Weakened ‘Hinch put under cosh

Weakened ‘Hinch put under cosh

15 March 2017

FOR the second time in as many matches against Old Wesley, Ballynahinch had to go into another All-Ireland fixture once again stripped of the vast majority of Ulster allocated players.

Waiting at the end of a phone each UBL week, to find out if the supposedly allocated players will be released is a constant frustration to the Ballymacarn coaching team and the supporters alike.

Without taking anything away from the huge strength in depth that the Ballynahinch senior rugby set-up produces, as borne out by the ongoing successes of the junior sides, it was a brave club team that played against the well drilled and physically bigger Dublin 4 visitors on Saturday.

Wesley started the stronger from the kick-off, pressuring the home team, who had opted to play towards the clubhouse, back into their 22.

After a short period of sustained pressure, slick hands from the Wesley backs created an overlap on the left wing and Brendan Monahan dotted down, with Tim Clifford missing the extras. Hinch competed well against the larger Wesley pack, but with key players missing, it was taking some time for the selected squad to settle into their roles.

A penalty for not releasing was awarded against the home side and the reliable Clifford slotted over the three points.

The play was very much in the favour of the visitors and after an excellent turnover by their hard working open side flanker Stephen Boyle in their 22, Wesley worked through 15 phases of play before prop Ken Naggs scored their second try. Clifford converted to make it 15-0.

Blane McIlroy had an opportunity to claw back three points on 25 mins, but his kick drifted wide. Wesley were on the scoreboard again ten minutes later when centre David Poff dotted down after an initial break by hooker Conor Maguire.

Whilst it all seemed one-way traffic, Hinch were working hard in the loose, but with ball not always going to hand, the visitors were punishing the home side at every occasion.

Still contesting, a Hinch lineout was well won and the forwards worked through several phases of play in the Wesley 22’, finally creating a two-man overlap that saw young full back Paddy Wright score in the left corner to the delight of the home supporters.Blane McIlroy converted to make it 20-7 to the visitors at half time.

Wesley were again first on the scoreboard at the start of the second half with Poff bagging his brace from an initial break and offload by winger Harte. Clifford missed the extras

‘Hinch now went through a substantial ‘purple patch’ as the visitors seemed to rest on their lead. With some huge efforts from the tight eight and fantastic carries by Stuart Orr and James Simpson, the Ballymacarn side piled the pressure on the visitors.

Yet again, the final pass often didn’t go to hand and four try-scoring opportunities escaped the home side. With the set piece also in difficulties as the visitors contested every lineout, only the scrum seemed to stand up to the Dublin 4 onslaught.

The contact game was taking a major toll on the bench as Ryan Wilson had to be taken off with an injured shoulder and the front row was regularly rolled on and off.

The sustained 22-minute period of ferocious play by the entire Hinch team was finally rewarded when after eight solid and well-worked phases of play McIlroy popped a ball to James McBriar, who side-stepped his opposite number to outflank the rush defence and dot down under the posts. McIlroy converted to make it 25-14 on 70 minutes.‘Hinch tried to get to within losing bonus point range, but another three points from the boot of Clifford on 79 minutes put that opportunity out of reach.

‘Hinch went into the final attack, but could not retain the ball and Wesley kicked to touch to see out a bonus point win on the road to secure their position on the top four.

Derek Suffern’s charges have a huge job ahead of themselves to see out the season safely. One more win should secure the Ballymacarn side’s position in Division 1B, but with two table toppers and a resurgent Shannon to play in the next three games, the task in hand is certainly not easy.

Ballynahinch: Paddy Wright, Callum McLaughlin, Jordan Grattan, Ryan Wilson, Davy Nicholson, James McBriar, Blane McIlroy, Chris Stevenson, Andrew Harper, Craig Trenier, Stewart Evans, James Simpson, 

Aaron Hall, Callum Irvine, Michael Graham (capt). Replacements: Stuart Orr, Ben Pentland, Brian Howard, Chris Quinn, Aaron Ferris.

Ballynahinch 14

Old Wesley 28

ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE 1B