The latest news from Ballynahinch RFC.
AIL Division 1A.
James Kirk reports from Ballymacarn Park.
Ballynahinch 22 Garryowen 27.
Ballynahinch welcomed league leaders Garryowen to Ballymacarn Park on Saturday as they searched for their first win of the new AIL season. Rory Butler was back from injury in midfield and in the absence of props Kyle McCall and Ben Cullen, Harry Simpson and Peter Cooper made their first AIL starts of the season alongside Ulster hooker Tom Stewart. Zack McCall packed down in the back row with Ulster releases Reuben Crothers and Marcus Rea.
The home team won the toss and elected to play into a strong breeze and a low sun and were distinctly out of sorts in the opening quarter. They were passive in defence, in contrast to the ferocious physicality of the opening three fixtures and Garryowen, who were visibly bigger all over the park, cashed in with two almost identical tries in the first quarter.
Hooker Pat O’Toole scored them both from close range line-out drives and the superbly accurate boot of young outhalf Tony Butler added two conversions and a penalty as Ballynahinch struggled to gain any kind of foothold in the game.
An improved second quarter performance was undone by another close range Garryowen score just before half-time from flanker Jack Daly driving over close to the posts after a series of strong carries from the away side.
At the break Ballynahinch found themselves 24 points down and were clearly on the wrong side of the referee at the breakdown with a high penalty count allowing their Limerick opponents to dictate field position and territory.
A fast start to the second half was crucial if a demoralising defeat was to be avoided and Ballynahinch clearly upped the tempo on the restart. They scored from a lineout maul of their own through Rea to get themselves on the board.
Tony Butler then calmly slotted over another penalty to maintain a three score lead but that would be the last time Garryowen troubled the scoreboard as Ballynahinch found their rhythm and piled on the pressure.
Replacement lock James Simpson superbly gathered his own charge down and scored after 48 mins to make it 14-27 and the local outfit were snapping into tackles and charging into collisions with much more purpose.
Aaron Cairns then scored from the move of the match on sixty minutes to give everyone at the ground the sniff of a real upset win. Shane Ball showed serious speed to tear up the blind side from inside his own half, cutting inside only to be hauled down on the Garryowen 22.
The ball was flashed wide from the ruck and superb work from Butler in the wide channel put Cairns over in the corner.
Greg Hutley missed the difficult conversion but Ballynahinch were clearly in the ascendancy and with 20 minutes to go and a baying crowd roaring them on a win looked possible. Garryowen’s response was to slow the game the game down in true Munster fashion and suck the energy out of the occasion.
They managed the game well and the chance of a win disappeared when, having turned down a relatively straightforward penalty at goal to kick for the corner, Ballynahinch lost the ensuing lineout.
The possibility of a win had now become a desperate chase for a bonus point and despite a dubious yellow for the outstanding Marcus Rea on 70 minutes, the home side continued to push forward. They received a lifeline in the final minute of normal time when Garryowen infringed at the breakdown but replacement outhalf Jack Milligan pushed his kick just wide of the post.
The home side were not to be denied however and Garryowens time wasting tactics came to the aid of the home side as deep in injury time they were awarded a penalty in an identical position. Milligan made no mistake this time and gained a vital losing bonus point for his side.
Ballynahinch remain winless from four games but have played the top three teams and given an excellent account of themselves. They are well conditioned to play for 80 minutes and are clearly playing for each other.
The next two games will be crucial as they are against the teams at the bottom end of the table. Away to UCD this weekend and a big home tie against UCC on the 20th of November. All support welcome.
Ballynahinch 1-21: H Simpson, T Stewart, P Cooper, T Donnan, J Donnan, Z McCall (capt), R Crothers, M Rea, C Gibson, G Hutley, P Wright, R Butler, R Wilson, A Cairns, S Ball, J Dickson, D Vidal Souza, J Simpson, T Strydom, C McAuley, J Milligan.
***
Ballynahinch Women 37 Lisburn Women 10
Jane Patton reports.
