‘Hinch pip Malone

‘Hinch pip Malone

23 October 2013

A GREY windy day greeted the players and crowd at Ballymacarn Park on Saturday for the First Trust Senior Cup quarter-final.

Ballynahinch won the toss and chose to play with the wind towards the club house. From the off, it was obvious that both teams were up for the match and the young Malone team got the first opportunity to score after four minutes with a penalty awarded for a ‘Hinch infringement at the breakdown.

The home team got off lightly as Mark Gribben stepped up only to push the kick wide.

‘Hinch went on the attack from the restart and forced their way back into the Red Socks’ half, forcing a penalty from the Malone forwards as they failed to release the ball on the ground.

Ritchie Lobb stepped up and assuredly slotted home the difficult penalty. after eight minutes. The penalty count continued to increase as both teams struggled to gain a hold in the match.

Malone levelled the score on 12 minutes through the boot of Gribben after ‘Hinch were penalised for not releasing the ball.

Malone continued to apply pressure from the kick-off and although ‘Hinch managed to retain the ball through some clever play from John Madden, the Red Socks secured the ball for themselves and moved it wide to their right hand wing with their full-back, Taylor Acheson, adding the extra man to score in the right hand corner.

Gribben failed to add the extras as Malone took an 8-3 lead.

Ballynahinch now took control of the match and through some clever interplay between forwards and backs, worked their way into the Malone half.

‘Hinch secured the ball at their own line out and the forwards drove towards the line before Aaron Cairns moved the ball wide to the right hand wing.

Ross Adair produced a fantastic off-load whilst being tackled by two Malone players to see David Nicholson dot down in the corner to level the score. Lobb missed a difficult kick to add the extras.

‘Hinch clearly had the bit back between their teeth and were soon back on the attack and again forcing the Red Socks back into their 22, making them to try and clear their lines.

‘Hinch were awarded the line out and Robert Greer collected the ball and broke forward to off-load to the waiting David Nicholson who crossed for his second score of the day, with Lobb adding the conversion.

The referee then decided that the hard working Greer had infringed intentionally on more than one occasion and sent him to the sidelines for a 10 minute respite.

The continued Malone pressure and the extra man finally paid off on the cusp of half-time with the Red Socks number 8 eventually breaking the ‘Hinch defence. Gribben again missed an easy conversion to leave the visitors trailing 15-13 at the break.

The second half started with Malone again exploiting the extra man advantage and with only three minutes played they executed a clever backs move and Adam Liddell crossed for an unconverted try tom put Malone into a 18-15 lead after 43 minutes.

‘Hinch were next on the score board as Greer returned to the pitch and Malone failed to release the ball. With the penalty awarded, Lobb stepped up and levelled the score with a difficult kick into the wind.

The referee continued to favour his whistle and penalised ‘Hinch for not releasing, allowing Malone another chance to take the lead and Gribben slotted the penalty in front of the posts, 21-18 in favour of Malone.

Malone further extended their lead through another penalty, this time taken by Adam Liddell after 69 minutes.

The referee again denied ‘Hinch the lead after an outstanding break by the ever present Cairns, his off-load being judged to be forward.

With the clock counting down and the Red Socks defending furiously, ‘Hinch maintained attacking pressure with a final flourish and excellent play by the pack ended with the ball being recycling through several phases.

Peter Weir, having replaced Cairns at scrum half, moved the ball towards the right wing and with Ross Adair coming in from his left wing position to provide the extra man, he crossed to clinch the win for a delighted ‘Hinch.

Lobb missed the resulting conversion and with the referee finally blowing his whistle in ‘Hinch’s favour.

Final score: Ballynahinch 26 Malone 24.