25 September 2004

BHRFC 5s 41  Ballynahinch 5s 21

Buoyed by the outstanding performance in the YM tournament, the 5's headed to Ballynahinch
under new management. After the summer coup by the Henderson and Hynds heavy mob, we were
expecting a much more professional and smoothly run regime this year.

This didn't exactly happen, with the new captain not turning up until ten minutes before kick off and one
car load seen heading for the M1 to get to Ballynahinch. Our linesman was drafted in to play prop one hour
before kick off and the full back was apparently 'in Ballynahinch somewhere'. The only glimmer of hope was
in the press reports that a 4th fifteen prop was having to play for the Hinch's firsts. This must have meant
we would be playing against the blind school. As it happened not far from the mark.

The Hinch were a man short for the first half although the mad laws regarding dropping a number eight
from the scrums makes it a nonsense. It has been said in years gone by the 5s had two dicks in the
centre. Today it was actually fact but they gave very un-dick-like performances, Richard from the 6s played
particularly well breaking the line regularly and involved in most of our good moves. Hinch had little answer
to our wide game and tries soon came. Padder, Richard 2, Ally, Garth, Alan the Greek and finally Chick
all crossed in a game where our continuity play was excellent. It impressed the Hinch so much that on leaving
the pitch one was heard to say 'that wasn't a bad effort against a very well drilled side that trains together week
in week out'. Personally I didn't know the names of half the team and still don't as you can probably tell. Training
is something done once since 1997.

Hinch did come back in the second half once Rob had gone off and they scored three tries from close in. It was
never in doubt though. Another, this time correct, observation came when Marcus made a break from 10 with 50 metres
to run. A cry from a Hinch prop ' he doesn't have the gas' was right on the money and luckily Ally was on hand
to finish it off. Marcus may not have had the gas but he certainly had pretty familiar fumes, courtesy of a lock-in
on Friday night. 3 conversions out of 7 was a Gilpinesque return.

Point of order : did anyone else get chaffed nipples from our huge Calvert logo on the new shirts?

Man of the match: Richard (not Finlay) in the centre
Dick of the day : Arron Hynds, dropping the ball over the line, turning up late, no beers etc etc
 
1. Arron 2. Jamsey 3. Arthur 4. Neil 5. Alan the Greek 6. Peter, 7. Wally 8 Chick 9 Rob Calvert 10 Marcus
11. Ally 12 Ricky Finlay 13 Richard 14 Garth 15 Padder