Dolphin hold ‘Hinch to draw

Dolphin hold ‘Hinch to draw

19 November 2014

DESPITE the heavy rain during the past week the new drainage system on the number one pitch at Ballymacarn Park worked a treat and the under-foot conditions were pretty good by kick-off time.

After a lively start ‘Hinch full back Chris Quinn had an opportunity to put his side in front in the fourth minute, but his attempt to convert a penalty goal drifted wide of the posts.

From the 22 restart Steve Ford’s Cork side started to settle and their heavy forward unit put the ‘Hinch defence under sustained pressure.

In the 13th minute the Dolphin pack rumbled towards the ‘Hinch line with No. 8 Ryan Murphy getting the touchdown from the back of a maul. Barry Keeshan added the extras to take the Leesiders seven points clear.

The hosts struggled to get any momentum into their game and played too much lateral rugby. After a number of line brakes by Stuart Morrow and Ross Adair, they eventually gained good field position close to the Dolphin line.

A series of five-metre scrums ensued in the 35th minute in which the ‘Hinch scrum dominated Dolphin and eventually prop James Rockford was yellow-carded in the 40th minute.

The re-set scrum was collapsed and referee Nigel Correll awarded a penalty try. Quinn added the extras to tie the scores at 7-7 at half-time.

With the Munster side down to 14 men ‘Hinch needed to take advantage but never managed to take control of the game to gain any decent field position.

‘Hinch continued to dominate the set pieces but failed to build any phases of play. Dolphin out half Barry Keeshan, and scrum half Daryl Foley worked had to keep their pack rolling forward, while centre Rory Scannell and winger Eoin O’Shaughnessy had a very competent afternoon in defence.

Dolphin had one shot at goal in the 60th minute by centre Rory Scannell, but his long-range effort was short.

In the final 10 minutes Hinch had scrum half Aaron Cairns yellow-carded for straying offside at a ruck. Despite being down to 14 men ‘Hinch managed a strong final five minutes. The only chance to score was a Richard Reaney long range goal attempt on the final play, but his attempt fell short of the mark.

‘Hinch assistant coach Charlie McAleese was rather disappointed with the outcome and in particular the poor second half display from his side at home.

“They were down to 14 men for the start of first 10 minutes of the second half. It was a time that we had to make hay,” McAleese said.

“However, we played particularly poorly, we missed an important penalty to touch at that stage which would have encamped us deep in their half. Having then got in at the far corner we had a chance to establish territory but we gave away a cheap penalty.

“We also struggled to hold on to the ball throughout the game. There was some strange play by us at the breakdown. We were very loose in that area and the setting of the ball at the ruck was very poor.

“As a result we failed to build phases. We have found in this league you need to build phases to score points and quite often we could not get past two phases of play.

“To Dolphin’s credit they worked hard. They played a narrow game. Their pick and drive was very good, as was their kicking game that pushed us back from time to time.”

Ballynahinch 7

Dolphin 7

AIL DIVISION 1A