Champions Armagh brought down to earth in season opener
Winning start: Ballynahinch coach Brian McLaughlin BACK-to-back SONI Premier League champions Armagh kicked off their title defence with a 24-7 defeat to Ballynahinch at Ballymacarn Park.
Both sides came into the round one fixture at considerably less than full strength but a determined Hinch, who last won the trophy in 2015, were much the better side.
An encouraging start by the visitors led to a converted try from their captain Chris Colvin after 13 minutes but in an evenly contested first period, Brian McLaughlin’s men reduced the arrears to 5-7 by the interval.
Their try came after the ball was twice swung across the pitch before flanker Tom Martin picked up and charged in from five metres out.
After the restart home captain Aaron Cairns put in a hard tackle and managed to scramble the ball from the bottom of a ruck before an excellent kick and chase led to the second score which Paddy Wright converted.
A break by the highly impressive Rhys O’Donnell from just outside the Armagh 10-metre line resulted in the young scrumhalf weaving past three defenders before giving winger Conor Phillips the simple task of running in. Wright again converted and home pressure towards the close saw prop Kelvin Hamilton picking up around the ‘22’ and race in to dive over with two defenders hanging on.
In another Division One fixture, newly promoted Queen’s also gained five league points when three tries from winger Josh Fullerton helped them to a 33-26 victory over Ballymena.
The students were 19-5 ahead at the interval but Ballymena’s second half fightback earned two bonus points in defeat.
In the other game Malone and Banbridge, were 6-6 at half-time and finished with an 18-18 scoreline. Malone’s Jack Milliken and Bann’s Adam Doherty each contributed 13 points — a try, two penalties and a conversion.
Ballynahinch and Queen’s have five points, Malone, Banbridge and Ballymena two and Armagh none.
City of Derry have been enduring a lean couple of seasons but were the only team to gain five points in Division 2 following their 24-21 success against Bangor.
Their winger Paddy Blankerhassett and Bangor’s Mike Ferguson each touched down twice. Michael McCusker also had two in Rainey’s 22-14 win at Omagh while Belfast Harlequins overcame Dungannon 24-12.
So Derry have five points, Rainey and Quins four, Bangor one and both Omagh and Dungannon are yet to register.
Elsewhere over the weekend, Ulster came just short in their bid for silverware at the Under-18s festival in Limerick.
A revamped format this season saw the entire series played at the University of Limerick, allowing the players to experience the likes of mental skills seminars and a Q&A session with Munster and Ireland stars Conor Murray and CJ Stander in between game days.
Concluding yesterday, the Ulster under-18s schools side, who so impressed last year, were beaten by their Leinster counterparts to lose their inter-pro crown.
In a high-scoring conclusion, Leinster won 32-22 after Ulster had led 15-7 at half-time. Conor McKee and Tom Stewart had both crossed for Ulster before the turn, with Nathan Doak adding five points with the boot. A converted score from Conor Rankin came in the second but Leinster ultimately prevailed.