Rainey Old Boys RFC Notes: LATE DELIGHT FOR RAINEY IN THE WEST! I XV 20 v Sligo RFC I XV 18 & Pictures v Banbridge RFC

RAINEY RUGBY

RESULTS – 10 Dec.
AIL DIVISION 2 B Sligo 18 – 20 Rainey O.B.
CONFERENCE 4 Derry Y.M. 5 – 75 Rainey O.B. 2
JUNIOR 4 Belfast H.S. 2 5 – 73 Rainey O.B. 3
Mc CAMBLEY CUP Grosvenor 4 8 – 20 Rainey O.B. 4

Christmas arrived early for Rainey Old Boys when an injury time try from replacement wing Peter Wilson gave them a dramatic 20 – 18 victory over Sligo who were the better side for most of a drab encounter at a dark,cold Strandhill where the wind blew down the Hamilton Park pitch towards Sligo Bay.They admit that they were decicedly fortunate to escape with four points,yet deserve great credit for turning down a close range penalty chance and instead opting for a scrum which brought them a vital win.Their large travelling support were in raptures at this turnaround which leaves them in second spot behind Cashel going into the festive break.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES V BANBRIDGE I XV
While Rainey were without Shiels,Mc Bride and Harbinson,they welcomed back prop O’Kane after a ten week absence and got away to the best possible start when flanker Heaney evaded two challenges to run in a first minute try which out-half Martin converted.They continued to test the home defence which soaked up the pressure and gradually the Sligo pack assumed control,retaining possession well and posing problems for Rainey out of touch,Boyle had to retire with a heel injury to be replaced by Hall who went on to give a good account of himself in the second row.Sligo kicked a penalty after 23 minutes,but then had a player yellow carded.Paul and Sciascia made ground,as did O’Kane and Heaney as Rainey strove to take advantage,but the usual fluency was not there.They had to wait until the 38th minute for a badly needed score.Full-back Paul launched a counter attack from the Rainey 22′ where the ball was moved wide to wing Campbell.He fpund Martin on his inside on halfway and took a return pass to go through for a great try.In the last minute of the half,a handling error allowed Sligo to establish a perfect attacking position,but Rainey defended well to hold on to their 12-3 lead.
Rainey started the second half well,but their lineout continued to splutter and when Butler sliced through to score at the posts,Sligo must have felt that a first home win was within their grasp.The Old Boys were in trouble when a penalty put Sligo in front and Sciascia was sin-binned.Martin gave them the lead again after missing a more difficult kick,but three minutes later Sligo cashed in on Rainey mistakes to score what looked like the match winning try through Lafitte.Rainey were not amused when a succession of injuries to front-row players led to scrums being uncontested.Play became even more ragged as the final whistle neared.Rainey were able to fnd another gear as they drove at the Sligo line in time added on.When they were awarded a penalty not far from the posts,they declined to settle for the draw and went for the winner.Following a scrum and two rucks,they went wide for Wilson to cross in the corner and totally alter the mood of the crowd.
TEAM : R.Paul,A.Campbell,W.Montgomery,D.Mc Murray,A.Clarke,G.Martin,P.Sciascia,S.Mc Dowell, S.Sufferin,N.O’Kane,N.Rankin,P.Boyle,D.Dawso.P.Heaney,S.Hawe.
REPLACEMENTS : R.Hall ( Boyle 15 ) R.Hill (O’Kane 33 ) N.O’Kane ( McDowell 65 ) K.Donaghy ( Sufferin 65 ) P.Wilson ( Clarke 75 )

Other results : Banbridge 53-5 Ards Barnhall 24-9 Sunday’s Well Boyne 19-19 Highfield Cashel 21-3 Nenagh Navan 22-12 Armagh Suttonians 13-15 Naas
The Connemara v Wanderers game will be played on Jan.14.

A ver poor Derry Y.M. side were no match for Rainey O.B. 2 at Drumahoe where the visitors ran in eleven tries in a very one-sided affair.Centre R.Devlin kicked ten conversions.Derry looked good in the opening minutes,but once the Rainey forwards warmed to the task,they had no answer.The winners’backs moved it well throughout and their offloading game produced results.Centre M.Mc Clelland and full-back P.Cassidy claimed hat-tricks while wing P.Dillon,flanker C.Mc Ivor,second-row T.O’Hagan and hooker C.Heaney got one each.Out-half K.Irvine also picked up one as well as making Heaney’s try with a delightful crossfield kick.Outstanding in the pack were McIvor,Hutchinson and O’Hagan,whose ball carrying and strong runs put their colleagues on the front foot.

FIXTURES for Sat.17 Dec.
1st XV v DUNGANNON Ulster League home 2.30 p.m.
2nd XV v DUNGANNON 2 home 1.00 p.m.
4th XV v COOKSTOWN away