Hinch Sunk In 14 Try Thriller In Dublin.
John Dickson reports from Anglesea Road, Dublin.
This fixture was always regarded as a “Mission Impossible” for the Hinch men, Belvedere are the league leaders and by all accounts they have been the best side in the league this season. With the Hinch struggling at the bottom of the table, a bonus point was the only realistic goal from this encounter.
In bright sunshine the game got underway and it didn’t take Belvo long to strike. With just 2 minutes played fullback Eddie Devitt was pulled back by Aaron Ferris as the Belvo man burst through on the Hinch 22. Referee Paul Haycock had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try, and the stunned Hinch men had to watch as Andy Dunne converted to give the home side a 7-point lead.
Dunne took his side into double figures in the 8th minute when he converted a penalty goal after the Hinch were caught offside in the midfield.
The home side scored their second try in the 12th minute when second row Richie Leyden picked up a loose ball and burst clear. Joshua Donaldson was brushed aside by the Big Belvo man then two further attempts to halt his progress failed and Leyden sprinted in to touch down beside the posts. Dunne failed to convert to leave his side 15-0 in front.
Hinch managed to gather themselves and from the restart they turned over the Belvo ball. The pack mauled play forward and deep into the Belvo 22 then lost possession in front of the posts. Belvo number 8 Leo Auva’a picked up and moved play to the blind side sending winger Max Rantz-McDonald clear. The Belvo winger danced his way past four attempts to tackle him, then cut inside into open space to sprint the entire length of the pitch and run in under the posts for a fantastic solo try. Dunne converted taking Belvo 22-0 clear.
It was all looking very embarrassing for the County Down men and the Dubliners cut loose to claim their bonus point fourth try in the 25th minute. This time it came after play was taken through a number of phases by the big home forward pack. With the Hinch defence under pressure the ball was flashed left where winger Dave Mongan had enough pace to race round to score. Dunne added the extras to take the Dubliners tally to 29-0.
A catch and drive from a 5-metre lineout in the 34th minute set up hooker Mark Cooney to be driven over for Belvo’s fifth try which was converted by Dunne, taking the home side 36 points clear.
The Hinch did manage to get on the scoreboard, Paddy McAllister had already made a couple of powerful bursts, when he was slipped a ball from Ryan Bambry in the 37th minute. Paddy headed for the whitewash fending-off a number of Belvo men on the way to the line and despite being tackled he managed to ground the ball beside the posts. Bambry added the extras to leave the Hinch trailing at halftime 36-7.
The best the Hinch could hope for in the second half was a fourth try bonus point, and when in the 52nd minute Stuart Morrow intercepted in the Hinch 22 to sprint clear and score his side’s second try this bonus point suddenly looked to be a realistic possibility. The game had become very open with both sides intent on running the ball at every occasion but when Michael Graham and David Harris missed a tackle on Belvo prop Nermin Lovic in the 55th minute, the Hinch line was breached for the sixth time, Dunne adding the extra points to take Belov 43-14 clear.
Four minutes later it was Andy Dunne’s turn to star, the former Leinster player dazzled everyone with a great run as he twisted and turned the Hinch defence then finally put Richie Leyden in for his second try which he dotted down under the posts. Dunne converted to bring the Belvo tally to 50 points.
To Hinch’s credit they never gave up and added to the spectacle with some great attacking play led by centre Stuart Morrow and out half Ryan Bambry. On several occasions they made excellent line breaks and one of these in the 69th minute led to the third Hinch try. Michael Graham took quick tap penalty 10 metres out, and passed to Chris Stevenson in close support and with the Hinch pack on hand they drove Stevenson over for their third try. The conversion was missed leaving the Hinch trailing 50-19.
Remarkably the Hinch men struck for the fourth time in the 69th minute. This time ‘Man of the Match’ Stuart Morrow did the damage again when he created another opening in the midfield. Sprinting into the 22 he passed to Aaron Ferris who hacked the ball through then won the race to touch down over the line. Bambry failed to convert leaving the Hinch still trailing 50-24 with ten minutes left to play.
Belvo made sure their was to be no upset, and further poor defence from the visitors down the blind side, allowed flanker Jason Risdon to cross for another very soft try which was converted by Dunne to take the Belvo tally to 57 points.
The Hinch kept attacking and managed to run in two further ties to finish the contest. Ryan Bambry created the first when he made a great break in the 75th minute putting Aaron Ferris into space to race in for his second try. Bambry converted to take the Hinch to 57-31.
The final score came in the last minute following good work from Morrow and skipper Stuart Lamb which put Michael Graham in for the final try when he went in under the posts. Bambry converted to complete the scoring 57-38, in this try-fest, the Hinch well-beaten 8 tries to 6.
When the news from Athlone and Ballymena filtered through to Anglesea Road it couldn’t have been any worse for the Hinch men. Both Buccaneers and Dungannon had surprising wins, which has now left the County Down men in deep trouble. The Hinch need a 5 pointer from their last game at home to Ballymena on the 10th April, then hope that Buccaneers and Dungannon both loose without a bonus point. Another mission impossible, but after this fighting display in Dublin anything is possible.
3’s Have Ravenhill Date For Easter Tuesday
David Martin’s 3rdXV will make the trip to “The Big Green Acre” on Easter Tuesday to play City of Derry 2’s in the Crawford Cup final. The 3’s are a mixture of young players with a few experienced heads running the show such as skipper David Martin and centre James Kirk.
