Next up is a match away against Cork Constitution which will be a challenge
AIL Division 1A,
Final score: Ballynahinch 57 UCD 19.
It was a day to remember for Ethan Graham on Saturday as he torched UCD with six tries for the home side as they eviscerated their student opposition with a scintillating display of attacking rugby in perfect conditions at a packed Ballymacarn Park writes James Kirk.
Stung by their defeat in poor conditions last week at Belvedere, Ballynahinch knew they had to come out firing but the UCD blitz defence caught them out early in the match with a long-range intercept try when the home side looked odds-on to score.
Mark Best then made it his business to negate the blitz with a series of clever passes and kicks. A long pass to Marcus Rea allowed the flanker to ease Graham into space for the first try. Then a perfectly placed cross field kick saw Graham take the ball without breaking stride to gallup over.
Heavily involved in the next series of phases, Best released Aaron Sexton on an inside pass to break the line and link with Pierce Crowe who fed Bryn Ward to finish well from thirty metres out. UCD hit back with a maul try from close range.
But Best capped a vintage first half by laying on a simple finish for Graham to complete his hat trick with a clever basketball pass following a sustained battering of the UCD line from the Ballynahinch forwards.
Graham proceeded to add a second hat trick within the first ten minutes of the second half. He plucked a speculative Best kick out of the air and charged over the line for his fourth try, broke two tackles and ran in from halfway for his fifth.
He then had a simple run-in for his sixth after a brilliant long pass from Matthew Booth iced some great carrying from Ward and Declan Horrox.
To their credit the students scored another maul try to give themselves a sniff of a bonus point before Graham returned the favour, releasing Booth with a wide pass after a brilliant midfield break from Paul Kerr.
Booth had plenty to do but used all his strength to barge through his would-be tacklers and bring up fifty points on the scoreboard.
The brooding Sexton finally got himself in on the act in the final minute with a trademark cruise in from deep after latching on to a kick over the UCD defence from Booth to complete a victory which will live long in the memory of the jubilant home support.
Next up is a trip to league titans Cork Constitution in a fortnight. Adam Craig and his charges will travel in good spirits after putting the rest of the league on notice as to what this team is capable of.
Ballynahinch 1-20: Matthew Burke, Claytan Milligan (Capt), Tom McAllister, Bradley Luney, Kyle Gill, Marcus Rea, Zack McCall, Bryn Ward, Chris Gibson, Paul Kerr, Ethan Graham, Mark Best, Ben Carson, Aaron Sexton, Pierce Crowe, Josh Hanlon, John Dickson Jnr, Peter Heasley, Declan Horrox, Matthew Booth, Rhuari Meharg .
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Ballynahinch RFC Round-up 11 10 2025
Club Notes
Ballynahinch Women suffered a home defeat to derby rivals Banbridge despite a much improved performance. Amber Murphy and Anna Martin were on the scoresheet as they battled back in vain from a slow start.
David Harris and his 2nd XV are on the hunt for more silverware as they continued their unbeaten start to the season with a brilliant home win over high-flying Portadown in the Junior Cup quarter final.
They will hope for a home draw in the semi-final and have a core of young hungry players keen to make an impression. Jon Rodgers, Quinn Armstrong, Ryan Connolly, Sam Warwick, Ryan Halpin, Harry McKeown and the Bennet twins are being well marshalled by the likes of skipper Kelvin Hamilton, back row stalwart Stephen Campbell and lock Tom Martin and will get better with every week they have on the training paddock.
Jonny Shannon took his 3rd XV to Armagh but they were ambushed on a day when the home team had no 2nd XV fixture to lose but better days lie ahead for this young team.
Mike Evans and his 4th XV charges laid down a marker with an eight-try demolition of Dromore and have bounced back well from their opening day defeat at Enniskillen.
There was a clean sweep of wins for the youth boys as they continue to populate the top of their league tables.
Shel Laffin is growing the youth girls section and they are improving with every outing, showing up well in their amalgamated fixtures.
The next AIL home fixture is against Terenure on 1st November. To book your place at the pre match lunch contact James Kirk on 07966143184.
Youth Training continues on Mondays at 7pm for boys and Wednesdays at 7pm for girls. All players U12/U14/U16/U18 welcome and no experience necessary. Contact Johnny Cullen for details on 07595651901.
Mini rugby continues on Saturday mornings from 9.30-11am. Boys and girls from P1 – Yr8 are all welcome, with training run for each age group in their school year.
Mini rugby news is posted weekly on the club Facebook page – www.facebook.com/ballynahinchrfcofficial.
For more details contact Kenny Morton – Mini Convenor on 07813157614 or email [email protected].
Results 11/10/2025
Ballynahinch 57 UCD 19 (AIL Division 1A)
Ballynahinch Women 12 Banbridge Women 26 (Women’s Premiership)
Ballynahinch 2 20 Portadown 15 (Junior Cup QF)
Armagh 3 33 Ballynahinch 3 12 (Provincial Prem 1)
Ballynahinch 4 56 Dromore 3 12 (Regional South).
