Seconds hit by 'Hinch comeback

WITH the Ballyclare seniors having no match the spotlight was on the 2nd XV, who led by fourteen points at the break yet finished losers to Ballynahinch III.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Mar 2010, 09:11 BST
Updated 8th Mar 2010, 16:39 BST

Home supporters were in buoyant mood at the interval when Ballyclare turned round leading 17-3, but the County Down men staged a remarkable recovery to run out 25-22 winners.

The game went right down to the wire, ending with a tense finish when skipper Dave Caldwell had a long range penalty to salvage a draw, but he was unable to find range.

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Alan Boyd opened the scoring following a fine forward drive and Weatherup got his name on the card after Stevie Morrow had created the opening. Caldwell goaled both and added a penalty that cancelled out a ‘Hinch similar score.

There was a complete transformation in the second session, when ‘Hinch, aided by some ineffective tackling, crossed for three scores with Ballyclare's reply being limited to an unconverted John McDonald touchdown.

Wing forward Chris Davis stood out in the home pack, while Stevie Morrow and Trevor Clarke shone in the back division.

Thirds: The 3rd XV, under skipper Ricky McMorris, thrashed Ballymena IV 54-0 at The Cloughan, where first half scores by Gareth Byers, Andy Watson and Mark Weatherup all converted by John Wasson who also added a penalty, gave the home team a comfortable 24-0 lead at the turnaround, against a visiting team reduced to fourteen men in the early stages.

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Further scores by Byers and Ricky Carson and a Weatherup brace, with Wasson contributing a further ten points with the boot, gave the scorecard a very lop-sided appearance.

Billy Wright had an outstanding game at wing forward, while Johnny Birkmyre impressed at prop.

Fourths: Ian Luke's 4th XV also returned a winning card with a 48-14 win against Queen's IV at The Dub.

The highlight of this Minor League fixture was a hat-trick of scores by Davy Wallace, with other scores by Michael Bell, Lyle Andrew, Jonathan Barnett and Darren Montgomery, with Cavan Watson and Barnett adding conversions and penalties.

The Man of the Match was wing forward Jason Geerish.

This weekend's fixtures: 1st XV v Carrick, home; 4th XV v Randalstown II, home, while the twice postponed Crawford Cup tie between Ballyclare II and Belfast Harlequins III will be staged in midweek.

Related topics:Ballyclare