UCD line. 

‘Hinch scored again when Pringle scored his eighth try of the campaign, picking a great line to take a Hutley pass and step his way over the line.

As the half drew to a close Ballynahinch made UCD pay for indiscipline in their own half by pinning them back with excellent tactical kicking. 

Despite a relieving penalty, UCD lost the subsequent line-out and Ballynahinch poured forward. Zack McCall was tackled just short before a ‘Hinch knock-on in midfield foiled a certain try. 

A UCD yellow card for offside at the ruck allowed Ballynahinch to opt for the scrum and with the last action of the half, referee Stuart Douglas ran under the posts to award a penalty try and take the County Down men 24 points clear at half-time.

The second half saw Ballynahinch continue to boss the game despite playing into the wind and they will be disappointed not to have gained a bonus point 

with a couple of gilt-edge scoring chances being wasted in a scoreless second half. 

The win takes them to the giddy heights of fifth in the table with eight matches to go and the Ballynahinch faithful will be confident of maintaining mid-table status as the season plays out.

Bottom side Garryowen are the visitors to Ballymacarn this weekend and Craig will be taking nothing for granted as he looks for a fourth consecutive win. All support welcome.

Ballynahinch: George Saunderson, Clayton Milligan, Kyle McCall, James Simpson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Zack McCall, Marcus Rea, Bradley Luney, Conor McAuley, Greg Hutley, Fergus Jemphrey, Mark Best, Georgr Pringle, Aaron Cairns, Rory Butler, Nacho Cladera, Joe Charles, Tom Martin, Harry Hitchens, Chris Gibson, Ethan Graham.