Ballynahinch blitz fiery students

Ballynahinch blitz fiery students

BALLYNAHINCH recorded a bonus point win in over UCD in their final home game of the season, a win that ensures them at least a relegation play-off spot.

‘Hinch started well and Stuart Morrow set off on a counterattack in the fifth minute, but was quickly closed down. His pass inside went to ground, but was snapped up at pace by Roger McBurney and the ‘Hinch full back raced clear and reached the College 22.

He then side-stepped full back Niall Earls to run in and dive over behind the posts for a dramatic opening score. David McIlwaine added the conversion to take the home side 7-0 clear.

But this lead did not last long. In the eighth minute the visitors’ pack started to take the ball through a number of phases before scrum half Jamie Glynn released it wide.

College centre Alex Kelly had a massive gap to exploit, which he shot through to touch down behind the posts. Earls converted to tie the scores.

As the first half drew to a close College won a penalty on halfway and sent the ball deep into the left hand corner. The line out was secured and play was flashed across the ‘Hinch 22.

College hooker James Tracy ran straight between the posts to put his side ahead. Earls added the extras to take the students into a 14-7 half-time lead.

The home side looked to have a lot more tempo and energy in the second half and after a number of phases Aaron Cairns found his skipper, Stuart Morrow, and the big centre did well to smash his way over to score. McIlwaine added the extras to tie the score again.

The home side took the lead in the 58th minute when McIlwaine landed a long-range penalty after College came into the side of a ruck.

‘Hinch had a great chance to score again when the visitors conceded another penalty. They opted to scrum and after a series of resets the home pack managed to gain enough ground to allow Michael Graham to pick up and score beside the posts. McIlwaine added the conversion to take ‘Hinch 24-14 clear.

The bonus point try eventually came in the 77th minute, after a long period of sustained pressure created a gap for Cairns to exploit and the impressive scrum half almost made the line. The ‘Hinch pack quickly secured the ball with Michael Graham picking up to reach the line and complete the scoring.

Ballynahinch: Roger McBurney, David McIlwaine, Stuart Morrow, Matthew Arneill, Robin Harte, Harry McAleese, Aaron Cairns, Michael Graham, Paul Pritchard, David McGuigan, James Simpson, Kenny Morton, Chris Taylor, Jonny Murphy, Kyle McCall. Replacements: Aaron Ferris, Ritchie Lobb, Neil Faloon, Matthew Nelson, Michael Cromie.

UCD: Niall Earls, Paddy Dix, Alex Kelly, Stephen Murphy, Billy Dardis, Liam Bourke, Jamie Glynn, Eoin Joyce, Mark McGroarty, Conor Gilsenan, Shane Grannell, Brian Cawley, Liam Hyland, James Tracy, Ed Byrne. Replacements: Kieran Maloney, Risteard Byrne, Adam Clarkin, Shane O’Meara, James Thornton.

Ballynahinch 29

UCD 14

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