With Ballymacarn Park bathed in sunshine and in perfect condition this top of the table Senior League clash should have been an exciting contest between the Division 1B clubs. Instead, the game was littered with poor skill levels, silly mistakes and bad decision making from both sides.
The visitors from County Antrim, playing with the wind advantage and towards the clubhouse in the first half, took the lead in the 7th minute when centre Alistair Fraser ran onto a lovely chip ahead from out half Martin Irwin to set down behind the posts. David O’Hara added the extras to take the Braid men 7 points clear.
The game was a very stop-start affair, continually punctuated by handling errors. The Hinch did manage to settle and using their pack started to build a few phases of decent play. Ballymena infringed on several occasions which enabled Harry McAleese to kick into the left hand corner to set up an excellent attacking field position.
The lineout was secured and play was move wide across the face of the visitors posts where the Ballymena defence held firm, but when the quick ball was released across the field again Stuart Morrow ran a great line to cut through and put Aaron Ferris clear to run in for the score. McAleese added the difficult conversion into the wind to tie the scores at 7 points apiece after 13 minutes played.
The remainder of the first half was scrappy to say the least with neither side gaining any long-term advantage. However O’Hara was unlucky with a penalty attempt in the 33rd minute, his effort striking the upright.
In the 35th minute a promising Hinch attack led by fullback David Nicholson was brought to a halt when the Ballymena winger Paul Pritchard deliberately prevented the ball from being released. Referee Michael Black flashed the yellow card sending Pritchard to the sidelines for 10 minutes. The opportunity to attack with 15 men against 14 was squandered when the kick into the corner went touch-in-goal.
Despite being down to 14 men Ballymena finished the first half the strongest with O’Hara converting a penalty goal in the 39th minute for a narrow 7-10 halftime lead.
The second half was no better with the Ballymena looking the stronger side. In the 46th minute a great run from winger Paul Pritchard was halted by a fantastic chase and try saving tackle from the Hinch fullback David Nicholson. The Braid men did manage to increase their lead in the 49th minute when they were awarded a penalty try after a retreating Hinch scrum infringed as O’Hara was about to score. O’Hara kicked the extra 2 points to taking Ballymena 7-17 clear.
Hinch managed to hit back immediately when centre Robin Harte picked up a spilled ball on the Ballymena 22 to race in under the posts with McAleese converting to close the gap to 14-17 with eleven minutes of the second half played.
Ballymena scored again in the 55th minute, this time it was a well worked move as the ball was flashed across the Hinch 22 centre Alan Smith cut a great line to bisect the Hinch defence and race in behind the posts. O’Hara converted to increase the visitors lead to 14-24.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes the Hinch had pushed Ballymena deep into their half of the field. Considerable pressure was applied on the visitors line but it held firm although they conceded numerous penalties in doing so. With 3 minutes remaining Ballymena replacement flanker Ross Hackney was yellow carded for persistent infringing on the visitors 5-metre line. Hinch quickly moved the ball and second row James Simpson managed to blast his way past Alan Smith to cross behind the posts. McAleese added the extras to tie the score at 24 points apiece.
This Saturday Harlequins will visit Ballymacarn Park and a much improved performance will be required as the squad build for their first AIL fixture which is now just two weeks away.
