Cork Students Get A Plus
John Dickson and Alan Montgomery report from the Mardyke, Cork.
Ballynahinch slumped to a heavy defeat in Cork as the students ran in two tries in the final minutes to claim a winning bonus point.
Winger Brian Derham struck first for the students in the 5th minute when he finished off a neat backline move to score an unconverted try in the corner for a 5-0 lead.
A Sean Scanlon penalty goal in the 7th minute made it 8-0, but Ryan Bambry had a chance to settle the Hinch nerves with a penalty opportunity in the 9th minute and he bisected the uprights to make it 8-3. The Hinch out half then missed a shot a goal in the 13th minute as the County Down men struggled to get points on the board.
In the 22nd minute UCC won another penalty but instead of kicking for the posts the students opted to go for the corner to set up a catch and drive where Shane O’Sulllivan was driven over for their second try which went unconverted to leave the score at 13-3.
The Hinch never looked settled, and at times they held on by their skin of their teeth, as the UCC boys moved play was great accuracy and speed. Jonny Cullen made a timely interception and David Nicholson made two try saving tackles during the next 10 minute period, but just as it seemed as though the County Down men had weathered the storm, they lost a ball against the head, and a series of 5 metre scrums ensued. Eventually in the 37th minute, Philip Donnellan was driven over close to the posts for the Students third try. Scanlon added the extras to take the home side 20-3 clear with 3 minutes remaining until half time.
When the game restarted the Hinch made a great break thanks to Robert Greer. The big Hinch second row made good ground passing to Willie Faloon who almost made the corner only to be stopped by a superb try saving tackle by UCC winger Willie Walsh. As a result the teams turned round at half time, the Hinch trailing 20-3.
The Hinch started the second half in determined mood, driving play deep into the UCC 22, where their flanker Rob Barry was yellow carded in the 43rd minute for playing the ball on the ground. Hinch opted for the scrum and attacked the UCC line, where Paddy McAllister was driven over under the posts. Bambry added the conversion to bring the Hinch back into the game 20-10.
The remainder of the second half was an error strewn, scrappy affair with the Hinch men failing to hold onto the ball on several occasions, but it was the students who finished the contest the stronger, with their impressive fullback Sean Scanlon coming into a sweeping backline move in the 77th minute to secure their bonus point win with an unconverted try to take the score to 25-10. Then in the final minute scrum half Brian Slater completed the Hinch misery when he crossed close to the posts with replacement Andrew Burke adding the extras to take the final score to 32-10.
After last weeks solid performance at home against Dungannon, the Hinch away form misery continued. Nearest rivals Dungannon were also beaten but managed to pick up a losing bonus point against bottom team Buccaneers. That puts the Hinch and Dungannon on the same points on 17 apiece but he Hinch have a better points difference. Buccaneers, the Athlone based side, will travel to Ballymacarn Park on the 6th March for the penultimate home fixture, they are 2 points behind on 15 so their victory over Gannon has thrown them a life lifeline with 3 fixtures remaining. This will be another cup final for Ballymacarn Park, it is a must win game.
This week the first will play Dungannon again at Stevenson Park. This is the first game in their defence of the Ulster Senior Cup and kick-off is at 2.30pm.
