AdairscorehelpsHinchwinMalonederby

THE day that was in it more than suggested that the scoreline would be low at Ballymacarn Park and therefore it was no surprise that only a collective 18 points were scored.

For home side Hinch, though, it was a huge result as they hit the halfway point by beating former leaders Malone 11-7 and signed off until the New Year by rising to fourth.

Even though Hinch are now level on 24 points with Malone, the Gibson Park side’s losing bonus point sees them hold on to third due to their superior points difference.

Plenty for Malone to ponder then over Christmas before they host Hinch in the back-to-back Ulster derby clash when the AIL returns and much for coach Paddy Armstrong to work on after his side’s third consecutive defeat.

Hinch, with Kyle McCall, Johnny McPhillips, Peter Nel- son, Tommy O’Hagan and Iwan Hughes all released from Ulster, went 6-0 ahead after two McPhillips penalties but then scored a crucial try just on half-time.

McCall made a break which put former Ulster squad member Ross Adair over the line.

The score went unconverted and Hinch led 11-0.

Malone, however, were unable to make the inroads they would wanted and their only score came from a penalty try after McCall had been yellow-carded which allowed them their losing bonus point.

In the other Ulster derby, City of Armagh’s 15-14 result from their dramatic comeback at Banbridge had contrasting impacts for both sides in the table.

Coach Willie Faloon’s squad took the four points which elevated them two places to second — though they also have accumulated 25 points as have leaders St Mary’s College — while Bann slipped two spots and will spend the festive period down in a lowly seventh before January’s return game at the Palace Grounds. Bann, who had James Hume, Rob Lyttle, Greg Jones and Jonny Stewart all playing, had led 14-0 with less than 20 minutes to go before surrendering the game.

A penalty try had put Bann 7-0 up at half-time and then Lyttle’s try and Adam Doherty’s conversion made that 14-0.

But with less than 10 minutes left, an Andrew Willis try and Ryan Purvis penalty put Armagh 14-8 behind before a late penalty try saw Armagh snatch the game.

Ballymena finally moved off the bottom of the table to ninth and traded places with Buccaneers after winning 27-22 in Athlone.

It was the Braidmen’s third straight win and gives them much hope for the return game at Eaton Park.

A penalty try and scores from David Whann and Michael Stronge, along with 10 points from Tim Small’s boot got them there.

Results: 1B: Hinch 11 Malone 7, Buccs 22 Ballymena 27, Banbridge 14 Armagh 15. SATURDAY’S appalling conditions were the dominant factor at Upritchard Park and Bangor could have few complaints as visitors Omagh collected four challengingly-earned points.

Fourth-placed Accies ground out a valuable 19-13 result in 2C by game-managing the gale and driving wind with much more nous than their hosts in what was, nevertheless, a highly competitive Ulster derby despite the atrocious weather.

Though Bangor’s David Bradford scored a tremendously worked second half try, after the home side had kept the ball through multiple close-in phases, which put them 13-9 up after Oscar Yandall’s conversion, the fact was they had not used the elements adequately in the opening half when the weather was at their backs.

Leading just 6-3 at the break looked to be dangerously inadequate for Bangor and so it proved to be as the Accies pinned their hosts back and, even though Bangor battled hard, the visitors took the few chances on offer.

Luke Hanson’s try from a tap penalty nudged them in front — Scott Elliott having already added two gale-assisted penalties to his first half effort — and though Bangor threw everything into getting back, their hard-working pack had to endure the ignominy of conceding a late pushover try from Matthew Clyde which ended any doubt over the result.

It was no way for Bangor to sign off, until the sides meet again in the AIL’s back-to-back rounds — Thomas Mellon Park is the venue in January — and they slipped a spot to sixth which looks highly damaging for their play-off hopes.

Also in 2C, struggling City of Derry were beaten at home 26-7 by leaders Ballina.

In 2B, Rainey Old Boys kept their excellent form going by seeing off Dungannon 29-0 at Hatrick Park.

This resounding Ulster derby result ensured a sixth win in a row, and second maximum point victory, for coach John Andrews’ squad who remain in third.

FirsthalftriesscoredbyOisin Quinn and Mickey O’Neill saw Rainey lead 12-0 in what were highly challenging conditions.

After the sides had changed ends, Rainey somehow managed the deteriorating weather to drive on towards their bonus point through touchdowns from Jason Bloomfield and Andy Magrath

George Fritz crossed for Rainey’s fifth in injury time with Dungannon’s misery at the result being added to as they have now ended up bottom of the table.

Two points ahead of them, in ninth, are Belfast Harlequins who have also just won twice this season.

Quins had no joy from their visit to Sligo, losing 24-14 and dropping to ninth.

In 2A, fifth-placed Queen’s University lost 13-10 at Dolphin, which was the students’ fourth straight loss.

Results: 2A: Dolphin 13 QUB 10

2B: Rainey 29 Gannon 0, Sligo 24 Quins 14 2C: Bangor 13 Omagh 19, Derry 7 Ballina 26.