BALLYNAHINCH 10-8 TERENURE COLLEGE
Venue: Ballymacarn Park
Ballynahinch came from behind to beat Terenure College 10-8 as the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1A pacesetters lost back-to-back games for the first time this season.
‘Nure had started brightly at a windy Ballymacarn Park, using a spilled ‘Hinch lineout to move the ball wide at pace. Key passes from Callum Smith and Colm de Buitléar released Craig Adams to dive over in the left corner.
Ballynahinch went close to from an 18th-minute lineout maul – hooker Claytan Milligan was held up – and their former back rower, ‘Nure’s blindside Conall Boomer, then saw yellow for repeated ruck infringements.
However, the hosts knocked on at their next maul opportunity, and when Bradley Luney went off his feet at a ruck, Smith knocked over the close-range penalty for an 8-0 half-time lead.
‘Hinch began to turn the screw during a rain-hit third quarter. George Pringle claimed a crucial interception in midfield and the hosts’ scrum forced two penalties, allowing debutant out-half Jake Flannery to kick them back downfield.
Greg Hutley got the home side on the scoreboard with a well-struck penalty, coming on the back of Alan Bennie’s sin-binning for diving in off his feet at a ruck.
‘Hinch took the lead in the 65th minute, Flannery and Kyle McCall both carrying well before Mark Best burst onto a Chris Gibson pass to crash over from a few metres out. Hutley added the all-important conversion.
With Flannery kicking well and fellow Ulster representative Marcus Rea a physical presence at the breakdown, ‘Hinch held firm for the remainder.
Centre Best almost bagged a second try in the dying seconds, but he knocked on as he attempted to ground the ball from his own hack through.
Scorers:
Ballynahinch: Try: Mark Best; Con: Greg Hutley; Pen: Greg Hutley
Terenure College: Try: Craig Adams; Pen: Callum Smith
BALLYNAHINCH: Greg Hutley; Harry Hitchens, George Pringle, Mark Best, Aaron Cairns; Jake Flannery, Chris Gibson; George Saunderson, Claytan Milligan, Kyle McCall, Thomas Donnan (capt), Bradley Luney, Zack McCall, Marcus Rea, Jamie Macartney.
Replacements: Josh Hanlon, Nacho Cladera Crespo, Joe Charles, Tom Martin, Conor McAuley, Jack Milligan.
TERENURE COLLEGE: Adam La Grue; Stephen O’Neill, Colm de Buitléar, Peter Sylvester, Craig Adams; Callum Smith, Alan Bennie; Adam Tuite, Levi Vaughan, Andy Keating, Harrison Brewer (capt), Mick Melia, Conall Boomer, Luke Clohessy, Jordan Coghlan.
Replacements: Campbell Classon, Craig Trenier, Matthew Caffrey, Adam Melia, Conor McKeon, Sam Coghlan Murray.
