Stags leave it late against UCD

Claytan Milligan, Ethan Graham and George Pringle were among the try-scorers for Ballynahinch in their win over UCD. Read the full report in the current issue.

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Ethan Graham scores the first Hinch try on Saturday. Picture by John Dickson.

AIL Division 1

Ballynahinch 24 UCD 19

By James Kirk

TEN minutes into the second half of this sunlit contest versus an understrength UCD side struggling at the foot of the Division 1A table, leaders Ballynahinch looked to have shaken off a lethargic first half performance with a second maul try from hooker Claytan Milligan taking them into a two score lead. 

A comfortable victory should have been inevitable but the reality was very different.

UCD completely dominated territory and possession for the final half hour of the match, scoring two tries to level the score as the game reached injury time. 

Ballynahinch gave away a succession of penalties and managed to turnover the ball every time they had a chance to clear, putting themselves under needless pressure.

However, they gathered themselves for a final assault and kept the ball alive just enough for Kelvin Hamilton and skipper Bradley Luney to put George Pringle into space down the touchline for the winning score.

It was hard on the students but the fact that the home team had enough quality to win despite a poor performance was not lost on the large crowd of supporters.

The first half was a fairly tepid affair with Ballynahinch failing to reach the heights of recent weeks and a succession of penalties and harsh yellow cards led to stop-start match.

James Humphreys made his debut at out half amid four changes to the backline while John Dickson came in at tight head and Kyle Gill at lock forward.

Ethan Graham finished a fine team move to put his side ahead and the home side butchered a few chances, allowing UCD back into the match with a score of their own. 

Milligan’s first maul try put his side ahead at the break and at that stage the high drama of the finish could not have been predicted. 

A fifth bonus point win in a row has catapulted Ballynahinch four points clear at the top of Division 1A. Their nearest challengers Clontarf are up next at Ballymacarn Park on 7 December and there is a tough trip to Terenure the following week. 

If Hinch are still sitting on top of the pile after those fixtures, then perhaps they can dare to dream.

 

Ballynahinch 1-21:

Matthew Burke, Claytan Milligan, John Dickson Jnr, Will Hopes, Kyle Gill, Declan Horrox, Peter Heasley, Bradley Luney (Capt), Conor McKee, James Humphreys, Ethan Graham, Paul Kerr, George Pringle, Ben Moxham, Conor Rankin, Kelvin Hamilton, Callum Smyth, Tom McCallistair, Ryan Connolly, Ruaridh Meharg, Matthew Booth.

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