In a close encounter the Regent team was delighted to emerge as 10-8 winners. The Rainey Endowed team started well by kicking off and taking the game deep into Regent House territory. They pressurised the Regent House defence into giving away a number of penalties and, from a quickly taken penalty six metres from the Regent line, the Rainey Endowed captain, Michael Dawson, took the ball forward. Oisin Quinn then got possession and forced his way over the Regent House line. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Rainey Endowed team had a 5-0 lead after just three minutes on the clock. This seemed to unsettle the home side and further Rainey pressure resulted in a penalty just outside the Regent House 22m line. The Rainey outhalf, Aaran Murphy, stepped up to convert the penalty to increase the score to 8-0 in favour of the Magherafelt boys. The Regent team now began to play with more purpose and, following some strong midfield tackling by the Regent centres, Aaron Culbert and Aaron Reid, the ball was turned over. Regent attacked the blind side of a ruck and good handling led to outhalf, Peter Eakin, sprinting into the corner for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the arrears had been reduced to 8-5. The Rainey team now threw everything into attack but the Regent House team defended heroically inside their 22m area for the remainder of the half which ensured the halftime score read 8-5 in favour of the Rainey Endowed team at the interval.
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The second half saw Regent House attack more frequently with ferocious tackles coming in from both sides. On forty seven minutes a Rainey clearance kick was fielded on the left by the Regent House defence. The ball was spread across their back line and the attack ended with right winger, Rhys Thompson, sprinting in for an excellent counter attack try. The try was not converted but the Regent team now had a 10-8 lead. For the remainder of the game Regent had territorial advantage forcing the visitors back into their 22m area with astute kicks from Regent No 10, Peter Eakin, and probing breaks by captain and scrum half, Gary Wright, causing considerable concern for the Rainey Endowed School team. Man of the Match, Regent House No 7, Jonny Baird, was to the fore at the break down and put in a number of outstanding tackles. The Regent House front row trio of Matty Kane, Blair Savage and Jared Purvis had the upper hand in the scrum. This enabled their forwards to have a secure platform in the second half thereby denying the Rainey Endowed team any worthwhile possession. This ensured the final score read Regent House 10 Rainey Endowed School 8.
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