Ballynahinch lost narrowly to a strong Instonians outfit in Friday night’s league game at Shawsbridge.  Hinch fielded what is likely to be the line-up that will feature in Saturday’s must-win Junior Cup game against Clougher Valley.  Opponents Instonians started with their 1st XV bench players, and other first teamers returning from injury.

The first maul saw the home side drive the visitors back 25 metres, as the hinch struggled against a much heavier pack.  James McBriar had an early penalty fall short and for most of the half, Ballynahinch were on the defensive.  Slick handling by the Inst backs caught hinch offside at the breakdown and their out half kicked the first points of the game with ease.

The visitors then fell further behind to a converted try when the speedy Instonians winger rounded his opposite number.  Another penalty goal had the hinch reeling.  With a retreating scrum and a misfiring line-out, Ballynahinch were living on scraps and any possession that did reach the backs was wasted by a succession of dropped passes.  Scofield, the sizeable yet mobile Instonains prop found himself in space and with the try line beckoning, it took a last-ditch tackle from the gutsy Richard Orr to prevent a certain score.
Inspired by Orr’s heroics, hinch settled.  Lloyd Jones and Matty Glenn worked overtime at the base of the scrum, manufacturing possession for their talented backline.  Gradually Ballynahinch began to fight back. Pete Glass won a penalty from a darting run deep into Instonians territory and James Gillespie slotted over to put the hinch on the scoreboard.  The half-time whistle sounded with the visitors trailing 13-3.

As the second period got underway, it became evident that hinch had enough of being bossed around.  They worked themselves into Instonians territory and were to spend most of the half there.  Gillespie reduced the deficit with a well struck penalty, but that was short-lived as Instonains restored their advantage with a penalty of their own.

From the restart, Instonians failed to gather the ball.  The hinch pack pounced on it and drove for the line.  A superb maul crossed the try line with Toby Mannus claiming the score.

From being dead and buried, hinch found themselves only a try behind.  However, their hopes were dealt a blow when David Steele was sent to the bin for killing the ball, and Instonains added the three points from the penalty.
Ballynahinch got their second try moments later.  Niall McBriar collected the ball near his own 22 and set off on a mazy run.  Showing a combination of pace and power, McBriar rounded man after man.  When he was eventually apprehended, he neatly offloaded to David Graham who touched down near the posts.  James Gillespie added the extras.

Another Gillespie penalty goal put hinch in front for the first time with ten minutes remaining.  Instonains now began to ask questions as the hinch defended as if their lives depended on it.  Deep into injury time, Pete Glass made a try saving tackle in the corner but a hinch forward was adjudged offside at the breakdown.  The crowd held it’s breath as the coolest man on the pitch, the Instonians Number 10, stepped up for the penalty.  He made no mistake and the ball sailed between the posts for the match winning score.

An absorbing match, one in which Ballynahinch looked like being on the receiving end of a hammering.  In the end, a near sweet victory was snatched away with the last kick off the game.  Hinch may have been defeated, but this was a moral-boosting victory against an Instonians outfit showing many first team players.  

Team: P.Glass, N.McBriar, J.Gillespie, J.Coen, M.McCormick, J.McBriar, M.Glenn, L.Jones, D.Steele, P.Orr, T.Mannus, M.Davidson, R.Orr, D.Graham, A.Glenn.