Fantastic ‘Hinch give super show

Fantastic ‘Hinch give super show

27 February 2013

BALLYNAHINCH responded in perfect fashion to the previous weekend’s first defeat in the Ulster Bank League at the hands of UCD when they made no mistake, running in 10 tries against fellow Ulster side Ballymena.

After two early penalty misses by Michael Lawton, the ‘Hinch opened their account in the 15th minute when out half Harry McAleese cut through a gap and made good ground into the visitors 22. Quick ball was taken on by Michael Graham then moved wide with Aaron Ferris coming across from his wing to beat full back Martin Irwin, then twist and cross for an unconverted try.

Three minutes later another break by McAleese started an attack. A neat inside ball found Blane McIlroy who had Michael Graham and James Simpson on hand to take play forward with Lawton running round to finish off and touch down underneath the posts. Lawton added the extras to take Hinch 12 points clear.

In the 17th minute a line break by Neil Faloon deep in the Hinch half released Blane McIlroy, who raced away from the halfway line and did well to fend off the last-ditch tackle of full back Rory Drysdale to score an unconverted try.

In the 27th minute Ballymena had flanker Paul Smyth yellow-carded for persistent infringing, but ‘Hinch failed to make their extra man advantage count, Ballymena taking advantage when ‘Hinch seemed to relax.

Prop Andrew Warwick almost made the line with one great charge in the 38th minute. Then as Ian Vance and Rory Drysdale flashed play wide where winger Darryl Montgomery did well to cross in the left hand corner for his side’s opening try. Drysdale failed to convert to leave the score 19-5 at half-time.

Hinch cut loose in the second half, running in seven unanswered tries. The bonus point try came in the 44th minute when Hinch kicked a penalty into the corner. The ball from the line-out was secured by Chris Napier with hooker Gavin Armstrong shooting around the front to score. Adam Craig added the extras to make it 26-5.

A James Thompson break in the 47th minute set Adam Craig free, Craig chipping ahead and then collecting the ball to dive over and score. He converted to take Hinch 33-5 clear.

As Ballymena heads began to , ‘Hinch turned on the style. Prop Stuart Orr was next to do damage with a storming run into the Ballymena 22 where he almost made the line. The quick ruck ball was moved left to find the Hinch with a three-man overlap, Stuart Morrow crossing for the score. Craig added the conversion to make it 40-5.

The seventh Hinch try came in the 67th minute. It was started by a McIlroy break which eventually sent replacement Aaron Cairns clear to dive over in the corner. Craig converted from the touchline to make it 47-5.

A clever cross-field kick in the 70th minute by Stuart Morrow bounced nicely for Cairns who almost made the line, Jonny Madden picking up at the ruck to dive over the line. Lawton added the extras.

Try number nine came in the 75th minute with Aaron Cairns sprinting clear down the right wing and diving in. The conversion by Lawton was wide.

The final and tenth try came in the 78th minute when a quick tap penalty by Cairns released Harry McAleese wide. The Hinch out half floated a lovely chip behind the Ballymena defence with the loose ball being collected by Aaron Ferris who did extremely well to make the line. The conversion from Lawton was good and the completed the scoring.

The big Colours match in Dublin was won by UCD which an impressive 17-10 victory. It was a good result from a Hinch point of view as the five points earned against Ballymena keeps them eight points clear at the top.

This Saturday is a tough encounter with an away trip to Bruff. The Limerick men will be smarting following their defeat against Harlequins last weekend.

Ballynahinch 66

Ballymena 5

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE