Ballynahinch impress in cup

Ballynahinch impress in cup

12 January 2022

BALLYNAHINCH opened their quest to break the Armagh stranglehold on the Senior Cup with a nine-try demolition of Bangor at Upritchard Park.

Nine different players crossed the line as the gulf in class between AIL 1A and 2C was on display.

Tommy Donnan managed a rare try to open the floodgates and scores from John Dickson Jnr, Yasser Omar, Ronan Patterson, Thomas Martin and skipper Zac McCall gave the Ballymacarn men a 34-point half time lead.

Josh Hanlon, fresh from Ireland U-20 action, was the next to go over and although Bangor managed a consolation score, normal service was swiftly resumed as Conor McCauley and Rory Butler added further scores to take the score out to 55-5 and send Ballynahinch into the quarter-final draw.

They travel to Lansdowne this weekend as the AIL resumes after the Christmas break.

The second XV warmed up for their Towns Cup opener this weekend against Banbridge with a comfortable 24-12 league victory over the same opposition and will hope for a similar result on Saturday.

Unfortunately the fourths were unable to progress in the Forster Cup as they went down to a strong Ballymena third XV.

Youth training continues at 7pm on a Monday night. All players welcome and no experience necessary. Contact Michael Preston for details on 07702 050192.

Mini rugby continues on Saturday mornings from 9.30-11am. Boys and girls from P1 to Year 8 are all welcome, with training run for each age group in their school year.

Mini rugby news is posted weekly on the club Facebook page – www.facebook.com/ballynahinchrfcofficial. For more details contact David Martin on 07837 944892 or email hinchminis@gmail.com.

Details of how to purchase tickets for the first XV matches and a full selection of Hinch merchandise can be found on our social media outlets and on the club app.

AIL pre-match lunches are back in full swing with Terenure the visitors on January 22. Contact James Shaw (07740 308051), Erin Hodgen (07540 706564), or David George (07951 610151).

Results: Bangor 5 Ballynahinch 55 (Senior Cup), Banbridge II 12 Ballynahinch II 24 (Premiership 2nd XV), Ballynahinch IV 3 Ballymena III 20 (Forster Cup), Donaghadee U-14 12 Ballynahinch U-14 54 (league play-offs):

Fixtures: Lansdowne v Ballynahinch (AIL 1A), Ballynahinch II v Banbridge II (Towns Cup), Ballyclare II v Ballynahinch III (Provincial Premiership 1), Ballynahinch IV v Harlequins III (Provincial East), Ballynahinch V v Newry II (Regional South), Carrick Women v Ballynahinch Women (Championship).