Standing on the firsts pitch at Uprichard Park on Saturday my mind drifted back to March 14th 1979. The Hinch were a Junior League section three side on the up and Bangor were one of Ireland’s top rugby clubs. It was a second round A.I.B. cup match with the home side red hot favourites to lift the trophy. I can vividly picture Raymond Gourley scampering into the corner to put us 13:11 in front with fifteen minutes to go. Those last few minutes were the longest of my playing career and any Hinch player or supporter who was there that day will never forget one of the Hinch’s finest hours. Ballynahinch and Bangor’s fortunes have contrasted markedly since that day which demonstrates how things in life cannot be taken for granted.

On this occasion the Hinch had another very good day at Uprichard Park running in five try’s to keep their Junior Cup hopes alive. This was a highly entertaining game with the visitors showing skill and commitment right from the kick off. Playing against the breeze, Ballynahinch produced a couple of competent handling moves only to be stopped short by resolute defending by the home side. Bangor had the first points on the board with a penalty converted by their fullback after the Hinch backs were caught offside at a ruck.

Jonny Viner and Mark McCormick were both held up following two periods of constructive play. The home side’s defences were breached when Lloyd Jones made good yardage to offload to non-blonde McCormick to score halfway out. Bangor were soon under pressure again as the Hinch front row, composed of Richard Orr, David Steele and Andy Glenn, began to make their presence felt. The other Mark McCormick crashed into the far corner for second score following a fine backline move.

Another infringement by the Hinch backs at the loose was punished by the Bangor full back converting another penalty to reduce the visitor’s lead. Michael Davidson ably assisted by Mark Byrne, making his competitive debut for the seconds, were ruling the lineouts, and the fine supply of quick ball was put to productive use by the Hinch backs. The best score of the game came from an episode of intense pressure from forwards and backs alike to set up the position for James McBriar to deftly put a little grubber kick into the path of Lloyd Jones to touch down by the posts. McBriar added the extras to leave the halftime score 6:17.

The visitors started strongly in the second half and following a touchline hugging run by the blonde Mark McCormick he off-loaded for Lloyd Jones to bag his second try. As a contest the game was now over and play lost its momentum, as both teams were content to go through the motions. The non-blonde McCormick did produce a score of note when he sprinted form forty metres out to score under the posts, James McBriar converted. Bangor did manage a consolation try near the end when their number eight barged over in the corner.

Coach Ian Dornan was delighted with the teams work. The pack won a plentiful supply of quality possession, and Matty Glenn and James McBriar are a real handful on the front foot. Following a couple of month’s layoff it was great to see David McGregor play a half, the Hinch will look forward to seeing more of him.

Team: M. McCormick, J. Viner, M. McCormick, G. Taylor, C. Perry, J. McBrair, M. Glenn, L. Jones, P. Orr, M. Geddis, M. Byrne, M. Davidson, R. Orr, (I. Wallace), D. Steele, (D. McGregor) A. Glenn.