Ballynahinch RFC Rugby Round-up: 12th January 2018
Club Notes.
The AIL returns this weekend as Ballynahinch travel the short distance to Gibson Park to take on Malone. The 1B table is ridiculously tight and Brian McLaughlin will want his charges to hit the ground running as the second half of the season begins.
Ballynahinch Ladies made their AIL Cup debut at a blustery Ballymacarn Park against a much bigger and more experienced St.Mary’s outfit. The Dubliners are back in the AIL this season and the home side acquitted themselves well despite the 36-0 defeat. Highlights of the game can be seen on the IRFU website.
Matthew Norton and his 2nd XV continued to bounce back from their narrow Junior Cup Final defeat to defeat Ballymena in the opening fixture of the 2nd XV League. A brace each for McKittrick and McCoubrey added to scores from McAnulty and Finlay gave them a 36-22 victory and an excellent start to the League campaign.
The thirds continued their indifferent form with defeat at Grosvenor 2s and the fourths failed to derail Queens 2 as the student side won a hard fought battle by 13 points to 5 at the Dub and look to have all but sealed the Provincial League 1 title in the process.
Performance of the day belonged to the 5ths. Andrew Wilson’s men beat a strong CIYMS 2s side 24-22 and will hope they have turned a corner after a miserable autumn.
The U16 juggernaut rolled on with another high-scoring victory over Donaghadee in a friendly. The U14’s took part in a blitz versus private school giants Campbell College and Clongowes Wood B sides. They were superb in a narrow 7-0 defeat to Campbell and tired in a heavy defeat to the Dublin outfit. Coach Stuart Smyth was extremely pleased with their efforts and can see real positives as they continue to develop.
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 Black – Mini Convenor on 07760919094.
Youth rugby continues on Wednesday nights 7 30 – 9pm. The next league fixture is at Ballyclare on February 2nd.
Results 12th January 2018
Ballynahinch 2 36 Ballymena 2 22 (2nd XV League)
Grosvenor 2 34 Ballynahinch 3 15 (Provincial League)
Queens 2 13 Ballynahinch 4 5 (Provincial League)
Ballynahinch 5 24 CIYMS 2 22 (Provincial League)
Ballynahinch Ladies 0 St.Mary’s Women 36 (AIL Cup)
Ballynahinch U16 38 Donaghadee U16 0
Fixtures 19/01/2018
Malone vs Ballynahinch (AIL Division 1B)
Ballynahinch 2 vs Malone 2 (2nd XV League)
Portadown 2 vs Ballynahinch 3 (Provincial League)
Ballynahinch 4 vs Grosvenor 2 (Provincial League)
Ballynahinch 5 vs Harlequins 3 (Provincial League)
PSNI 2 vs Ballynahinch 6 (Provincial League).
