Crawford Cup: Grosvenor II 20 Ballynahinch IV 24

Ballynahinch IV’s withstood a second half comeback by Grosvenor II’s to lift the Crawford Cup at Ravenhill yesterday afternoon.

Hinch opened the scoring on 9 minutes when winger Josh McMullan broke through the Grosvenor defence to score,  James Gillespie adding the conversion to give Hinch a 0 – 7 lead.

Following a couple of misfiring lineouts Grosvenor hit back with a long range penalty from Timothy McMullan but Ballynahinch extended their lead late in the half when Chris Orr chased up a grubber to score under the posts. Gillespie again converted and stepped up again minutes later when Mark Douglas collected the restart to sprint clear for Hinch’s third try.

Grosvenor’s woes continued when Timothy McMullan’s penalty attempt with the last kick of the half came back off the post leaving the score at 3 – 21 in Hinch’s favour at the break.

The Belfast side got back in the game five minutes after the restart when out half Stuart McIlwaine went over close to the posts and with Timothy McMullan converting it was game on with the score reading 10 – 21.

Timothy McMullan and Gillespie swapped penalties to take the score to 13 – 24 before Hinch’s Josh McMullan was yellow carded with 10 minutes to go to set up a barnstorming finish.

James Bowan crossed for Grosvenor almost immediately and Timothy McMullan converted to reduce the arrears to 20 – 24 but the Belfast side failed to create further chances and Hinch held on to win the game.

Final score: Grosvenor II 20 Ballynahinch IV 24

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