Lisburn brought their unbeaten record to Ballymacarn Park on Saturday to take on a Ballynahinch side who, while unbeaten themselves, knew their toughest tests were yet to come.
The home team were without leading try scorer Jemima Johnston and with powerhouse prop Niamh Gilgunn carrying a shoulder problem, coach Sara Simms knew her squad depth would be given a stern test.
This was evident from the whistle as Lisburn tore into their hosts, winning the early collisions and eventually working their way over for a try in the corner.
Ballynahinch came back strongly but despite winning several penalties in the Lisburn 22 they had to settle for three points from the boot of captain Jane Patton. From the kick off a Lisburn high tackle allowed Ballynahinch to play some excellent structured rugby to take the lead.
A good touchfinder from Patton was followed a superbly executed lineout with quick ball off the top being flashed wide to allow centre Paula McKay to run a good line for a try.
Lisburn fought straight back to score before half time, although this period of play was notable for a series of superb defensive sets from the Ballynahinch side, holding their shape and making big hits all over the park.
Lisburn eventually worked their way over to take the half time score to 10 points all but the home side were confident that they had both the technical skill and fitness to win the game.
A second half scoreline of 27-0 to the Lisburn home side showed exactly how far this team have come in a short time. Niamh McClean pounced on a loose ball to score in the corner as Ballynahinch regained the lead and the home side really found their rhythm thereafter.
McKay knocked over a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.The forwards then went to work, forcing their way upfield before veteran centre Rachel Morton showed her class with a perfectly weighted chip and chase try to stretch the lead to thirteen points.
Superb linespeed in defence continued to give Lisburn problems and when they turned the ball over McClean was on hand to offload perfectly for Patton to score. The skipper converted it herself to give her side an unassailable lead.
The final score of the match was another well worked effort. From a scrum on the halfway line Patton kicked for the pacy McClean and winger Erin Hodgen to pressure the Lisburn defence. Hodgen gathered and offloaded to the supporting Patton for the try.
With the result no longer in doubt the character of the team was shown by winger Lauren McEvoy who put her body on the line to make a superb try saving tackle on the touchline to snuff out a final Lisburn attack and keep them scoreless in the second half.
The Championship table shows Ballynahinch lying in second place with a 100% record. They travel to leaders Carrickfergus this weekend and will have to be at their best to get a win which would make them favourites for the title.
Ballynahinch RFC Rugby Round-up – 23/10/2021
Club Notes
With the seconds game called off at late notice Andy Simpson’s third XV were the only other Hinch team in action on Saturday and they had an epic tussle with Queens 2, coming back from 12 points down in the last ten minutes to gain a 24-24 draw. Rhys O’Donnell and Marcus Heath scored two tries each to keep the thirds well in touch at the top of the table behind leaders Ballyclare, who shipped 60 points to Queens the previous weekend.
Youth Training continues at 7pm on a Monday night. All players U12/U14/U16/U18 welcome and no experience necessary. Contact Michael Preston for details on 07702050192.
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 David Martin – Mini Convenor on 07837944892 or email hinchminis@gmail.com.
Details of how to purchase tickets for the First XV matches and a full selection of Hinch merchandise can be found on our social media outlets and on the club app.
AIL pre-match lunches are back with UCC the visitors on November 20th. Contact James Shaw 07740308051, Erin Hodgen 07540706564 or David George 07951610151
Autumn international tickets are available. See App or website for details.
Results 30/10/2021
Ballynahinch 22 Garryowen 27 (AIL Division 1A)
Queens 2 24 Ballynahinch 3 24 (Provincial Premier 1)
Ballynahinch Women 37 Lisburn Women 10 (Championship)
Fixtures 06/11/2021
UCD vs Ballynahinch (AIL Division 1A)
Armagh 2 vs Ballynahinch 2 (Conference 1)
Ballynahinch 3 vs Dungannon 2 (Provincial Premier 1)
Ballynahinch 5 vs Lurgan 2 (Regional South)
Carrickfergus Women vs Ballynahinch Women (Sunday)
