Saturday last saw the Kinetica sponsored “Devels” travel to Hatrick Park to play hosts, Rainey Old Boys, The Devels have been plagued by injuries since the start of the season playing matches with 12 players (starting with 15!) and then these players not being available due to these injuries, but on Saturday after a weeks break they were at full strenght with players returning, although one was to fall to his war wounds again in this match.
The Devels started well, they had worked on their breakdown play and this paid off with a try on 3 mins by Paul Rea, conversion was missed 0 – 5.
Rainey came back and ran some hard lines but the Quins defence stood up to the task although a few first up tackles were poor but as the game progressed these fell away. Quins scrummage also held up well as did the lineouts but as the game progressed Rainey managed to match the visitors.
On the 10 min mark good forward play released the backs resulting in Finton Hillyard scoring close to the posts, converted by Mark Best 0 – 12, Hillyard was to score some 2 mins later well supported on the wing by Michael Scholes who acted as a decoy giving Hillyard the space, converted by Best, 0 – 19.
Rainey reformed after this and attacked Quins line, they stayed within 5 mtrs of the line for some time but could not breach the defence. They became more aggressive at the breakdown resulting in some turnover balls but again the Quins defence held. On the half hour mark Quins outhalf, Chris Henderson intercepted a Rainey Pass and ran 70 mtrs to score under the posts, Henderson converted his own try, 0 – 26.
After the restart, the Devels hung onto the ball and some excellent forward work saw Fullback, Peter Foley hit a line and scoring under the posts, converted by Best, 0 – 33.
The final say of the half was to be to Flanker Daryl Marshall who broke through a tackle and ran 60 odd mtrs to score, converted by Best making halftime score 0 – 40.
The second half started well for the home side who had not by any way given up, they had strenght in their pack and good backline to score tries and this was shown 3 mins into the half with a converted try 7 -40.
For the Quins team it was to be a tail of two halves, not result wise, but in the way they scored, this half was to be from counterattacking. After the restart Rainey played out of their half but a charged down kick by “Devels” captain Laurence Babe saw Chris Henderson regain the ball and score out wide on the right wing, conversion missed, 7 -45.
Some 15 mins into the game saw the forwards turn over Rainey possession and good handling between backs and forwards saw Kyle Adams go over for an unconverted score on the right wing, 7 – 50.
Another turnover opportunity saw Peter Foley make an excellent breakthrough to score on the right wing, conversion missed, 7 – 55.
Play settled down but Rainey were still intent on playing with their passion and started to dominated the scrummage, but this may have been due to Quins Prop Mark McGrath nursing an injury and resulted in him leaving the pitch.
Rainey went through a stronger passage of play but again turnover resulted in them making a high clearance kick, this was fielded in the air by Henderson who offloaded to Eddie Hamilton who cut the home defence to score at the posts, Best converted, 7 – 62.
The last word in the game was to be to Daryl Marshall who had scored at the end of the first half, converted by Best making the final score 7 – 69.
Although a high scoring game for the visitors it was hard played for against a determined Rainey side who never gave up.
