Ballynahinch RFC 33pts, City of Derry RFC 29pts
The Ulster Senior Cup Q/Final saw Ballynahinch RFC from All Ireland League Division 1A take City of Derry RFC from AIL Division 2B on Saturday last at Ballymacaron Park, Ballynahinch. Derry were leading by 24pts to 8pts with less than twenty minutes to go and in total control of the game following two try’s from Stepehen Corr and one from David Graham. The Judges Road men showed some naivety in the last eighteen minutes and conceded three try’s and were beaten narrowly despite another try from centre David Graham.
City of Derry conceded an early penalty to allow Ballynahinch into an early lead at 3pta to nil. Derry were gradually playing themselves into the game and Ross Harkin, Cathal Creggan and Rory Squires were a formable front row well supported by Chris Cooper and Adam Bratton in the second row. Derry produced good play from their back row of Stephen Corr, Steven Dickey and Craig Huey on fifteen minutes and when Hinch went offside Neil Burns kicked the penalty to level the scores at 3pts all.
The Judges Road men received a setback on twenty minutes when they lost full back Ali Beckett to injury which resulted in Andrew Semple coming into scrum half with Simon Logue moving to full back. Semple showed his class within minutes when from a ruck he mesmerised the Hinch back line with two exquisite side steps to release winger Ian Bratton but foul play from Ballynahinch stopped the move as they lost a player to the sin bin.
Derry were on top now and a strong scrum on thirty minutes saw Stephen Corr who was having a great game touch down for a try and when Neil Burns converted the Derry men were 10pts to 3pts ahead. Semple and Corr combined to set Derry attacking after thirty five minutes and Corr was on hand at the end of the move to touch down for his second try and Neil Burns converted for a 17pts to 3pts lead. Ballynahinch got themselves back on the scoreboard just before half time when following a lineout they moved the ball to score an unconverted try wide out to leave Derry leading at the break by 17pts to 8pts.
Derry started the second half in some style when after three minutes their backs Andrew Semple, Neil Burns, Neil Brown, Stuart Simpson and Simon Logue combined to setup David Graham for a try which Neil Burns converted for a 24pts to 8pts lead. Derry Head Coach Terry McMaster brought David Ferguson and John Burns from the bench after fifteen minutes but they did not last long on the pitch as both had to retire injured.
Ballynahinch got themselves back into the game on twenty two minutes when they secured turn over ball at ruck time on the Derry 10 meter line. Hinch moved the ball quickly as Derry were caught out of position as the Down men got in for a converted try and Derry’s lead was 24pts to 15pts. Ballynahinch won possession from the kick-off and miss tackles and loss of concentration saw Hinch carry the ball the length of the pitch for an unconverted try, Derry’s lead was cut to 24pts to 20pts with the momentum now with the Co Down men.
Ballynahinch converted a penalty for off side on thirty two minutes and they were within a point of Derry at 24pts to 23pts. Hinch were in front on thirty six minutes as they won a lineout and moved the ball right along the backline quick thinking by their scrum half as they moved the ball left and their out half squeezed between two Derry tacklers in midfield to touch down for a converted try and Hinch were ahead by 30pts to 24pts.
Hinch stretched their lead by 3pts with a penalty on thirty nine minutes for a 33pts to 24pts lead. Derry won the kick-off and quickly moved the ball left and David Graham touched down for an unconverted try to leave to leave the final score 33pts to 29pts and a win for Ballynahinch.
City of Derry RFC Team V Ballynahinch; ; Ross Harkin, Cathal Creggan, Rory Squires, Adam Bratton, Chris Cooper, Craig Huey, Steven Dickey, Stephen Corr, Simon Logue, Neil Burns, Ian Bratton, Stuart Simpson, David Graham, Neil Brown, Ali Beckett. Replacements; David Ferguson Eoin Ferry, John Burns, Andrew Semple, Richard McCarter.
