Colin Donaldson Reports

John McMurty Front Row Union Photo Credit

Ballynahinch produced a superb second half display in tricky conditions to bring home some long-awaited silverware for the youth section. The big Hinch team had to contend with losing front rower Thomas McPhilips to injury on Ulster duty and an electric Coleraine back division which would pounce on any mistakes. They started well, playing with the wind on their backs and taking a deserved eight-point lead through a well-executed maul try from Thomas Kirkwood and a James Lewis penalty.

However, Ballynahinch soon found themselves behind. Coleraine scored three unanswered tries to take the lead as half time approached but crucially Ballynahinch hit back before the break to give themselves a lifeline. Prop Callum McCargo collected a goal line dropout and burst through the Coleraine defence to score and get his team to within four points as the teams turned round.

The conditions were now firmly in Coleraine’s favour but Ballynahinch began the second half with a bang, taking the lead following a fantastic move which ended with McCargo giving the scoring pass to winger Jackson Buchanan. Coleraine hit back immediately to regain the lead, capitalising on some sloppy play from the County Down men.

The rest of the match proved to be a masterclass in how to play into the wind as big carries from the Ballynahinch forwards and quick taps from replacement scrum-half Ethan Donaldson proved impossible for Coleraine to defend. Jack Patterson, the hugely influential Number 8, was prominent throughout and put the finishing touches to some great work from his forwards to regain the lead for his side. Coleraine began to lose their discipline as they were starved of possession and a tap penalty from Donaldson saw Joshua Woods put Buchanan in space with the lively winger stepping his way to the line for his second try. This score saw Ballynahinch lead by eight points going into the final few minutes of the match and the Ballynahinch pack, led by skipper Adam Blain, saw their team home with a tremendous display of carrying, controlling possession and keeping their lead intact until the final whistle and finishing off a good season with some well-deserved silverware.

Ballynahinch 1-22

Daniel Kinchin, Adam Blain (Capt), Callum McCargo, Thomas Kirkwood, Maxwell Buchanan, Tiernan McCann, Matthew McAuley, Jack Patterson, Sean O’Hanlon, Jack Fallon, Jackson Buchanan, Owen Hamill, James Lewis, McKenzie Graham, Kevin Rogan, Luke Kinnear, Charlie Brown, James Wilson, Sam Hoey, John Brown, Ethan Donaldson, Joshua Woods.

Travelling reserves

Alex Blaney, Euan Cranston, Luke McIlwaine