On Saturday, in game one of a triple header at the Kingspan Stadium, Ballynahinch faced Portadown in the Academy Cup. A deceptively strong swirling wind, for the most part blew diagonally down the pitch.

Portadown got off the mark quickly, in the 4th minute when John McQuitty, scored in the right corner, to lead 5-0.

Ballynahinch responded in the 8th minute, with a Ben Wilson try, converted by Matthew Sweetlove to lead 7-5. Both teams were willing to play open rugby, moving the ball out the backs at nearly every opportunity.

On 27 minutes Kyle Gill bounced off tacklers to score midway out on the right to put Ballynahinch 12-5 up.