Perfect conditions at Ballymacarn Park greeted both sides on Saturday. Hinch were in search of another bonus point win to keep the pressure on UCD who faced a tough assignment in the colours match against Trinity which was played at Donnybrook. If the Hinch could win at Ballymacarn and Trinity overturned UCD in Dublin, the Division 2 title would go to Ballynahinch. If UCD won they would take the title.
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The home side kicked off playing away from the clubhouse during the first 40 minutes. In the 2nd minute Ryan Bambry kicked a penalty into the corner after Michael Graham had been held back as he charged into the line. The catch in the left hand corner was taken by Chris Napier and Harry McAleese made the most of a gap at the tail odf the lineout to burst clear and touch down under the posts. Ryan Bambry converted to take the home side 7 points clear.
Two minutes later the Hinch scored again, this time fullback Adam Craig made a great line break putting centre Ian Whitten clear and he dived in under the posts. Bambry converted to race the home side into an early 14-point lead.
The Dubliners looked a little shell-shocked but they did have an opportunity to open their account in the 10th minute when the Hinch were pinged for not rolling away in the tackle, but Ian Cassidy’s shot at goal was pushed wide of the mark.
Two minutes later poor Hinch defence on the blind-side on halfway gave the visitors an opening. Scrum half Cassidy fed winger Stephen Walsh who made great ground down the left wing when he was chased down he gave an inside pass to centre Alan Thompson. The pass was juggled in the air and the Hinch were guilty of ball watching allowing Thompson to wriggle free to run round and touch down behind the posts. Cassidy added the extras to make the score 14-7.
Hinch scrum half Harry McAleese was yellow carded for persistent infringing in front of the Hinch posts. Cassidy’s conversion in the 22nd minute brought the visitors right back into the game at 14-10.
Wesley continued to build their momentum and when Cassidy took a quick tap penalty in the 27th minute the Hinch failed to retreat the required 10 metres. Cassidy dispatched the ball into the corner to set up a catch and drive. The ball was secured from touch and the Dubliners executed a neat lineout move at the front, which created a gap, which Cassidy strolled through to score. The conversion was missed to leave the visitors in front 14-15.
The Hinch men had the final say in the first half. In the 40th minute McAleese fed Bambry from the back of a scrum, the Hinch outhalf attacked getting across the gain line passing outside to Ian Whitten in support, the big centre crossed at the posts for his second try. Bambry added the extras to take the Hinch into a 21-15 half time lead.
Cassidy missed an early opportunity to add points to his team’s tally but he pushed his attempt wide in the 41st minute. However, he did make amends 3 minutes later with another attempt to take the score to 21-18.
Hinch secured their bonus point try in the 52nd minute when winger Robin Harte picked up a loose ball and attacked down the right wing and almost made the line. McAleese moved the quick ball wide where Chris Stevenson was stopped a metre short of the line. The ball was recycled again; this time Ian Whitten took it at pace to make it over in the corner for his hatrick. The touchline conversion from Bambry was right through the middle to take the score to 28-18.
Hinch continued to pressure the Wesley defence running in their 5th try in the 62nd minute, skipper Neil Hanna crossing under the posts for the score after good work from James Simpson and Stuart Morrow had taken play deep into the 22. Bambry added the extras to take the Hinch 35-18 clear.
The game in the last 10 minutes became a bit scrappy with tempers at times becoming a bit frayed. In the 74th minute Hinch skipper Neil Hanna and Wesley second row Philip Hosie were yellow carded after a dust up in the Hinch 22.
The visitors had the final say with a try in the 78th minute by hooker Robbie Bannister after some basketball style rugby from Wesley in the Hinch 22, Bannister running over in the right hand corner for an unconverted try to complete the scoring, the Hinch recording another bonus point win 35-23 the final score.
After the final whistle all thoughts turned to Donnybrook in Dublin where Trinity and UCD had been playing their final match. Hinch will remember that Trinity had defeated Lansdowne two years ago in the final game of the season to allow the County Down men to finish second that season and gain promotion into Division 1. The Hinch needed Trinity to pull the stops out and defeat UCD, and incredibly this is exactly what they did, recording an impressive 32-21 victory and as a result the Hinch finished as Division 2 Champions 3 points clear of UCD.
There was a great buzz around Ballymacarn Park as players and supporters celebrated after a well-fought campaign. Well done to coaches Derek Suffern and Charlie McAleese, skipper Neil Hanna and all the players who contributed to this success.
The record books will show Ballynahinch played 15, won 14, drew 0, lost 1. They scored 524pts, conceded 242pts, scored 11 try scoring bonus points, recorded 1 losing bonus point to making a total of 68 league points. During this seasons league campaign they scored 74 ties, a most creditable haul which must feature very high in the history of AIL stats.
They 1stXV have one game left to play this season and that is the Ulster Senior League clash with Dungannon. So far this season the Hinch have won all the USL games with try scoring bonus points and lead the table with maximum points. Dungannon have three games left to play, their final game being on the 30th April against the Hinch at Ballymacarn Park. A home win will be enough to claim the Stevenson Shield for the second time in the Club’s history.
