How did they lose out?

How did they lose out?

12 July 2011

A SECOND defeat of the season for Ballynahinch in the Ulster Bank League, but many would leave Eaton Park on Saturday evening just wondering how they actually lost a game they should have won easily.

Playing into the strong breeze the ‘Hinch started well and the sixth minute Stuart Morrow and James Simpson creating the opening for Robin Harte to race up the right wing only to be stopped by a great covering tackle from Ballymena scrum half Blane McIlroy.

In the 12th minute the Hinch were penalised for holding onto the ball in the tackle giving Ballymena winger John Semple the first opportunity to score with a long range shot at goal. The ball was sweetly struck and Ballymena took the lead.

The wind was really gusting at this stage and one Lash penalty kick to touch on the edge of the Ballymena 22 never made the line.

‘Hinch continued to take play to the home side and James Thompson burst clear in the midfield in the 29th minute. Sprinting deep into the Ballymena half, he was cornered by the Ballymena cover defence.

The ‘Hinch support was slow to arrive and eventually Aaron Ferris and David Nicholson did well to make the ball available and Ballymena infringed.

James Lash had a shot at goal in the 30th minute but his attempt was held up in the wind and drifted left of the posts.

In injury time Jonny Madden failed to roll away from a tackle on halfway and referee Dudley Philips flashed the yellow card. Semple hit another well-struck kick to give the home side a 6-0 lead at the interval.

When the game restarted ‘Hinch ignored the wind advantage and tried to run everything from their 22.

Ballymena, to their credit, put in an excellent defensive performance led by their skipper Paul Pritchard who gave a man of the match display.

It was frustrating to watch as the ‘Hinch attempted to bash through half gaps, which closed like the Red Sea. Time and time again the Ballymena back three were caught in rucks or were out of position but the ball was not put to the boot, which played right right into the hands of the Braidmen.

A penalty miss by Lash in the 55th minute let Ballymena off the hook and they visibly increased their defensive effort for the next 15 minutes.

With eight minutes to go the ‘Hinch managed to build their first decent attack in the Ballymena half and after taking play through numerous phases room was eventually created for Robin Harte to charge for the line.

John Semple did very well to slide underneath him and prevent the grounding the ball as Harte crossed the line. However, Ballymena had infringed offside in midfield and the ref brought play back to the front of the posts for a penalty which Lash converted to close the score to 6-3.

With eight minutes to go ‘Hinch side needed three points for a draw or a try to win but Ballymena again lifted their defensive effort and in the end they deserved their victory.

Ballymena sit top of Division 1B with the ‘Hinch slipping to second place, two points behind. The next All-Ireland game is a home fixture against UCD on January 7.

Ballymena 6

Ballynahinch 3

AIB LEAGUE DIVISION 1B