Hatrick Park was bathed in warm sunshine for Rainey Old Boys’ Ulster League opener against neighbours Ballymena,who made the most of their numerical advantage late in the first half to build up a comfortable lead which they had little trouble holding on to.Rainey battled gamely to claw their way back into the contest,but it was to be a frustrating afternoon for them as the Eton Park side took the points on a 27-12 scoreline.
From the first scrum of the game Rainey moved it wide before kicking ahead to force a miscued clearance which caught half the visitors’ team offside and out-half Gavin Martin gave the home side an early lead.Ballymena were soon on level terms when a catch and drive earned them a penalty from close range which posed scrum-half Mc Cluggage no problems.Rainey looked sure to score when scrum-half Sciascia burst through,but his offload was not held by supporting flanker Heaney.Ballymena then missed a clear opportunity when Rainey were carelessly caught offside in midfield.The standard of rugby nosedived as a succession of errors and the referee’s whistle turned the game into a stop-start affair. Ballymena looked dangerous until wing Clarke grabbed the loose ball,but he was quickly flattened as he shaped to clear and Sciascia was sin-binned for a professional foul.Ballymena opted for a scrum in front of the posts and from the next ruck Mc Cluggage nipped in for a try.With Wilson at No.9 and Dawson now on the wing,Rainey were dealt another blow right on the stroke of half-time.They appeared to have survived after Ballymena had created an overlap,but flanker Pritchard slipped out of Clarke’s clutches to score,the conversion taking the score to 17-3.
If the first half was dull,then the second was probably even worse.Play was halted on countless occasions for little injuries and handling mistakes,yet only three minutes of added time were played,much to the relief of the spectators present.Mc Cluggage edged his side further in front,with Martin replying for Rainey.Despite the wizardry of Sciascia,the Old Boys just could not string anything together.Two more sweetly struck kicks from Martin gave Rainey a fighting chance,but they were unable to create any try scoring chances as they made switches up front.Ballymena made sure of victory when they kicked to the corner where a catch and drive brought them another converted try.The scorer was flanker Paul Smyth,who played for Rainey in his student days.
TEAM : R.Paul,P.Wilson,M.Mc Clelland,W.Montgomery,A.Clarke,G.Martin,P.Sciascia,S.Mc Dowell,K.Donaghy,N.o’Kane,P.Boyle,P.Stewart,P.Heaney,D.Dawson,S.Hawe.
REPLACEMENTS : A.Harbinson ( Mc Dowell 50 ), S.Sufferin ( Donaghy 50 ), J.Mc Bride ( Mc Clelland ), S.Mc Dowell ( O’Kane 74 )
RAINEY O.B. 11 19 21 Ballymena 11
In the Second XV League,a couple of defensive lapses were to cost Rainey O.B. 11 as they slipped to a 21-19 home defeat at the hands of Ballymena 11.A young Rainey side might have won this game with a bit of luck,but at full strength they could develop into a useful outfit.
The boot of out-half Simpson helped Rainey to a 6-0 lead.Ballymena opened their account before debutant Rainey left-wing Dillon intercepted only to be denied by the last line of defence.Harbnson was very prominent in a Rainey pack which lacked recognised second-rows and found quality possession hard to come by.With both scrum-halves under pressure,there was little back play.Some good forward drives gave Rainey encouragement and a vital ankle tap tackle halted Dillon’s progress just when he looked set to break clear.Centre Sanderson was involved in a fine touchline move which ended with prop Hall crossing for a try.Simpson converted and added a long range kick just on half-time to leave Rainey 16-6 ahead.
A penalty and a try brought Ballymena closer and with nine minutes remaining they added another to edge ahead for the first time.Simpson struck again to raise home hopes,but Ballymena finished strongly to take the honours.
