Hinch firsts struggle against Shannon
Shannon 26 Ballynahinch 10,
James Kirk reports,
Ballynahinch failed to reach the standards they have set themselves this season with an error-strewn performance against a backs-to-the-wall Shannon side desperate for points as they battle to move out of the relegation play-off position.
The County Down men started brightly to encourage a large travelling support but failed to take advantage of superb field position and went fourteen points behind as the home side scored twice in two minutes to boost the hopes of the noisy Thomond Park faithful.
Ballynahinch battled back but had only a Greg Hutley penalty to show for their efforts at the break despite a Shannon yellow card.
The first score in the second half looked like it would be crucial and so it proved as the home side scored again to go more than two converted tries ahead.
This forced Ballynahinch to chase the game and leading to a Shannon bonus point try via an intercept on seventy minutes to seal the victory.
To their credit the out-of-sorts Ballynahinch outfit got on the scoresheet via a penalty try following an extended period of pressure late in the game.
Coach Adam Craig will be hoping for a much-improved performance in the Senior Cup semi-final versus Harlequins at Deramore this weekend before the final AIL match at home to Lansdowne on April 15th.
Ballynahinch 1-21: George Saunderson, Claytan Milligan, Kyle McCall, Tommy Donnan (Capt), Cormac Izuchukwu, Tom Martin, Zack McCall, Bradley Luney, Conor McKee, Greg Hutley, Aaron Cairns, Mark Best, George Pringle, Ethan Graham, Rory Butler, Josh Hanlon, Nacho Cladera, Joe Charles, James Simpson, Chris Gibson, Jack Milligan.
***
Ballymoney U14 7 Ballynahinch U14 29
Colin Donaldson reports
Ballynahinch U14 were in excellent form as they eventually pulled away from their Ballymoney counterparts to reach the U14 Cup Final against Virginia at Kingspan Stadium on April 22nd.
A good first half in tough conditions laid the foundations for their superior fitness to make its mark in the second half.
Tiernan McCann and Harvey Campbell scored tries as Ballynahinch took a ten point lead but Ballymoney hit back with the last play before the interval to close the lead to three points.
Ballynahinch turned round with intent and second half contributions from some of their key players saw them run out comfortable winners.
The electric Campbell scored again before the talismanic Callum McCargo marked his return from a seven week injury layoff with two typical tries.
The hard-carrying Adam Blain and James Graham were also to the fore as the U14s booked their place at Kingspan in comfort.
Virginia will be formidable opposition as the Ballynahinch boys, unbeaten this season, look to establish themselves as the best U14 outfit in club rugby before many of them move up to U16 in August.
***
Cup Final Saturday
James Kirk reports
Ballynahinch once again have three teams in Cup Final action as the regular season draws to a close.
Unfortunately these matches are no longer played at Kingspan Stadium and the locals have fallen on the wrong side of the draw with all three matches away from home.
A large travelling support will be required!
Crawford Plate Final
City of Derry 2 vs Ballynahinch 3 2.30pm
Davy Maguire faces a tough trip to the Maiden City with his young side as they seek to end the season with some silverware.
A disappointing result at Clogher Valley aside it has been a season of consolidation for the thirds as they came to terms with a loss of experienced players and an influx of young lads who will be much better for the experience they have had this season in a tough league.
A run of away fixtures threatened to derail the season but home comfort in recent weeks has seen them surge up the league table and they finished with a last minute win over Dromore 2nds at the weekend to finish fourth.
Despite competing in the league above their City of Derry opponents they will be wary of the long trip north and mindful that a good start will be crucial to their hopes.
The experienced trio of Brian Howard, Thomas Boyd and Tommy McConnell will look to set the tone.
Forster Cup Final
Ballyclare 3 vs Ballynahinch 4 2.30pm
Marty O’Neill’s fourth XV won their semi-final replay against Larne in fine style at the weekend to book a place in the final against Ballyclare 3.
Both teams have been in excellent form this season, topping their league sections and playing some great rugby along the way.
O’Neill has played virtually every position in the backline and can rely on the likes of David Turley and Mike Evans to front up every week. Neil Douglas has had another remarkable season as he continues to roll back the clock every week to perform like a man half his age.
Marty has already lifted a trophy after winning the Forster Plate last season and will be hoping to go one better on Saturday.
There have been many trophies gathered by the lower teams in the club over the past 25 years but the Forster Cup has continued to be out of reach.
A shared trophy with Inishowen in 2007 after an epic 17 all draw is the nearest the locals have come to winning and it would be great to see a great club servant like Marty lift the trophy.
McCambley Cup Final
Ballyclare 4 vs Ballynahinch 5 1.30pm
James McBriar has assembled a cast of legends, many of whom have had long and distinguished AIL careers, as he seeks to defend the McCambley Cup won in fine style last season.
Unbeaten since an opening day defeat by a loaded Dromore 3rds outfit they have dispatched strongly fancied veteran sides like Ballymena 4 and Portadown 3 on the way to the final and will hope that their battle-weary bodies will hold up for one more outing.
Each week it seems like another club legend is persuaded to dust off the kit and roll back the years and the current 1st XV coaching staff even turned out in a midweek fixture.
Ballyclare will provide a significant test for these veterans who will not want to chase the game. Get in front and use all that experience to stay in front is a strategy that has served them well this season!
***
Ballynahinch RFC Roundup for 1st April 2023
Club Notes
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 David Martin – Mini Convenor on 07837944892 or email: hinchminis@gmail.com
The final pre-match lunch vs Lansdowne on April 15th is officially SOLD OUT.
Results 01/04/2023
Shannon 26 Ballynahinch 10 (AIL Division 1A))
Ballynahinch 3 27 Dromore 2 25 (Provincial Prem 1)
Ballynahinch 4 32 Larne 2 13 (Forster Cup SF)
Ballynahinch 5 w/o Queens 4 (Regional South 1)
Fixtures 08/04/2023
Belfast Harlequins vs Ballynahinch (Senior Cup SF)
City of Derry 2 vs Ballynahinch 3 (Crawford Plate Final) 2.30pm
Ballyclare 3 vs Ballynahinch 4 (Forster Cup Final) 3.30pm
Ballyclare 4 vs Ballynahinch 5 (McCambley Cup Final) 1.30pm
