Saturday 6th March. Report and pictures by John Dickson.
Ballynahinch started the first half of this vital league performance way off pace against a much more hungry looking bottom of the table Buccaneers side, the Connacht men shocking the home team by running in 3 unanswered tries before halftime.
Ryan Bambry had an opportunity in the 2nd minute to settle the Hinch nerves, but his penalty attempt drifted right of the posts. Hinch had the advantage of the breeze in the first half, the wind unusually blowing up the pitch away from the clubhouse.
Hinch were caught off side in front of their posts in the 8th minute but like Bambry the Buccs kicker Adam Kennedy pushed his kick, which rebounded off the left hand post and was collected by David McGreggor who set up a ruck, allowing Harry McAleese to clear the danger.
The visitors struck for their first try in the 15th minute. Hinch had just won a ruck on halfway but as McAleese attempted to kick play up-field the Buccs hooker Garreth Halligan charged the kick down, gathered the loose ball, raced down the left wing and round to dive in behind the posts. Kennedy converted the extra points to give the Connacht men a 7-point advantage after 16 minutes played.
This try clearly lifted the visitors and they started to dominate in all facets of the game, especially with their intensity at the breakdown where they did look a lot more competitive. The Hinch looked all at sea at times, knocking the ball on and forcing play when chances were created. Lineouts were not accurate, first time tackles missed as were kicks to touch and when former Munster and Cornish Pirates centre Brian Touhy switched play to the right in the 26th minute, it looked as if he was going nowhere, then suddenly a clear developed and with Aaron Ferris caught in no mans land, Touhy headed for the corner. The referee John Carville and touch judge Paul Eiken had a long discussion then Carville awarded the try, which went unconverted to leave the visitors with a respectable 0-12 lead.
Worse was to follow, Buccs run in their third try in the 37th minute. This time a lovely show and go from the visiting out half Alex Hayman on the Hinch 22 suggested his was moving play wide, but with a lovely dummy he slipped through the Hinch drift defence and dived in behind the posts for a very soft score. Kennedy added the extras to take his side 0-19 clear.
The Hinch did manage a fight-back towards the end of the first half but Chris Stevenson and Stuart Morrow were pulled up just a few yards short and the home side turned round to play into the wind, down 19 points they now had a massive mountain to climb.
Hinch started the next 40 in a much more positive way and in the 49th minute a penalty was kicked into the corner to set up a catch and drive. The ball was collected and driven trough a couple of phases then whipped wide where fullback Jonny Cullen came into the line to create room on the outside for Michael Kirkwood to go over in the corner. Bambry failed to convert to leave the Hinch trailing 5-19.
Hinch continued their fight back and scored their second try in the 55th minute. Skipper Stuart Lamb started the attack bursting clear in the midfield he took play to just outside the Buccs 22 where the ball was flashed left to find Michael Graham on the charge and he managed to force his way over out wide. McAleese took over the kicking duties from Bambry, who had suffered a heavy knock during the move, but his effort was pushed wide of the posts leaving the Hinch trailing by 9 points 10-19.
A long range penalty goal in the 57th minute by fullback James Potgeiter pushed the Buccs tally to 22 points after the Hinch pack were caught off side.
Within a minute the Hinch were back in the Buccs 22 where they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Kirkwood took a quick tap then off-loaded to Chris Stevenson who charged for the line only to be stopped inches short. Hinch then infringed at the ruck allowing Buccs to clear the danger.
The Hinch men kept their momentum going and a 79th minute try by Hinch winger Aaron Ferris and touchline conversion by McAleese set up a dramatic injury time spell with the Hinch camped deep in the Buccs 22 looking for a late match winning score. The visitors were struggling to hold the Hinch out, conceding numerous penalties as the seconds ticked away. Finally centre Paul Harte was yellow carded for holding onto the ball on the ground, but despite several attacks on the Buccs line the visitors held firm to claim a vital away victory. Hinch and Dungannon are now firmly in the relegation zone as the bottom 2 clubs in Division 1B.
There are two AIL games left and things couldn’t be much tighter in the relegation zone. Buccs win elevated them from bottom spot to being one point ahead of the Hinch and Dungannon. The next fixture for the County Down men is crucial when they travel to Dublin 4 on the 27th March to play Old Belvedere the Division 1B leaders. The Hinch need something from this game, Dungannon managed a losing bonus point at Stevenson Park last Saturday when they were also defeated 17-22. Gannon will play Ballymena away in the next round with a home tie to finish against Galwegians who will travel to Stevenson Park on the 10th April. The Hinch will entertain Ballymena that day so the relegation battle rumbles on and is likely not to be decided until the last game of the campaign.
