STIRRING COMEBACK FROM RAINEY. Saturday 6th March. Report by James Barr.
There was an amazing turnaround at Hatrick Park where Rainey Old Boys ran in twenty-five unanswered points to beat sixth placed Instonians 39-17. With three of the bottom four clubs winning, Rainey needed this bonus point victory to make absolutely certain of staying up. Result of the day was at Chambers Park where Portadown beat Midleton to keep alive their hopes of avoiding the relegation play-off.
A Rainey victory looked highly unlikely when Instonians scored right on half-time to turn around 17-14 ahead with the breeze in their favour, but the home side at last began to vary their tactics and see some light at the end of the tunnel. With No.8 and captain McCrea a steadying influence and Hawe everywhere in the loose, Rainey’s hard-working forward unit assumed control and the tackling improved. By the end, the Shaw’s Bridge side were reduced to a ragged-looking outfit .
Rainey were without Tony Dodunski who failed a late fitness test and they almost conceded a try within seconds of the kick-off as a chip into the corner caused problems for retreating wing Devlin. Instonians then missed a penalty, but they revelled in the running game they like to play as Rainey’s very poor kicking game played right into their hands. After eight minutes impressive full-back Devitt fielded a clearance on halfway and weaved his way through a static defence to score a great try which out-half Clotworthy converted. Devitt’s searing pace continued to cause Rainey all sorts of problems, but after fifteen minutes good play by Suiter and McCrea earned Rainey a penalty which Devlin kicked from 40 yards. Prop O’Kane then gathered an Instonians chip in his own 22′ to launch a counter attack which ended when wing Campbell was impeded after kicking ahead on halfway. Devlin kicked the resulting penalty.
Instonians then kicked a penalty, but Rainey were handed an opportunity when a long kick by Rodney Paul was touched by an Instonians player before it went dead. From scrum possession centre McBride cut inside to set up a ruck near the visitors’ line and O’Kane powered his way over to put his side 11-10 in front. Rock solid in the scrum, Rainey worked their way into another great attacking position and opted for a scrum when awarded a free kick. McCrea picked up and drove to set up a ruck from which the ball was moved left to create an overlap. An Instonians knock-on saved a certain try, but referee Gary Greer chose not to award a penalty try and Devlin landed another fine kick to increase Rainey’s lead.
Rodney Paul was dispossessed after some good handling had taken Rainey into Instonians territory and the visitors again exposed some ineffective tackling to swoop to the other end where a little knock-on went unnoticed as they side-stepped their way through for a vital score, former Ulster centre Mallon getting the touchdown and Clotworthy adding the points.
The second half provided the crowd with some great entertainment. McCrea drove into the corner and,having been awarded a penalty,Rainey opted for a scrum. As they inched their way forward towards the goal line the Instonians pack disintegrated,but once again a penalty try was not awarded. Not to be outdone, they kept the pressure on for O’Kane to grab his second try with Devlin converting. O’Kane, hampered by an injury, left the fray at this stage. Three minutes later the home crowd was again in raptures as McBride galloped through to score beneath the posts after out-half Martin had chipped over the Instonians backline and regained possession fifty yards out.
Instonians were still a threat at this stage and Rainey had a let-off when Devlin did well to get his hand to the ball to prevent a try. Referee Greer then blew for an Instonians knock-on when, had he waited half a second for any advantage, Campbell would have been clean away for a try. Devlin obliged again from 40 yards minutes later to cushion the blow. The bonus point arrived two minutes later when Instonians made a handling error and Campbell gleefully took advantage to run in from 65 yards. Martin was wide with a drop at goal and Instonians missed a penalty before they had a player yellow-carded for preventing a quick penalty which was brought forward ten yards. Devlin punished this transgression to stretch Rainey’s lead.
Suiter was yellow-carded for killing the ball as Instonians got to within striking distance, but Rainey defended stoutly to hack clear and be awarded a penalty when McBride was held back.
TEAM : R Paul, A Campbell, J McBride, N Suiter, R Devlin, G Martin, R Paul, S McDowell, S Sufferin, N O’Kane, D Dawson, C Lavery, C Brennan, S Hawe, R McCrea.
REPLACEMENTS : R Hill (O’Kane 46), P Stewart (Brennan 68), C Donaghy (Sufferin 68), D Pugh (Campbell 68).
