Ballynahinch 55 Ards 5
John Dickson reports from Ballymacarn Park
Fifteen minutes before kick-off the heavens opened and Ballymacarn Park was well and truly drenched as the teams took to the pitch.
The home side did settle first and managed to open the score with a try in the 7th minute when second row Jonny Graham did well to pick up and stretch for the line after a good forward drive from a five metre lineout. Harry McAleese missed the conversion leaving the Hinch with a 5-point lead.
The weather deteriorated once again with driving rain making handling difficult for both teams. Ards made the most of the conditions and for the next 20 minutes they were the better side. Their reward was a well-worked try by winger Andy Todd who scored in the 24th minute after quick ball was moved wide for the Ards man to cross in the right hand corner. The conversion was missed to leave the score tied at 5 points apiece.
Almost on the stroke of halftime the home side struck again when Nevin Spence burst through after he ran a beautiful line in the middle of the Ards 22 which cut the visitors defence in two and Spence dotted down under the posts. McAleese added the conversion to take the Hinch into a 12-5 halftime lead.
As the sun made a welcome appearance for the start of the second half the home side made the most of the conditions. McAleese took a quick tap penalty on the Ards 22 in the 45th minute and attacked down the blind side passing to Jonny Simpson who in turn put fellow prop Chris Stevenson in at the left hand corner. McAleese failed to add the extra points leaving the Hinch 17-5 clear.
The bonus point try came three minutes later following a great break by James Thompson which created room for Aaron Ferris to sprint clear, McAleese converting to make the score 24-5.
Play was all one way traffic as Hinch began to cut loose. Nevin Spence created the room for Ferris to grab his second try in the 52nd minute, McAleese adding the extra 2 points for a comfortable 31-5 lead.
Try number 6 followed shortly afterwards James Thompson finishing off a great piece of continuity play started by a McAleese line break on halfway. McAleese added the extras to increase the Hinch lead to 38-5.
Joshua Donaldson claimed the 7th Hinch try when he was on the end of a strong forward drive in the 62nd minute. Aaron Ferris grabbed his hatrick in the 67th minute following slick handling from the Hinch backs and strong running from Adam Craig. McAleese failed to convert both these tries leaving the score 48-5.
The ninth and final try came in the 71st minute when direct powerful running from Stuart Morrow was too much for Ards to handle and the big Hinch centre dived over at the posts. McAleese converted the extra points off the uprights to take the Hinch 55-5 clear.
Referee Richard Kerr brought proceedings to a close 5 minutes early giving the Hinch a perfect 3 out of 3 bonus point wins to start the new season with.
The first main test of the season will come this Saturday when they Hinch travel to face Ballymena.
BALLYNAHINCH: Adam Craig, Philip Wilson, Nevin Spence, Stuart Morrow, Aaron Ferris, James Thompson, Harry McAleese, Chris Stevenson, Neil Hanna (Capt), Gerry Cronin, Chris Napier, Jonny Graham, James Simpson, Joshua Donaldson, Gary Crowe, Matthew Nelson, Jonny Simpson.
ARDS: Chris Agnew, Andrew Todd, Jason Morgan, Taylor Ferguson, David Armstrong, Stuart Paul (Capt), Mark Bamford, Stephen Minnis, Richard Millar, Keith McIlwaine, Andrew Foster, Gareth Quinn, John Mawhinney, Roy Eaves, Matthew Weir, Trevor Devlin, Stephen Jordan.
