Ballynahinch overpowered

Ballynahinch overpowered

9 March 2016

CLONTARF are now odds-on favourites for home advantage in the play-offs after beating 10th placed Ballynahinch at Ballymacarn Park on Saturday.

On a day with perfect conditions for rugby, the home side chose to play with the wind for the first half.

The ‘Hinch started well and took the match to the visitors straight from the off, but it was the North Dubliners who struck first with an early try from winger Michael Brown. Joe Carberry was initially off with the boot and missed the extras.

Clontarf centre Darcy stole a pass and raced towards the clubhouse and the try line, only to be brought down short by an incredible tackling effort from lock Jonny Madden.

The home side were soon back in the mix with the pack leading the charge in attack. After some excellent patient, phased play in the middle of the pitch, the Ballymacarn team moved towards the visitors’ line. 

The home back row worked hard carrying the ball forward as Ulster scrum half Paul Rowley marshalled the pack, to finally see local boy James Simpson crash over for the home side’s only try. Chris Quinn was assured as ever with the boot to put Derek Suffern’s charges in front after 15 minutes.

Quinn’s opposite number Mick McGrath was next on the scoreboard after an unstoppable run down the left wing and this time Carberry was sure with the extras.

Quinn then intercepted a wayward Clontarf pass and raced towards the try line, only to be brought down just short by a try saving tackle from the hirsute McGrath.

‘Hinch battled hard and although to a man, the Dubliners appeared physically larger, the County Down pack managed to compete exceptionally well at the line out, but most notably, consistently pressurised the Clontarf pack in the scrum and forced several unexpected penalties against the head.

The final one of the half was resolutely placed between the posts by Quinn and leaving ‘Hinch very much in the hunt, trailing just 12-10 at half-time.

Ballynahinch kept themselves in the chase from the off in the second half and further stretched their lead through the ever reliable Quinn as he added another three points into the wind courtesy of the forwards’ stalwart performance at the set piece.

However, Clontarf’s firepower proved too much for the hosts in the final quarter. Quinn’s second successful penalty was followed by a run of 19 unanswered points from the North Dubliners, including tries from Neil Reilly, Rob McGrath and Tom Byrne. 

A lack of decisiveness in defence and poor tackling saw the visitors comfortably stretch their lead out of reach of the battling Ballynahinch.

Clongtarf have moved seven points clear at the top of Division 1A with just two rounds remaining.

Ballynahinch still have a statistical chance of getting off the bottom rung of the table, if score lines go the right way against UCD in Bellfield on April 2 and then finally, at home to Garryowen on April 16.

Ballynahinch: Jonny Simpson, Ruaidhri Murphy, Craig Trenier, John Donnan, James Simpson, Jonny Madden, Paul Pritchard (captain), Lorcan Dow, Paul Rowley, James McBriar, Chris Quinn, Jordan Grattan, Robin Harte, David Busby, Manihera Eden. Replacements: Jonny Blair, Jonny Murphy, Conor Joyce, Chris Gibson, Davy Nicholson.

Clontarf 31

Ballynahinch 13

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE