Ballynahinch 13 Naas 5
AIL Division 1B
Saturday 2 March 2019
James Kirk reports from Ballymacarn Park.
Ballynahinch showed complete mastery of the terrible conditions to move into second place in the 1B table after a superb victory over Naas.
Having clearly learned lessons from their late defeat to Old Wesley at home a fortnight earlier in windy conditions, they have given themselves a real chance to be in the mix for promotion. Missing James Simpson at lock forward, Hinch moved Jack Regan into the engine room and picked a big abrasive back row of Keith Dickson, Bradley Luney and Conall Boomer. Johnny McPhillips was released by Ulster to take his place at outhalf and Ross Adair continued at fullback in an unchanged backline.
Playing with the wind in the first half, a full-strength Naas side camped in the Hinch 22 but were repelled by some outstanding defence. When they got possession, Hinch kept the ball, opting for scrums instead of kicking the ball out and carrying well with the excellent footwork of Boomer and hooker Zac McCall gaining them valuable metres in tight spaces.
They were completely comfortable and keeping Naas at arm’s length until a turnoiver on half way left them short in numbers on defence which Naas were able to exploit by moving the ball well to score in the corner through Adam Coyle for a five point lead in the 23rd minute.
Normal service was resumed for the rest of the half with superbly organised Hinch defence and excellent ball retention and use of the scrum to run down the clock. The only alarm came from a Nass penalty attempt which went wide and Ballynahinch turned round just five points behind with the conditions in their favour.
The locals barely gave Naas a touch of the ball for the first ten minutes of the second half and went into the lead after 52 minutes when McCall drove over the line close to the posts after a series of punishing carries had taken them deep into Nass territory. McPhillips converted to take his team in front and this time there was to be no escape for a visiting team. Demonstrating total control of the weather and the match situation, Ballynahinch barely allowed Naas out of their own half.
A McPhillip’s penalty took them five points clear and as the game reached it conclusion the home side were camped again on the opposition line after a great tackle in midfield from Rory Butler dislodged the ball and Hinch kicked through. Cairns went close but Nass held out. They should have taken the losing bonus point back to Kildare but chose to fling the ball wide deep in injury time and gave away a penalty which McPhillips converted with the last kick of the game to leave his team 13-5 winners.
The season now hinges on the last four games and Hinch will be confident as they travel to Athlone this weekend that they have some momentum and can push on towards the playoffs at least.
