RUGBY: Ballynahinch take spoils against Dungannon

DUNGANNON 21 BALLYNAHINCH 45
SONI Ulster PremiershipSONI Ulster Premiership
SONI Ulster Premiership

Ballynahinch deservedly took the spoils in this opening Ulster Senior Premier League game at Stevenson Park.

Yes, Dungannon will rightly feel aggreived by two poor refereeing decisions which yielded 14 points to the Co Down side, but the Tyrone side spurned too many opportunities when it mattered to make it a closer contest.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hinch took the lead after six minutes with an uncinverted try through fullback James McBriar - this after early Dungannon pressure, with the visitors capitalising on an error.

Dungannon should have crossed themselves four minutes later, but spurned a good chance although centre Jake Finlay did get them on the scoreboard with a peantly after 13 minutes.

Dungannon had an edge at scrum time, but thier lineout spluttered and they were never able to capitalisxe on the back of the former.

Impressive outhalf Ross Carlisle dotted down for a second Hinch try, this time Justin Rea converting, but another penalty from Finlay kept Gannon in it at 6-12.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dungannon enjoyed some pressure deep in the Hinch half and on 27 minutes a scrum option after a penalty award yielded a good try for centre Seamus Mallon. finlay missed the conversion which left the hosts trailing by a point.

Then two dubious decisions saw Ballynanich scored two tries, both by Gratton and each converted by Rea and it was 26-11 at the break.

Subtitute Johnny Blair and Stuart Orr both crossed for Hinch midway through the second half, Chris Quinn converting one, but Dungannon should have made more of the opportunities they had created.

Gratton’s try and Quinn’s conversion sealed the result for Hinch on 28 minutes, but to Dungannon’s credit they ralled in the last 10 minutes and were rewarded for their efforts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Andrew Mills scorched through for a try after good play from fullback Paul Armstrong and then after No 8 Peter Doran had won ball on ground Arsmtrong, Treanor , McMahon and Mallon combined to put Armstrong in for a potentially the try of the game.

DUNGANNON: Paul Armstrong, Darren Simpson, Seamus Mallon, Jake Finlay, Andrew Mills, John Buckley, Jack Ravey; Glenn Sinnamon, Daniel Maxwell, Rodney Bennett, Bryan Davidson, Ross McCaughey, Stephen Todd, David Leyburn, Peter Doran.

BALLYNAHINCH: James McBriar, Billy Greeg, Jordan Gratton, Justin Rea, Alan Ferris, Ross Carlisle, Chris Gibson; Johnny Blair, Andrew Harpuer, Stuart Orr, Jack Simpson, Stuart Evans, Keith Dickson, Ben Pentland, Michael Graham.