With eleven minutes of normal time remaining at Hatrick Park,Rainey Old Boys,leading 11-10,looked likely to register their first victory in six meetings with Nenagh Ormond. Their pack had produced their best passage of play of the game to get within a yard of the visitors’ line and were looking a good bet to score when they elected to move the ball wide.The Nenagh backline was waiting to pounce and wing Harmse intercepted to run the full length of the pitch and touch down beneath the posts.There was more drama to come in time added on when Rainey squandered a glorious opportunity,but they had to settle for a losing bonus point as Nenagh’s 17-11 victory keeps them in touch with the leaders in Division 3 of the Ulster Bank League.
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Rainey will now have to reset their aims,but they can have a big say in who finishes where in this league with games against Banbridge and Derry coming up.They made things difficult for themselves at times on Saturday.Their poor handling of a dry ball was particularly disappointing as it prevented them from building up momentum after a decent start and they kicked upfield too often when there were obvious chances if they had kept the ball in hand.But there is a lot of ability in this Rainey squad and this reversal will not dent their spirit.hen Martin picked up a knock
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Rainey,without the unavailable Hawe and Suiter,went ahead after only two minutes,full-back O’Connor splitting the uprights from 50 yards after centre Mac Mahon had been high tackled.Mac Mahon,Boyle,O’Connor and Campbell combined to take play close to the Nenagh line,but when the ball was recycled and moved acrossfield,O’Kane’s pass drifted forward and a great chance was wasted.O’Connor made it 6-0 when Martin was impeded after kicking ahead,but the second quarter belonged to Nenagh as they began to put together some impressive phases.Rainey defended very well and forced a turnover,but Nenagh produced another dangerous move which brought a close range penalty which out-half Delaney kicked.Hill came on at prop for the injured O’Kane and went on to give a very good account of himself.Nenagh continued to hold the edge and were deep in the Rainey half when the whistle sounded.
Rainey looked good early in the second half when scrum-half Sciascia worked the narrow side for Campbell to make ground before finding support in the form of Shiels,Hill and Mac Mahon.This surge came to nothing when a silly penalty was conceded at a ruck five yards out and a midfield error almost proved costly.The experience of No.8 Mc Crea came in useful on more than one occasion as the Nenagh scrum tested the Rainey eight.Replacement hooker Heaney made an instant impact to help his side find a favourable field position,but Boyle chose to have a go himself when,in hindsight,he should have used his support.However,Rainey were awarded a penalty and with everyone waiting for O’Connor to go through his routine,Sciascia nipped over for an opportunist try.
Nenagh came back strongly with their forwards patiently going through the phases to take them to within striking distance and it came as no surprise when scrum-half Fogarty nipped in from the base of a ruck.When Martin picked up a knock,Rainey switched Mac Mahon to out-half with McBride coming on at centre.The forwards were now had a spring in their step as their loose play earned them yards.Their pick and go game had Nenagh in trouble and a little more patience might well have yielded dividends,but Harmse’s interception left the home crowd totally deflated.Nenagh kept it tight as they sought to run down the clock in the closing minutes,but Rainey regrouped for a final effort which saw them go agonisingly close to snatching the points..Nenagh somehow got away with a deliberate knock-on and in injury time O’Connor switched direction to give Rainey numbers on the left,but Boyle was unable to hold Shiels’ pass just short of the line.The result would then have hinged on the conversion attempt.
TEAM : M.O’Connor,A.Campbell,R.Paul,J.Mac Mahon,R.Devlin,G.Martin,P.Sciascia,N.Amos,S.Sufferin,N.O’Kane,P.Boyle,M.Shiels,D.Dawson,P.Heaney,R.Mc Crea.
REPLACEMENTS : R.Hill ( O’Kane 38 ) C.Heaney ( Sufferin 45 ) J.Mc Bride ( Martin 62 )
DIVISION 3 results : Banbridge 26-25 Greystones Barnhall 6-9 Naas Derry 31-10 Navan Connemara 6-35 Seapoint Sunday’s Well 15-3 Highfield Suttonians 22-11 Ards Wanderers 12-27 Instonians
FIXTURES for February 5
Banbridge v Rainey Derry v Wanderers Connemara v Sunday’s Well Greystones v Ards Naas v Highfield Navan v Nenagh Ormond Barnhall v Suttonians Seapoint v Instonians
FOURTHS PROGRESS IN CUP
Superior scrummaging technique helped Rainey O.B.1V defeat Donegal 11 by 34 points to 18 in the second round of the Mc Cambley Cup at their scenic Killybegs Road location.They play Omagh 1V away in the next round.
On level terms at 10-10 after a closely contested opening half,Rainey pulled clear for a convincing victory with tries from out-half Irvine 2,centre O’Neill 2 and flanker Davis.Scrum-half Walker kicked a penalty and three conversions.
200 CLUB winners :December draw – Declan Mc Kenna JANUARY draw – Ian Lamont.
CLUB FIXTURES for 5 February
1st XV v Banbridge Ulster Bank League away 2.30 p.m.
2nd XV v Banbridge 11 away 1.00 p.m.
3rd XV V Forster Cup
4th XV v Coleraine V away
BREWIN DOLPHIN U17 CUP : Rainey 24 v 29 Ballyclare
U 15 CUP : Rainey 67 v 0 Ballyclare
