AIL Match Report: Ballynahinch 38 – 12 Old Belvedere

Energia AIL Division 1 (a) Round 17 .

Ballinahinch RFC; 38, Old Belvedere RFC; 12.

Sat March 28th, 2.30pm K .O.

Ballymacarn Park, Co. Down, Norn Iron.

Match Referee: Ross Whitfield, IRFU.

‘Clinical Ballinahinch beat Old Belvedere by 6 tries to 2, to take the spoils in this penultimate match of the AIL season’.

With both clubs safe from the relegation dog fight and outside the range of the playoffs, this was a somewhat anti climatic end of season affair.

Sun showers and a wind blowing towards the club house end of this north /south aligned 1sts pitch at Ballymacarn park, greeted both sets of players on kick off. Old Belvedere elected to play into the club house end, and, with the breeze at their backs.

For the opening exchanges it was, however, the home side that shone brightest. On 4 mins and ironically off a retreating scrum in the Old Belvedere half , Ballinahinch centre and player of the match, Paul Kerr fed left wing Aaron Sexton who skipped around the flailing Old Belvedere defensive line to dot down to the right of the posts . The centre added the extras to put the Home side ahead early doors , 7 zip.

Six minutes later the Ballinahinch pack came again off their own scrum in the visitors half . Scrum half Chris Gibson fed outside centre Matthew Booth taking a delightful line to slice through the Old Belvedere midfield and glide home to the left of the posts. Paul Kerr converted to extend the Home sides lead to 14 points and leave the visitors in deepest doo doo with only 10 minutes gone on the match clock!

The first quarter was pretty much dominated by Ballinahinch whom were proving very efficient in the red zone with their rampant forwards pack, ably assisted by flanker Zac Mc Call and number 8, Bradley Luney doing a lot of damage up front with strong carries, slowing down Old Belvedere ruck ball, and proving a right royal nuisance at the breakdown!

However it wasn’t all Ballinahinch and the black and whites showed that they weren’t here just to make up the numbers with a strong scrummage on 13 mins shunting the Ballinahinch pack back down nearby mountview road! In this regard, the visitors front row of Hugh O’Malley, Luke Mc Laughlin and Ryan ( ‘ Rhino’ ) Mc Mahon were having a field day at scrum time, getting the nudge over their opposite numbers.

Similarly, and only minutes later, a line out take at 4 from Old Belvederes Paddy Dowling off a David ( ‘Wilko’ ) Wilkinson penalty touchfinder to the hosts half , provided the platform for an excellent Old Belvedere maul some 20 – 25 meters upfield , putting the visitors on the front foot. Old Belvedere went through the phases, punching hard and up the middle winning a penalty for their efforts on 14 mins. From a pick and go at close quarters the Old Belvedere forwards jammed their way over the try line with wing forward, Josh Ericson claiming the try. David ( ‘Wilko’ ) Wilkinsons’ touch line conversion hit the right upright and drifted wide. 14 – 5.

 

While the visitors scrum was going places their line out coughed up some vital possession as seen on 22 mins when off a hard won penalty the line out mal functioned denying them a launch pad for an attack.

On 33 mins a thundering tackle from Old Belvederes tight head Prop Ryan ( ‘Rhino’ ) Mc Mahon dislodged ball and man, transitioning defence into attack. One minute later Old Belvedere Centre Hugh Reddan broke upfield fending off tackles in heavy traffic and providing the catalyst for an old Belvedere attack in enemy country . Old Belvedere put width on the ball attacking the Ballinahinch try line from right to left where their pack created the gaps to allow David ( ‘Wilko’ ) Wilkinson walk in a try to the left of the posts . His touch line conversion, once again and remarkably, hit the right upright but this time dropped between the sticks , 14- 12. Game on?

Old Belvedere were hit with a sucker punch just on the stroke of half time when they failed to mind the ball gifting Hinch entry into their 22 off a penalty which Paul Kerr kicked deep into the visitors half. The Ballinahinch pack won clean possession from the throw in at 4 from lock Ryan Connolly and then went to work in the van driving over the try line from close range , with Josh Hanlon getting the touchdown . Paul Kerr navigated a tricky conversion to put the hosts further ahead at halftime , 21 – 12.

 

Half Time 21- 12

 

Old Belvedere came out for the second half determined to get the all important 1st try in order to prevent the hosts creating an insurmountable lead. A Morgan ( ‘Moggie’ ) Merdith kick chase into the Ballinahinch half in the 1st minute won a penalty which they elected to scrummage. The Old Belvedere forwards took it up, punching hard and making solid ground inside the Ballinahinch half. There then followed a 12- 14 minute period of sustained Old Belvedere possession and pressure in the hosts 22, with scrum and lineout hinching closer to the try line out wide and on the left. Ultimately they decided to pick and go from a penalty some 10 meters out but were held up over the line allowing Ballinahinch to kick and clear their lines. Full credit was due to Ballinahinch for an excellent defensive set in their own 22 denying Old Belvedere a way back into this match in this crucial 3rd quarter.

It was 54 mins before Hinch worked their way out of their own half for a cut of their own in Old Belvedere territory. A big carry by the equally large unit that is the Ballinahinch tight head prop, Tom Mc Allister got the Home support going and with it the Ballinahinch team whom responded in kind. A couple of minutes later Ballinahinch won a penalty at the breakdown which Centre Paul Kerr nudged into touch deep into Old Belvederes half. With line out possession secured pack power did the rest with a ruthlessly efficient maul over the line and the try from Josh Hanlon to enable the hosts register the all important 1st try of the second half and put more daylight between the teams at 26-12.

On 60 mins with Old Belvedere on the attack in the ‘Hinch half a swift transition from defence to attack saw Paul Kerr intercept and race deep into open country looking odds on to go the distance only to be hauled down with a last ditch try saving tackle from Old Belvederes Morgan ( ‘Moggie’ ) Meredith . This reprieve was, however, short lived, as Ballinahinch once again demonstrated their ruthlessness in the red zone when, on 62 mins, left wing Aaron Sexton scorched Home skinning the Old Belvedere scramble out wide and into the left hand corner to the delight of the Ballinahinch faithful. 31 – 12.

 

There was to be no let up from Ballinahinch who once again showed their maul efficiency crowning the scoreline with another close range try from replacement Quinn Armstrong on 74 mins, this time converted by Paul Kerr to hand the visitors their heaviest defeat of the campaign and avenge the round 2 defeat at Ollie Campbell Park. Full time at Ballymacairn Park, 38 – 12.

‘Lordie ‘