A league game away to Ballyclare on a delightful spring day should have resulted in a great display of running rugby, but unfortunately not. Infact the teams showed a great lack of inspiring rugby.
 
Ballyclare had 2 converted scores on the board before Hinch realised they were in a game. After a succession of penalties for Ballyclare continually off their feet or deliberately killing ball the Ballyclare centre was yellow carded and was given 10 minutes on the touch line. Rob Irvine took the 3 points on offer leaving the score 14-3 to the home side.

From the restart the Hinch started to play for the first time, kicking to the corner after they were awarded penalty after penalty. Unable to cross the line, Ballyclare defended well and turned over Hinch on their line.  

The 3’s continued to battle with Martin and Murdock putting pressure on the Clare 10 only for the referee yellow card Murdock for a late tackle, sending him to the bin for 10 minutes.
 
Ballyclare cleared their lines after 10 minutes of sustained pressure, Hinch now starting to play their normal brand of rugby. The lineout was stolen and the Hinch carried ball up field only to be turned over, Ballyclare moved ball wide and kicked deep into the Hinch 22. The ball was secured only for the Hinch to be penalised for a stupid infringement when they had already secured the ball and Ballyclare claimed a further 3 points 17-3 to Ballyclare.
 
The next dead ball signalled the end of the first. A Hinch put in to a 7 man scrum was taken against the head, moved to midfield where Alan Dickson put in a big hit on the Ballyclare centre, this time another yellow card, for no use of the arms. Luckily for the visitors the Ballyclare penalty was pushed wide leaving the County Antrim men 17-3 ahead at halftime.
 
Hinch started the second half the same as the started the game, another soft Ballyclare try conceded.  25-3 unconverted.

This was a wake up call for the Hinch and they started to play some decent rugby again, Irvine taking the first offer of 3 points.  25-6

The fight back continued and a 5 metre scrum saw Alan Dickson canter over the Ballyclare line totally untouched. Converted by Irvine 25 -13. Hinch now playing a more composed and structured game, with Turner making some damaging runs through the Ballyclare midfield.  Ball was being moved well, and recycled quickly.

A lineout 15 metres from the Ballyclare line saw the Hinch pack maul the ball up field for Thomas Tuner to emerge from the pile as the try scorer. Irvine failed to convert leaving the Hinch trailing 25-18.  

With 10 minutes on the clock David Martin’s men needed to continue their comeback. From the restart the Hinch soaked up a barrage of Ballyclare attack turning over the ball and clearing danger down the field only for the Ballyclare winger knocking on the fumbled catch. A scrum on the Ballyclare 22 saw Rob Irvine pop up on the blindside to cross over untouched.

Hinch now in front for the first time in the game after Irvine converted his own score 25-22.
 
With 2 minutes left Ballyclare came back strongly. The Hinch defence held well only for another stupid infringement giving the Ballyclare place kicker a chance to level the scores. Luckily for Hinch the kick didn’t have the legs. McCavery gathered the kick and setup the ruck, Ballyclare were then penalised again for off the their feet, a continual infringement of the day and the Hinch kicked dead and the ref blew for full time.

This was a disappointing display by a sleepy 3rdXV, they now play Carrick 2XV on Wednesday night at Ballymacarn Park in the quarter final of the Crawford Cup, kick off is at 7.30pm. All support is most welcome.