Dungannon were extremely fortunate to escape from this match with a win, which takes them to the top of Division Two, after an error-ridden performance which scarcely had the mark of champions in waiting.
Dungannon made the running early on and led 16-3 thanks to tries by Michael Patton and Robin Morrow and two penalties by Ashley Blair. They seemed to be coasting but Andy Ward hadn't read the script and after an interception he raced in from halfway to make it 16-8 at the break.
Ballynahinch played most of the rugby in the second period, with Philip Nelson stroking over two penalties to narrow the gap, as Dungannon became more errorprone by the minute.
Dungannon's complacency was finally punished with six minutes to go when winger Graham Kyle scored in the corner and Nelson added a fine touch-line conversion.
Dungannon played in a frenzy in an attempt to rescue the match and Peter Sandford got them out of jail with a try towards the end. Blair stroked over a penalty at the death to put an undeserved gloss on a dismal display.
DUNGANNON: R Morrow; J Davies, J Bell, A Clarke, P Sandford; A Blair, S Bell; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, G Leslie, C Simpson (capt), K Walker, M Patton, C Farrell, J Hastings.
BALLYNAHINCH: S Seymour; G Clements, J Cook, P Nelson, B Kyle; D Callaghan, R Erwine; R Steele, J Gibson, I Dornan, M McCuskey, J Shanks, M Rodgers (capt), A Ward, B Wilson.
Referee: P Harrower (Lisburn).
