Heroism in defeat

Heroism in defeat

6 November 2013

THIS was a strange game to say the least. Lansdowne looked a classy outfit in the first half, playing with the conditions they opened up a healthy 21-point gap by half-time.

However, you just have to admire the never say die attitude of Derek Suffern’s side as Ballynahinch battled back in the second half to claim a losing bonus point, with a superb last minute touchline conversion from Ritchie Lobb.

‘Hinch won the toss and elected to play into the driving wind and rain during the first 40 minutes. It wasn’t long until the visitors from Dublin had the home defence under early pressure.

Lansdowne full back Scott Deasy opened the scoring in the third minute when he converted a penalty goal after the ‘Hinch had failed to release the tackled player.

The Dubliners used the elements well with half backs Patrick O’Driscoll and out half Tom Kiersey kicking to the corners with some accuracy. ‘Hinch failed to deal with this tactic in any meaningful way, often poorly kicking possession away, or losing the slippery ball in close contact.

Indeed, it was from a poor clearance kick in the eighth minute that the Dubliners counterattacked sending winger Cian Aherne wide where he made the most of the space on the outside to race clear to score an unconverted try in the right corner.

Eight points adrift, ‘Hinch found it impossible to gain any decent field position, and Lansdowne continued to control territory and increased their tally by another six points with two penalty goals from Deasy in the 19th and 36th minutes to make the score 14-0.

Two minutes later Lansdowne flanker Charlie Butterworth broke clear off the side of a ruck in the ‘Hinch 22.

He headed infield and made the most of three very poor tackles from the home defence to power his way over for a well-taken try. Deasy added the extras to take his side into a comfortable 2-point lead at half-time.

Playing with the wind, the ‘Hinch started to keep the visitors pinned deep in their half of the field. ‘Hinch had their first chance to score in the 53rd minute when a kick through and chase from Neil Faloon almost created a score, quick thinking from Lansdowne full back Deasy saving his side’s blushes.

In the 56th minute ‘Hinch forced a penalty on halfway, which they kicked into touch near the Dubliners’ 22. The line out was secured by Kenny Morton, allowing the ‘Hinch pack set up a driving maul, which they controlled with great skill to take Paul Pritchard over for the try. The extras were added by Lobb.

‘Hinch needed to play their rugby deep in the Lansdowne half, but their opposition managed to relieve the danger with long periods of controlled ball retention.

As the game drifted into the final 10 minutes ‘Hinch started to get the upper hand and managed to mount sustained pressure in the visitors’ 22.

It was advantage to Ballynahinch in the 78th minute when Lansdowne forward Tadgh Beirne was yellow carded for persistent infringing at the breakdown.

Now with and extra man, and the home crowd firmly behind them, the ‘Hinch continued to apply pressure as play moved into injury time.

Quick ball off the top of the line out from Kenny Morton gave Lobb the opportunity to kick a beautiful cross-field ball, which was gathered on the full by Adam Craig, who managed to smash his way over for a vital try in the left hand corner.

Lobb’s conversion from the touchline was crucial, and he bisected the uprights to clinch another vital losing bonus point.

It was a wonderful fightback from the ‘Hinch men, and in a way it was a bit of a moral victory.

Ballynahinch: Adam Craig, Aaron Ferris, Stuart Morrow, Robin Harte, Matthew Arneill, James McBriar, Aaron Cairns, Neil Faloon, Paul Pritchard, Rob Greer, Kenny Morton, Jonny Madden, Chris Taylor, Andrew Harper, Michael Cromie. Replacements: Peter Weir, Ritchie Lobb, Dominic Gallagher, Mattie Nelson, Stuart Orr.

Ballynahinch 14

Lansdowne 21

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE