Ballynahinch stay top

Ballynahinch stay top

11 April 2011

Ballynahinch 31
UCC 11
ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

WITH Ballynahinch sitting one point clear at the top of Division 1B, this fourth round home fixture against the students from Cork was crucial.
The home side started well building the phases, and driving play from their 22 to set up an early penalty opportunity for James Lash in the fifth minute.
The ‘Hinch out half failed to convert, but his side did open the scoring in the 11th minute when Lash sent the ball into the left hand corner to set up a catch and drive. Jonny Madden collected the throw from touch, but the students managed to hold the ‘Hinch drive out.
From the scrum, Willie Faloon picked up and almost made the line at the posts, the quick ball was fired wide to find Aaron Ferris in space and the ‘Hinch winger dived over in the corner to score an unconverted try.
UCC used the wind well and replied with two penalty goals from out half Brian Kingston the first in the 13th minute after the ‘Hinch had pulled the ball back in a ruck with their hands, the second in the 19th minute for a high tackle by centre James Thompson.
Referee Ollie Hodges soon had enough of the students infringing, yellow-carding second row Brian Quill in the 20th minute and then scrum half Brian Slater three minutes later.
With a two-man advantage, Ballynahinch set siege in the visitors' 22 and after a long series on scrums on the UCC five metre line the ball was flashed wide to find full back David Nicholson, who dived over for the second try. Lash failed to add the extras to leave his side with a narrow 10-6 interval lead.
Now with the wind at their backs in the second half, the ‘Hinch got off to the worst possible start when second row Jonny Madden was yellow-carded in the 47th minute for a deliberate infringement.
Despite being down to 14 men the home side struck for their third try in the 51st minute, after a great line break by centre Stuart Morrow set up a good attacking field position.
The ‘Hinch butchered two attempts to score as players attacked the line with numbers in the clear outside, but eventually Aaron Ferris received a pass and he raced over and round behind the posts to score his second try of the afternoon. Lash added the extras taking the ‘Hinch 17-6 clear.
‘Hinch lost a second player to the sin bin in the 60th minute, once again for deliberate infringing at the breakdown - the guilty party was loose-head prop Fergal Lynch.
UCC opted to restart with an uncontested scrum from which scrum half Brian Slater picked up and set off on a neat angle to cross for a well taken score right of the posts. Kingston failed to add the extra points to leave the students trailing 17-11.
With six minutes remaining flanker Willie Faloon smashed his way over under the posts to secure the try bonus point. Lash added the extras taking the score to 24-11.
In the final minute a great run by Ian Whitten down the left wing took play into the UCC 22 where number eight James Simpson picked up and raced over for the fifth ‘Hinch try. Lash converted from the touchline.
Ballynahinch: David Nicholson, Ian Whitten, Stuart Morrow, James Thompson, Aaron Ferris, James Lash, Harry McAleese, James Simpson, Willie Faloon, Jamie Kirk, Chris Napier, Jonny Madden, James Simpson, Neil Hanna (captain), Fergal Lynch. Replacements: Aaron Cairns, Mark McCormick, Jonny Graham, Mattie Nelson, Chris Stevenson.

SEAFORDE, with the Christie brothers now in on their ranks, were out to test themselves against the Killyleagh aces.
Wins were exchanged in the first quarter. The St Mary's rink of Paddy Murray played accurate bowls to go 5-0 up after two ends and were never headed as they went on for a comfortable 8-3 win over Derek McCann's quartet.
The home rink of Paddy Burns snr. that got off to a good start as they went 4-1 up after three ends and survived a fightback from Patrick Rooney jnr. for an 8-7 win.
On the second run of the mats wins were exchanged again. The game between Peter Christie and Davy Boal was a very tight affair. Both rinks won three ends each but the St Mary's quartet just got the nod in a hard fought 6-5 win.
The home rink of John McCandless, Kirsty Burns, Paddy Burns jnr and skip Graham Christie played good, solid drawing bowls to win four of the six ends in a splendid 8-2 win over the rink of Ricky Cathcart. At the interval Seaforde led 24-23 on shots. On the restart.
St Mary's then upped the tempo Megan Ward, Tommy Patterson, Kieran McMullan and skip Patrick Rooney jnr. won five of the six ends in an excellent 13-2 win over Graham Christie., while Paddy Murray's four secured their double with a comprehensive 10-5 win over Peter Christie.
With their tails now firmly up St Mary's went into the last two games with gusto as they now held a 15-shot lead. Ricky Cathcart's quartet won four of the six ends in a good 6-3 win over Paddy Burns snr., and the in-form rink of Davy Boal won four of the six ends in a fine 5-2 win over Derek McCann.