‘Hinch men eye play-offs

‘Hinch men eye play-offs

21 February 2024

BALLYNAHINCH still have a chance to qualify for the end of season play-offs after a workmanlike home win over bottom of the table Dublin University.

They will be disappointed that a try bonus point was not secured but after a week of weather-related disruption and a raft of withdrawals on the eve of the match, head coach Adam Craig can be relatively satisfied with the result.

A head knock for Reuben Crothers and the last minute withdrawal of Greg Jones meant a start for Kyle Gill at lock with James French returning at tight head. 

Ryan Wilson slotted in for Jack Milligan at out-half with Paul Kerr, Ben Carson and Shay Storey combining in the back three for the first time. Conditions were poor right up to kick-off but the rain relented for the match and Ballynahinch played their preferred pattern of up the hill and into the wind in the first half.

The locals played superb possession rugby and dominated the collisions, depriving Dublin University of field position and scoring an excellent multi-phase try finished well by Kerr. 

The students equalised with a maul try from their only meaningful spell of attack but were pinned back in their own red zone for much of the rest of the half and Ballynahinch were rewarded for their patience with a maul try from the prolific 

Claytan Milligan on the stroke of half-time to turn around with the wind and a seven-point lead.

When the home side took advantage of a student yellow card to maul their way over from 20 metres out early in the second half the supporters anticipated a comfortable bonus point victory but the game descended into a stop-start contest full of errors and penalties. 

Dublin University eventually battled gamely upfield to score a close range try with ten minutes to go before Ballynahinch earned a penalty on halfway which was superbly drilled into the corner by Kerr. 

The bonus point opportunity went begging as the set piece failed to deliver and the students added a third try of their own with the final action of the afternoon to earn a losing bonus point.

The four teams above Ballynahinch all won again leaving the Co Down men seven points outside the play-offs with four fixtures remaining. 

They have a glimmer of hope in that they play three of those four sides in the final block of fixtures but must secure a result away at Shannon on March 2 to give themselves any chance of upsetting the status quo and forcing their way into the playoffs.

Ballynahinch 1-21: John Dickson, Claytan Milligan, James French, Declan Horrox, Kyle Gill, Callum Irvine, Zack McCall, Bradley Luney, Conor McKee, Ryan Wilson, Shay Storey, Mark Best (Capt), George Pringle, Ben Carson, Paul Kerr, Josh Hanlon, Kelvin Hamilton, Stephen Campbell, Tom Martin, Chris Gibson, Matthew Booth.