Thawing snow on a pitch that was staging its third match in less than twenty fours hours meant that entertaining rugby was always going to be at a premium.

Instonians had first use of the wind in this seconds league clash and were soon on the offensive. Hinch lost a five-metre lineout on their own throw and only sterling work by Mattie Glenn when he held up the Inst attacker prevented an early score. A slippery ball and a pitch that was difficult to scrummage on meant the home side were having difficulty securing first phase possession.

With fifteen minutes gone on one of their rare incursions into Inst territory, Tommy Turner charged down a clearance kick. The ball spun to James McBrair who fed Lloyd Jones, he powerfully broke two attempted tackles on the 22 then slipped the ball to the supporting Richard Orr, in the clear and the try line in sight Reggie showed the pace of a centre to touchdown between the posts. McBrair converted.

Back on the defensive the Hinch were struggling to clear their lines. Instonians with a scrum that coped better in the difficult conditions were asking all the questions. From an Inst put in on the Hinch five-metre line, the referee had no hesitation awarding a penalty try when the defending backrow broke to prevent a certain try. The conversion levelled the scores.

Hinch were soon standing behind their try line again following a kick from the outhalf, the ball bounced awkwardly in front of Jonny Cullen and he failed to gather it cleanly. Their centre following up, kicked ahead and won the race for touchdown. Half time score was then 7:12.

Coach Derek Sufferin in his half time team talk made it quite clear that the wind advantage alone would not win this game. James McBrair had an early opportunity to reduce the deficit after Tommy Turner secured a penalty, but his effort from thirty metres drifted wide. From just inside his own half, McBrair put a neat kick into the corner. Jonny Graham took a clean catch from the lineout and the Hinch drove for the line, for the ubiquitous Lloyd Jones to peel off and touchdown.

With the scores now level, Ballynahinch went for the winning points as pressure from the home pack and Jonny Graham in particular set up a good field position for James McBrair to strike a simple penalty from in front of the Instonians posts.

The rain intensified as the visitors heads dropped. James McBrair kicking the game up the middle and into the corners was causing all kinds of problems for the visitors defence. Appropriately a clever chip kick by McBrair into the in goal area was well read by Pete Glass and he gathered to complete the afternoons scoring.
Two wins form three games in phase two of the league maintains the Hinch’s position in second place. However there can be no relaxing as they host Belfast Harlequins next Saturday.

J.Cullen, P.Glass, T.Turner, J.Coen, M.McCormick, J.McBrair, M.Glenn, J.Graham, P.Orr, L.Jones, M.Graham, M.Davidson, R.Orr, D.Steele, A.Glenn.