Banbridge 2’s v Ballynahinch 2’s – Match Report
28.03.15
Chris Parker reports from Rifle Park.
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Aaron Cairns passes the ball as Paul Pritchard and Charlie Butterworth watch (Photo courtesy of Declan Forrest)[/caption]
Hinch started well against Banbridge with Martin and Phillips making telling runs into the opposition half. When Bann were penalised at a break down Harris put Hinch 3-0 ahead. Bann replied with a penalty of their own before a neat offload from Conor Piper allowed fellow prop Kelvin Hamilton to go in under the posts, Harris converted to leave Hinch 10-3 up at half time.
Bann started the second half well and kicked a penalty to bring the score to 10-6 in Hinch’s favour. Hinch responded almost immediately when Ben McMullan crossed for a score. Hinch failed to use the wind to their advantage and their indiscipline led to Bann staying camped in the Hinch half, the pressure paid off when they got a converted try to bring the score to 13-15.
Hinch once again responded quickly when Gibson fed Piper he made a carry before offloading to Turner who showed pace to step the full back and run in for the try, Hinch now led 22-13. Banbridge scored again to narrow the gap to 2 points. Hinch pulled away in the last fifteen minutes when McMullan and Nicholson crossed for tries, Harris converted both to leave the final score 36-20.
This victory keeps the 2nd XV top of the league on points difference from Harlequins, but next up face 3rd placed Queens University in what will be a tough match against the students.
Dolphin RFC v Ballynahinch RFC – Match Report
Report from Musgrave Park
In a long-awaited victory on the road, Ballynahinch saw off a ten point half-time deficit to beat basement club Dolphin in the penultimate match of the Ulster Bank All Ireland Division 1A League. Despite a valiant effort that yielded four tries and two losing bonus points, Dolphin lost a long battle with relegation at Musgrave Park and will play their Ulster Bank League rugby in Division 1B next season.
The win lifts the County Down outfit to fourth place with a two-point buffer from nearest rivals Young Munster and into a Division 1A play-off position, with a home match against 3rd placed Clontarf on Sat 11th April.
Whatever glimmer of hope Dolphin had of fighting on was taken away when fellow strugglers St Mary’s College picked up a losing bonus point at Clifford Park. The Dublin club can’t now be caught when the two sides meet at Templeville Road in a fortnight.
It was a tough but entertaining game at Musgrave Park. The sides shared nine tries, but unfortunately for the Cork club, Ballynahinch secured five of them. “I was delighted with the resilience shown by the players in terms of effort,” said Hinch coach Derek Suffern
“We played really well and especially dug-in deep in the second half to turn the game in our favour. This is something we had talked about and I knew that the boys had the confidence in their ability and really showed it the final 20 minutes. It was a fantastic team effort that gives us a real boost before our final home match against Clontarf.”
Looking back on the season, Dolphin coach Ford felt most of the damage was done early on. “No doubt, the beginning of the season has cost us, with the injuries and with boys not being available. We have got healthier and healthier but again it’s disappointing to lose our last game of the season at home.
“This league has got better and better. Munster clubs are the ones to have struggled the last three years or so purely and simply because they haven’t got the player base but what we need to do now is concentrate on rebuilding.”
“There’s a bigger picture. For us to compete, you’ve got to have a very good team and a very good squad. It’s not easy because I know for a fact we’re going to lose a couple of players to Dublin at the end of the season. If that’s where the work is, that’s where the work is. You’ve got to find a way of rebuilding a structure and that’s not easy but it’s something that has to be done.”
Ballynahinch then held off any further effort from a dejected Dolphin side, who played until the final whistle. An excellent result for the Hinch players, Coaching Staff and travelling support, who had made the long journey to Cork.
Hinch’s next match is a home fixture in the Ulster Championship League at home to Banbridge on Saturday 4th April.
Fixture Tuesday 31st March Ballynahinch 2 v Queens 2 k/o 7.30pm Wednesday 1st April Ballynahinch 4 v Malone 3 k/o 7.30pm Harlequins 3 v Ballynahinch 5 k/o 7.30pm Saturday 4th April Ballynahinch v Banbridge (USL) Ballynahinch 4 v Dungannon 3 Evergreens v Academy 3 Results Saturday 28th March Dolphin 28 Ballynahinch 35 Banbridge 2’s 20 Ballynahinch 2’s 36 Ballynahinch 3’s W/O Coleraine 2’s 0 Portadown 2’s 50 Ballynahinch 4’s 22 Ballynahinch 5’s 8 Lisburn 2’s 17 Ballynahinch 6’s W/O Enniskillen 3’s 0 Evergreens 36 Donaghadee 2’s 7 Results Sunday 29th March Ballynahinch Ladies 22 Queens Ladies 2s 0 – Rejenerate Shield]]>
