Mixed fortune for Ballynahinch RFC at the wekend
AIL League Division 1A,
Venue: Ballymacarn Park, 8 2 2025,
Final Score: Ballynahinch 21 Lansdowne 24.
Shorn of their Ulster contingent by the mid-season friendly with Queensland Reds at Kingspan Stadium on Friday night and with Cup fixtures for the rest of the adult teams, Ballynahinch were stretched to the limit as they took the field against Lansdowne writes James Kirk.
That they went toe-to-toe with the most heavily resourced team in the AIL and were within a couple of metres from the winning score at the end of eighty energy-sapping minutes says much for the quality of the squad, the input of the coaching team and the never-say-die play for the badge mentality of everyone involved.
(Photos by John Dickson/Dickson Digital©).
Mark Best returned from a concussion to take his place in midfield alongside George Pringle with Paul Kerr at outhalf. Up front Kelvin Hamilton continued to deputise at hooker for Claytan Milligan while skipper Bradley Luney continues in his favoured position of Number 8.
The game proved to be extremely entertaining and a superb advert for the AIL as the lead changed hands throughout.
Ballynahinch made a slow start and when Lansdowne scored almost unchallenged from a lineout drive the situation looked ominous. However the home side gathered themselves and repelled the next wave of Lansdowne attack before scoring two excellent tries.
Conor Rankin dotted down a superb chip over the top by Mark Best and then Luney finished a break from the outstanding Rankin to take his side into the lead.
Lansdowne replied before halftime with another forward try and Ballynahinch also lost the services of winger Ronan Patterson with a nasty ankle injury and were further disrupted by a yellow card as Lansdowne piled on the pressure before the interval.
The Dublin giants then scored again through powerful their second row off the back of a dominant scrum and Ballynahinch looked in serious trouble.
They managed to regain a foothold in the game and battled back upfield to take the lead from a close range score by replacement lock Kyle Gill only for Lansdowne to return the compliment with a score under the posts after a defensive lapse from the home side.
During the final fifteen minutes Ballynahinch threw everything at their opponents and with a little more composure in the red zone would have retaken the lead. A
As the clock ticked down, Lansdowne seemed to have weathered the storm as they won a relieving penalty and camped in the home 22. Deep into injury time Ballynahinch attacked from their own line and won a penalty themselves to get as far as half way.
Fifteen phases later Zack McCall was stopped just short of the winning try in the corner as the Lansdowne scramble defence were able to force a penalty and kick the ball out to seal victory.
Adam Craig can be proud of his team but a quick glance at the results indicates that a win on Saturday would have put Ballynahinch right back into the mix for the semi-final places. Victory at bottom side Garryowen is crucial this weekend.
All support is welcome in Limerick.
Ballynahinch 1-20: Matthew Burke, Kelvin Hamilton, John Dickson, Will Hopes, Ronan McCusker, Declan Horrox, Zack McCall, Bradley Luney (Capt), Chris Gibson, Paul Kerr, Ethan Graham, Mark Best, George Pringle, Ronan Patterson, Conor Rankin, Will Alexander, Harry McCormick, Kyle Gill, Peter Heasley, Matthew Booth, Rhuari Meharg.
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Pic 729 Zack McCall charges for the line
Pic712 Ethan Graham on the attack
Pic 711 Conor Rankin dots down just in time
Pic 721 Bradley Luney scores
Pic 731 Kyle Gill goes over
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Ballynahinch RFC Round-up 08/02/2025
Club Notes
The 2nds prepared for their titanic home Junior Cup SF vs Dromore this weekendxa0by scoring a couple of late penalties to win a brilliant Towns Cup QF away to Portadown and remain in the hunt for three trophies.
Malone were comfortable winners over Ballynahinch in the Womens Premiership.
Meanwhile the bandwagon rolls on for the 4ths and 5ths as they racked up excellent Cup wins over Enniskillen and Armagh respectively and await the semi-final draws for the Forster and McCambley Cups.
Mixed fortunes for the youth section as the U16s lost to Armagh in the League SF play-off but the U18s had an excellent Cup win at Cavan.
The next pre-match lunch is on March 1st vs Lansdowne. Seats can be booked for all fixtures via James Kirk on 07966143184.
Other diary dates include our 70th Anniversary Gala Ball on 7th March. (See social media for details.)
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 Clifton Quinn for details on 07501228045.
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 for 8 2 2025.
Ballynahinch 21 Lansdowne 24 (AIL Division 1A)
Malone 46 Ballynahinch 5 (Womens Premiership)
Portadown 30 Ballynahinch 2 33 (Towns Cup)
Queens 3 conceded Crawford Plate fixture to Ballynahinch 3
Enniskillen 3 0 Ballynahinch 4 21 (Forster Cup)
Ballynahinch 5 29 City of Armagh 4 8 (McCambley Cup).
