Ballynahinch stay in contention for title

Ballynahinch stay in contention for title

6 March 2013

BALLYNAHINCH kept their All-Ireland League title ambitions on track with another bonus-point win away from home.

They opened the scoring after two minutes when James Thompson made good ground before sending the ball wide to Aaron Ferris who touched down. Lawton was wide with his conversion attempt.

The visitors kept the pressure on the home side and in the 10th minute flanker David McGuigan intercepted from just inside the ‘Hinch half and raced clear to score. This time Lawton added the extras.

As the clock passed the 20th minute mark strong running from ‘Hinch centre Stuart Morrow found him on an overlap and he ran in the third Hinch try, which was again converted by Lawton.

By the 29th minute mark Hinch had their bonus point in the bag when Thompson racing clear to cross the try line with Lawton converting for a tally of 26 points.

In the 34th minute ‘Hinch prop Kyle McCall was yellow-carded for handing the ball in a ruck on his five-metre line.

The home side managed turn this spell of pressure into points when centre Frank Cahill smashing his way over for a try, which he then converted to leave score 26-7 for Ballynahinch at the interval.

‘Hinch struck for their fifth try in the 48th minute when Roger McBurney raced on to the end of a lovely kick ahead from out half Harry McAleese to cross for the try. Lawton added the extras.

McAleese repeated the dose in the 51st minute. This time it was a neat chip through for Stuart Morrow to collect the ball and run in his second and the sixth ‘Hinch try. Lawton failed to convert.

A quick tap-and-go by Blane McIlroy in the 56th minute created space for Morrow to burst through and put winger David Nicholson clear to cross for the seventh Hinch score which went unconverted.

By this stage Hinch had moved into overdrive and great individual skill from Aaron Cairns created the eighth try in the 60th minute when he raced clear from the Hinch line and was just halted short of the Bruff line. Quick ball found Lawton in space and he crossed for the try. He then added the extras as ‘Hinch hit the half-century.

Indiscipline cost Ballynahinch for the third time when Blane McIlroy was yellow-carded for talking back to the referee in the 75th minute.

The final score of the afternoon was a fine solo effort from Neil Faloon who collected the ball on halfway to beat a number of Munster men on his way to the line for try number 9. Lawton converted.

Nineteen tries in the last two games has been a great haul and this was a solid all round performance away from home for the Hinch and the five points earned keeps the status quo at the top of the table.

UCD had a massive 14-84 victory over Dungannon at Stevenson Park to move into second place, one point ahead of Trinity. ‘Hinch remain on top, eight points clear with the next home game a Friday night game against

Malone at Ballymacarn Park March 15 at 7.30pm.

This week it is back to domestic rugby and a return to the Ulster Senior League with a tough run out against Division 2B leaders Rainey Old Boys in Magherafelt.

This will be the penultimate Ulster Senior League fixture with just a rearranged home game against Malone to complete the league programme for this season.

Hinch are sitting in top place leading City Of Derry by 4 points with Malone in third 8 points adrift with game in hand.

Final score: Bruff 7 Ballynahinch 57.