1st Round Crawford Cup
14 October 2017
Ballynahinch 5’s 13 Enniskillen 2’s 7
(Captain Andrew Wilson reports from Ballymacarn Park).
There were plenty of spectators around Ballymacarn today with five home games, which included three Crawford cup fixtures.
Andrew Wilson’s men started with early pressure and set up camp inside Enniskillen’s 22 for the first 20minutes. Enniskillen’s solid defence of their line kept Hinch at bay, a few attempts were made to cross the whitewash.
Andrew Wilson was half a metre short at one point but with constant pressure Neil Davidson finally twisted and turned over the line to get 5 points. In another attempt Iain Smith crossed the line but unfortunately the ball was spilt forward as he touched down.
The whole game was a tough grind with Hinch maybe guilty of not capitalising on opportunities. Jamie Hewitt at 12 had an excellent kick over Enniskillen which he chased after. By a stroke of luck the Enniskillen player missed the ball and Hewitt got it touched down.
In the second half Enniskillen were awarded a questionable try which was converted to give them 7 points. Hinch ground out the remainder of the game with Stephen Bingham slotting a penalty to put Hinch up to 13 points.
All starting players and subs participated in the match and gave 100% effort in a good gritty cup game. Andy Boyd and Stephen Bingham had some good placed kicks to put the pack into good attacking positions.
Half pitch rolling mauls are becoming a trade mark move for this Hinch side with another executed perfectly this week. David Prentice had perfect darts all day which gave hinch a dominant line out and scrum with Prentice’s hooking skills. Hayes, Jones, O’Neill, Daveny, Cairns all had good games in the back line. Strong scrummaging from Adam Kelly and Tommy Boyd gave the Hinch backs good attacking opportunities. William Truesdale and Elliot Evans were quick and mobile off the flanks. A difficult decision again this week for the skip to name man of the match but Jamie Hewitt lifts the much sought after award for his spectacular solo try.
Next week hinch return to league action at Home v Harlequin 3rds.
Hitch team: T Boyd, D Prentice, A Kelly, N Davidson, I Smith, W Truesdale, E Evans, A Wilson, S Bingham, C Cairns, J Hewitt, N Jones, J Hayes, C Daveny, M O’Neill, S Clydesdale, A Boyd, M Davidson.
