Ballynahinch collapse in first league reversal as UCD cause surprise

Ballynahinch collapse in first league reversal as UCD cause surprise

20 February 2013 - by BY JOHN DICKSON

BALLYNAHINCH lost their unbeaten record in the Ulster Bank All-Ireland League with a very poor performance against a much more motivated UCD side.

It was a contest dominated by the whistle of referee Gary Conway with the yellow card being flashed on five occasions.

The Hinch never showed up in the first half and turned round at half-time 19 points adrift.

Poor discipline at the breakdown, which included two yellow cards, gifted the Dublin students field position and points.

There was a referee pitch inspection and at one point the game was in doubt as Ballymacarn Park was extremely soft and very wet in places.

James Thornton opened the scoring in the fourth minute for the visitors when he converted a penalty after the Hinch strayed offside at a ruck. Thornton soon made it 6-0 when ‘Hinch failed to release in a tackle.

The UCD backs cut loose for the first time in the 15th minute Coghlan Murray raced clear to score an unconverted try.

Hinch went off their feet again in the 18th minute and Thornton made it 0-14 with his third successful penalty.

James Thompson was yellow-carded in the 20th minute when he deliberately knocked the ball from scrum half Jamie Glynn’s hands at a ruck, but Thornton failed to convert.

Hinch had their first visit into the visitors’ 22 in the 26th minute where UCD didn’t release in the tackle of Robert Greer. Michael Lawton missed the attempt at goal.

In the 29th minute Hinch infringed at the scrum.

A quick tap by UCD second row Brian Cawley caught ‘Hinch half asleep and twisted and turned before off loading to full back Andy Boyle who smashed his way over for his sides second try.

In the 40th minute a Hinch penalty under the UCD posts was reversed with James Simpson being sent to the touchline for 10 minutes for punching a player on the ground.

A third yellow card was flashed when UCD flanker Mark McGroarty was punished for not using his arms in a tackle.

Hinch failed to capitalise when Lawton pushed his effort wide of the posts to leave his side 19 points adrift at the interval.

The home side made the perfect start to the second half when James Thompson put in a lovely chip, then gathered the ball to race clear behind the posts. Adam Craig added the extras.

Thornton missed a penalty shot in the 45th minute, as the game became a scrappy affair the heavy ground finally taking its toll. Hinch discipline continued to be a problem and by the end of the game the stats would show a record penalty count had been amassed.

In the 72nd minute UCD replacement Rory Harrison was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle but despite having an extra man advantage the Hinch failed to secure any further points.

The best scoring opportunity fell to the home side in the 75th minute when flanker David McGuigan burst clear and almost made the line.

In the final minute the fifth yellow card was issued to Hinch skipper Chris Stevenson for hands in a ruck on the Hinch line.

Ballynahinch: McBurney, Lawton, Morrow, Harte, Craig, Thompson, McIlroy, Graham, Pritchard, McGuigan, Greer, Simpson, McCall, Harper, Stevenson. Subs: Cairns, Madden, Armstrong, Orr.