Ballynahinch kept their Junior Cup aspirations alive under the Upper Malone floodlights. With their 1stXV bench payers available both sides fielded strong squads, indeed the Hinch with virtually no injury problems had the luxury of Richard Orr and Pete Glass as substitutes.

In typical student fashion Queens took the game to the Hinch and had the better of the early exchanges. Forwards and backs combined with several attacks deep in the Hinch half. The visitors defensive patterns were well organised and kept the students at bay.

Hinch were first to take the lead on the fifteen minute mark – an advantage they never lost. From a scrum on the Queen’s 10 metre line Matty Glenn went blind, committed the Queens winger to the tackle, passed to Niall McBriar to put him in the clear to come round and touchdown under the posts. James McBriar added the extras. Hinch were soon on the score sheet again when James McBriar broke up the left wing, kicked ahead, and used his pace to win the race for the score.

Queens were being run ragged by powerful forward and incisive back play and soon fell further behind. Tommy Turner made ground up his wing and passed to James Gillespie for him to kick ahead, win the chase and coolly wait for the ball to cross the line to touchdown.

Nineteen nil down Queens rallied and spent the rest of the half camped in the Hinch 22. After several penalties the referee made in clear that the next one would be a yellow card. Phil Orr was the unlucky individual when he strayed offside at a ruck and Queens made effective use of the next ten minutes. Just before the break the student forwards mauled the ball and Mark Scott over the line for a converted score. Half time 7 – 19.

Game on, Queens continued to press the Hinch line and reduced the deficit with a try by their inside centre. The conversion drifted wide. Phil Orr returned and his presence settled the Hinch who knew that the next score would be crucial.

James McBriar turned down a very kickable penalty to kick for the corner for ‘Hinch’s “banker” play. Michael Davidson caught clearly and a gleeful Matty Nelson emerged from the bottom of the driving maul to claim the score.

Pete Glass replaced Mark Score and Richard Orr came on from Rob Greer with Matty Nelson moving to hooker and David Steele into the back row. With a point to prove, Orr’s introduction brought a new dimension to the Hinch scrum. A hook against the head gave the Hinch backs the chance for James Gillespie to flip an inside pass to Pete Glass and his pace carried him to the try line to complete the scoring.
In the end this was a comprehensive victory for the Hinch. But Queens played a full part in an entertaining encounter for players and supporters alike. Clogher Valley are up next in the final group must win match. A tough task, however anything is possible with this talented Hinch team.

M Scott (P Glass), N McBriar, J Gillespie, J Coen, T Turner, J McBriar, M Glenn, L Jones, R Greer (R Orr), P Orr, T Mannus, M Davidson, M Nelson, D Steele, A Glenn