‘Hinch Crash To Five-Try UCC

UCC’s excellent backs proved too evasive for Ballynahinch as the Cork students secured a bonus point 32-10 win over ‘Hinch at the Mardyke on Saturday afternoon.

AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION 1B: Saturday, February 20

UCC 32 BALLYNAHINCH 10, The Mardyke

Scorers: UCC: Tries: Brian Derham, Shane O’Sullivan, Phillip Donnellan, Brian Slater, Sean Scanlon; Cons: Sean Scanlon, Andrew Burke; Pen: Sean Scanlon
Ballynahinch: Try: Paddy McAllister; Con: Ryan Bambry; Pen: Ryan Bambry

The ‘College side were 13-3 to the good by the half-hour mark, with winger Brian Derham darting over for an unconverted try in the second minute.

UCC full-back Sean Scanlon and ‘Hinch out-half Ryan Bambry exchanged penalties before flanker Shane O’Sullivan grabbed the hosts’ second try, profiting from a lineout catch and drive in the 22nd minute.

Ballynahinch were struggling to cope with the pace of UCC’s attacks and they required a timely interception from full-back Jonny Cullen and two try-saving tackles from centre David Nicholson to kept the hosts out.

But a third ‘College touchdown arrived in the 37th minute. It came after a series of five-metre scrums and was credited to lock Phillip Donnellan and converted by Scanlon. The seven-pointer moved Conor Twomey’s side into a 20-3 lead for the break.

‘Hinch had a chance to hit back on the stroke of half-time but following a fine break by Robert Greer, Ulster flanker Willie Faloon was prevented from going over in the corner by a textbook tackle from UCC winger Willie Walsh.

‘Hinch, who trounced Dungannon last weekend, did come back into contention with a converted try from former Ireland Under-20 prop Paddy McAllister.

UCC had their blindside flanker Rob Barry sin-binned for a ruck offence, three minutes into the second half, the visitors opted for a scrum and McAllister was driven over under the posts. Bambry added the extras for a 20-10 scoreline.

But two late tries from Scanlon, who put in a very good shift, and scrum half Brian Slater, with replacement Andrew Burke tagging on a conversion, sealed a five-point return for UCC who remain in third place, behind Old Belvedere and Young Munster.

Scanlon roared up into the line and took the final pass to glide over for a 77th minute score, and in injury-time Slater dotted down close to the posts for the fit-again Burke to convert. 

UCC: Sean Scanlon; Brian Derham, Brian Dennehy, Ivan Dineen (capt), Willie Walsh; Ronan O’Sullivan, Brian Slater; Gavin Duffy, Andrew Cudmore, John Ryan, Phillipe Donnellan, Mike Lenihan, Rob Barry, Shane O’Sullivan, James Ryan.

Replacements: Will O’Donovan, Wayne Falvey, Peter Murphy, Eoghan Kennedy, Andrew Burke.

BALLYNAHINCH: Jonny Cullen; Michael Kirkwood, Stuart Morrow, David Nicholson, Kyle Corrigan; Ryan Bambry, Harry McAleese; Chris Stevenson, David McGregor, Paddy McAllister, Jonny Graham, Robert Greer, Michael Graham, Willie Faloon, Stuart Lamb (capt).

Replacements: David Drake, Greg Taylor, James McCall, Brian Mannus, Lewis Johnston.

Referee: David Keane (IRFU)