Trophy-laden season for Ballynahinch

Trophy-laden season for Ballynahinch

26 April 2017

BALLYNAHINCH Rugby Club brought the curtain down on another outstanding season at the club’s end of season player awards evening on Saturday.

What a season it was. The club won seven trophies — Senior Cup, Both the men’s and ladies’ Junior Cups, Towns Cup, Crawford Cup, Butler Shield and the Ulster Carpets U-18 Bowl.

Three league titles were also won. The second XV won the Conference League and the 2nd XV League, while the Evergreens clinched Regional Section 3.

Of the 142 league games played by Ballynahinch teams,  91 of them were won. No games cancelled by Ballynahinch. 

Club teams scored 3,242 points in leagues at an average of 23 per game.

The player of the season for the Evergreens, and winner of the Evergreens  Cup, was Brendan Warne, despite notable performances from Raymie McCavery and flying winger Ewan Keers.

It was a difficult season for the Evergreens with a bad leg break sustained by Chris Armstrong and several retirements.

However, they still managed to win the Regional League 3 and finish third in the Regional Premier League. After being put out of the McCambley Cup, they went on to win the Butler Shield.

The outstanding player for the sixth XV was Chris Jess, who was presented with the Castlewellan Cup.

The sixths have been revived under the captaincy of Walter Lyons and they finished a credible fourth in Provincial League 5. They had notable performances from young guns Jamie Hewitt, Aaron Latus and Phil Armstrong.

The fifth XV’s player of the year was Ian Smith, who received the Club Council Cup.

The fifths also had a difficult season in Provincial League 3 following promotion last season. Notable performers were William Carlisle and last season’s sixth XV player of the year, James Scott

The fourth XV’s player of the year was Jonny Orr, who received the Brown Morton Cup.

The fourths, captained for the second season by Mark Douglas, had been promoted to the top Provincial League and had a tough season, given that they were competing for players with the  third XV in the same league.

The two ‘Hinch sides had some exciting battles against each other. Notable performers for the fourths were Elliot Evans and Dave Maguire.

The third XV’s player of the year was Eamon McAnulty, who received the Skinny Cup.

Under their captain, Mike Carson, the thirds were narrowly beaten to the league title, but went on to win the Crawford Cup on Easter Tuesday. Notable 

performers were John Hyndman and Matthew Norton.

The Jack Bailie Cup for second XV player of the year went to Callum McLaughlin.

Captained by Davy Harris, the second lost only one competitive game all season. They won the Conference League and Second XV League and secured the Junior Cup and Towns Cup double — a feat last achieved 22 years ago.

The entire squad was outstanding, in particular Ben Pentland and Brian Howard.

The ladies’ player of the year was team captain Amanda Maginn, who won the Bassett and Lyons Cup.

The ladies tied for second place in the Ulster League and went on to win the inaugural Women’s Ulster Junior Cup.

Among the top performers were Alexa Grudging, Hannah Harris, Brittany Hogan, Vicky Irwin and Amanda Maginn.

The first XV player of the year and winner of the Neill Robinson Memorial Cup was John Donnan.

The young player of the year and winner of the Will Hawthorne Memorial Cup was Ben Pentland.

Paddy Wright won the Alver McCune Memorial Cup for most improved player player and the clubman of the year award went jointly to Richard Hart and Ian Dornan.