LATE TRY SEES DERRY HOME
For the second week running,City of Derry 2 just pipped Rainey O.B. 2 on the post at Judges Road with a late try.This time,a place in the last eight of the Towns’ Cup was the prize and,while Rainey will again be disappointed at having lost,they can draw comfort from having scored four tries in a 27-26 defeat.
Rainey played their best rugby of the season in the first half,scoring three tries,the first from Mc Clelland who formed a useful partnership with Mc Glaughlin in the centre.Some superb offloading helped scrum-half Donaghy to the first of his two tries as No.8 Paul Heaney again confirmed that he is more than ready to return at 1st XV level.Rainey led 19-5 before Derry grabbed a vital converted try just before half-time.
A half-time switch in the Derry front row changed the course of the game.Keeping it tight,they clawed their way back into it.Rainey added a fourth try through second-row Mc Kernan,converted by full-back Dillon,but slack finishing cost them two certain tries and Derry sneaked ahead when several backs joined in to help their forwards maul their way over less than five minutes from the end.
But a thrilling contest was not quite over yet.When Rainey won ruck ball in midfield some 35 yards out,a lazy runner got in the way as Donaghy sought half-back partner Cassidy.Rainey obviously expected a penalty award to be the consequence,but the referee turned a blind eye to it.
FOURS IMPLODE IN FINAL QUARTER
If ever there was a case of a team snatching defeat from the jaws of victory,it was at Hatrick Park where Rainey O.B. 4 played some lovely rugby,but fell apart in the closing stages to allow visitors Ballyshannon to escape with a smash and grab injury-time 22-20 win.Rainey were well in control and should have been out of sight before conceding two very soft tries.With the alarm bells ringing,they fluffed another great chance and were made to pay the penalty well into time added on.The conversion was the last kick of a very open game.
Rainey fielded a stronger side than the one that lost 38-0 in Donegal in October and Ballyshannon had no answer as Rainey ran them ragged with some excellent back play.Strong-running centre Mc Bride sent them on their way and they might have added another before Martin kicked a penalty.Full-back Mc Vey nearly got away before he supported Mc Bride on the inside for another great try.
Mc Bride picked up his second try to put Rainey 20-3 in front before play became very scrappy and physical.It was stop-start stuff as both sides expressed their bewilderment at some baffling decisions.Rainey conceded an intercept try to put themselves on the slippery slope and two individual errors cost them sixty yards of ground to hand the initiative to Ballyshannon.
Towns’ Cup Derry 2 27-26 Rainey O.B. 2
Minor : South Rainey O.B. 4 20-22 Ballyshannon
FIXTURES – 9 Feb.
1st XV v Armagh Ulster League away
2nd XV v Harlequins 2 home
4th XV v Donaghadee 3 Cup home
