LEADERS HELD BY DEFIANT RAINEY
Saturday 13th February. Towns Park, Midleton.
Division 3 league leaders Midleton saw their lead reduced to just one point when they were held to a 13-13 draw at Towns Park by Rainey Old Boys.
The East Cork side had beaten all comers, including Queen’s, in their magnificent ten match run before Saturday, but the try-scoring exploits of the students has given them eight bonus points and they will take over top spot if, as expected, they beat relegation certainties Co.Carlow next week at Oak Park in a re-arranged fixture. This unlikely result could prove invaluable to Rainey since some of the clubs below them recorded unexpected victories.
With Richard Paul and James Mc Bride joining the injury list, Rainey had to dig deep to get anything out of this game and they stuck at it throughout to shock the home side with a dramatic comeback that earned them their fair share of the spoils. Midleton may have been a touch complacent, having beaten Rainey 57-10 at Hatrick Park last season, but they knew they were in a game as Rainey dominated the first fifteen minutes.
Out-half Martin put them in a good field position with a raking kick to the corner and was just wide with a drop at goal. The forwards, who worked themselves to a standstill, took the game to the opposition, but Midleton’s strength in the lineout saved them on a number of occasions.
Hitchmough kicked Midleton ahead against the run of play after fifteen minutes. Rainey’s untidy lineout play continued to haunt them, but a lovely 60 yard break from full-back Derby and a chip to the corner by centre Suiter had Midleton reeling. Martin was offtarget with another drop attempt at the start of the second half.
An injury to hooker Sufferin forced Rainey into re-arranging their front-row, ut they continued to hold their own in this department. Ten minutes into the second half some weak tackling allowed a Midleton prop in for a soft try and Rainey captain McCrea was harshly sent to the bin for being pushed over the top at a ruck.
On the hour mark Midleton’s impressive lineout play brought them a catch and drive try after a short spell of pressure and it looked ominous for Rainey, but they did not lie down. From a tap and go, Campbell and Dodunski made ground, but their lineout weaknesses were exposed against strong opposition. Devlin raised Rainey hopes with a 45 yard penalty, but when Rainey replacement Donaghy was yellow carded within two minutes of coming on, Midleton started to turn the screw.
McCrea returned as Rainey needed a score to salvage a losing bonus point and in the final minute Campbell intercepted as Midleton attacked in the Rainey 22′ to break clear. The winger had the pace to outstrip the chasing pack and touch down for a stunning try which Devlin converted. Rainey would probably have settled for a point before this game, but it was to get even better. With scrums uncontested by this stage, Rainey kicked upfield in injury time and gave chase. The clearance kick was charged down by McCrea and a penalty awarded to Rainey. Devlin did the needful to earn his side an extra point.
A superb effort then from Rainey and while everyone played their part,the Man of the Match was undoubtedly flanker Simon Hawe.
TEAM: S.Derby, A.Campbell, N.Suiter, T.Dodunski, R.Devlin, G.Martin, Rodney Paul, S.McDowell, S.Sufferin, N.O’Kane, C.Lavery, D.Dawson, C.Brennan, R.McCrea, S.Hawe. REPLACEMENTS: N.Sanderson ( Derby 60 ), R.Hill ( Sufferin 50 ), P.Stewart ( Brennan 66 ), C.Donaghy ( McDowell 66 ).
AIB League 3 Results: Banbridge 28-14 Wanderers, Co.Carlow 17-26 Nenagh Ormond, Connemara 17-10 Barnhall, Naas 31-14 Instonians, Navan 22-23 Ards, Portadown 11-16 Sunday’s Well, Queen’s University 57-0 Suttonians.
