Cork Constitution 12 Ballynahinch 25

AIL Division 1A

James Kirk reports

Ballynahinch travelled to face league titans Cork Constitution without most of their Ulster contingent and received a late blow when in form full back Pierce Crowe picked up an injury in training on Thursday night. Adam Craig handed starts to Ryan Connolly at lock, Peter Heasley in the back row and Matthew Booth at centre while Conor Rankin returned from injury to fit seamlessly into the full back jersey. Stephen Campbell and Adam Bennett were rewarded for their brilliant form in the second fifteen with call-ups to the squad.

Conditions in Cork were benign compared to the wet and windy weather further north and the mobile Ballynahinch pack set about their work with gusto in the first half as they aimed to secure quick ball for their dangerous backs. Early pressure was rewarded when a fine break from Rankin allowed him to put Aaron Sexton into space and there was only one possible outcome as the rapid winger cruised in untouched from thirty metres.

Ballynahinch continued to dominate proceedings and turned pressure into points when scrum-half Chris Gibson sniped over from close range after a series of attacks from the away side which originated in a fine 50:22 kick from Sexton. A Rankin penalty pushed them further ahead before the inevitable fightback from Con. Buoyed by a Ballynahinch yellow card, they drove over from a lineout maul to close the gap but another Rankin penalty in first half injury time gave his side breathing space at the break.

The game was won in the third quarter as the Hinch forwards went toe to toe with their fired up Con counterparts. The physicality and commitment on display was superb and with Mark Best and Booth adding their muscle to proceedings from midfield it wasn’t until past the hour mark that the home side reduced the gap with an unconverted score. The Ballynahinch bench saw them home in the final quarter as they closed out the match in relative comfort, refusing to allow their opponents any way back and adding another try. Bradley Luney and Best engineered a break from their own half and Con were pinned deep in their own territory before outhalf Paul Kerr capped a fine display with a blindside try in the corner after an attacking scrum to clinch the win and give the jubilant travelling support four points to take with them on the long journey home.

It is worth remembering that last season at the same venue Ballynahinch shot into a two score lead before indiscipline lead to flurry of yellow cards and the concession of fifty points. Craig will be pleased that they have learned lessons from both that defeat and the flat performance at Belvedere in round two.