A 3rd XV panel travelled to Judges Road in Derry for the George Tees Cup competition.Colin Patterson’s boys enjoyed mixed fortunes in a tough qualifying group in which they defeated Inishowen and Omagh,but went down to Ballymoney and the favourites U.U.C.Centre Caolin Moran and scrum-half Conor Magee were the pick of the backs,while up front prop Ryan Deehan and lock Ian Patterson did well.
On Saturday,Rainey have another very difficult fixture at Ballymacarn Park where Ballynahinch rarely taste defeat.Last week they came from 18-0 behind to beat a new look Queen’s side 22-21 at Upper Malone.Kick-off 2.30 p.m.The 2nd XV game is at 1.00 p.m.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURE FO RAINEY III XV v ARDS III XV
CLOGHER II XV 29 – 27 RAINEY II XV
20th August 2011
Scorers: Simpson(1*Try, 3*Pen, 1*DG), McMurray(2*Try)
Photos – CLICK HERE
The annual Second XV game between Rainey and Clogher was a strange affair, Clogher winning 29-27 after leading 22-0 at the end of the first quarter.
With the breeze in their favour, Rainey simply failed to get out of the blocks until they found themselves on the receiving end of a hammering. Two penalties and a drop goal from out-half Simpson reduced the deficit to 22-9 by half-time. Rainey then bossed most of the second half, with flankers McGuckin and Dysart prominent. Two tries from centre McMurray and a penalty and a solo try from Simpson put them in front, but other chances were not taken. They were made to rue these missed opportunities when an individual effort won the match for the Junior 1 men.
CLOGHER I XV 12 – 22 RAINEY I XV
Derek Lee Memorial Fixture 20th August 2011
Scorers: McBride(2*Try), Clarke(1*Try), Martin(1*Pen, 2*Conv)
Photos – CLICK HERE
Rainey Old Boys have usually found Clogher Valley a tough nut to crack in the past and it was no different at The Cran on Saturday when the teams met in the annual Derek Lee Memorial fixture. Rainey played second fiddle to the Juniors up front for much of the game, but were able to put away their opportunities to win 22-12.
In the absence of some of their senior stalwarts, Rainey had the chance to integrate some new faces into the squad. Hardened Valley No.8 Ryan Wilson, a dual status player with Malone, had his big, physical pack fired up for the occasion and they wasted no time in imposing themselves on a relatively inexperienced Rainey eight. A little kick through put them in a great field position and their supremacy in the set piece helped them to a converted try after 8 minutes. To add to Rainey’s problems, tight-head Hill had to retire with a damaged cheekbone.
Rainey replied two minutes later with a penalty from out-half Martin and towards the end of the first quarter, centre McBride stepped inside to go in for a try at the posts, Martin converting. They continued to move the ball around in style, but conceded a penalty in front of the home posts.
Second-row Stewart made a couple of timely tackles as the Fivemiletown men came more into the picture, but Rainey were back in business when they scored a brilliant try after 33 minutes. Impressive left-wing Clarke brought play infield on halfway before Rodney Paul launched a blindside attack which saw McBride go over after some quick hands and great support. Valley ended the half well, but lacked the accuracy to trouble the Rainey defence.
Rainey had the breeze behind them after the break, but the third quarter produced nothing of note. The Valley pack engineered a catch and drive try after 58 minutes to leave only three points between the sides, but another Rainey injury in the front row led to scrums being uncontested from then on, thus negating Clogher’s advantage in this department. Rainey found lineout ball increasingly hard to come by as well, but when Clarke swooped to intercept fifty yards out on 65 minutes, there was no catching the Coleraine lad. With a ten point lead, Rainey, for whom another summer capture Peter Wilson had a sound game at scrum-half, were content to keep it simple in the closing stages.
TEAM : R.Paul,R.Murray,M.Mc Clelland,J.Mc Bride,A.Clarke,G.Martin,P.Wilson,S.Mc Dowell,S.Sufferin,R.Hill,D.Dawson,P.Stewart,A.Harbinson,S.Hawe ( capt. ),P.Heaney.
