Hutley hits Clogher in Towns Cup

Hutley hits Clogher in Towns Cup

5 February 2020

BALLYNAHINCH seconds  progressed to the last eight of the prestigious Towns’ Cup competition with a superb away victory over a strong Clogher Valley side which had beaten them twice already this season. 

Those defeats were due to excellent play from the Valley forwards who simply kept the ball and refused to let the dangerous, but lightweight team show their skills. 

Coach Davy Harris and second XV guru Ian Dornan knew they had to pick a pack to counter the Valley power game and were delighted to have James Simpson and Keith Dickson available with all their first XV nous and experience. 

Tom Martin and Adam Keed were genuine threats at line out time and Ross Stewart a willing and effective ball carrier. 

The backs were marshalled by Chris Gibson at nine with Greg Hutley coming in at out half for some much-needed game time. 

Veteran winger Aaron Ferris and long term injury victim Callum McLaughlin returned to the three-quarter line as the seconds, put out their strongest line-up of the season. A large travelling support also made the journey to The Cran for an eagerly awaited contest.

The game lived up to its billing with Ballynahinch taking an early lead which they refused to relinquish.

Keed went over from close range for a try and Hutley weighed in with a conversion and a penalty to give the away side the lead by 10-3 at half-time. 

The ‘Hinch had displayed superb commitment in defence and the carrying of Simpson and Stewart gave Clogher Valley problems throughout the half. 

The ‘Hinch scrum was under tremendous pressure from the experienced Clogher outfit, but did enough to get by and the backs looked to attack at every opportunity. 

A try out wide from Johnny McCoubrey pushed them further ahead in the second half and when Hutley nailed the difficult conversion, Ballynahinch looked comfortable at 17-3. 

Front row injuries led to the game proceeding with uncontested scrums and Ballynahinch saw out the game in relative comfort with the sides exchanging tries in the final quarter. 

Hutley capped a fine personal display with the third try and conversion and Ballynahinch are in the draw for the quarter-finals. 

The big beasts of junior rugby lie in wait with Junior Cup winners Enniskillen, Irish Junior Cup runners-up Dromore and league leaders Ballyclare all in the hat. Ties to be plated on February 22. A home draw would be most welcome.