Friendly – Omagh vs All Ireland League side Rainey
Omagh 15 Rainey 20
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Omagh welcomed Rainey to Thomas Mellon Playing Fields on Saturday in the first encounter since the Magherafelt side achieved All-Ireland League status and ran their more illustrious opponents very close in a well fought game going down by a try in a 20-15 loss.
Though their respective fortunes have changed dramatically since then with Rainey prospering in the All-Ireland league and Omagh struggling in Qualifying Two before making a marked improvement under new coach, phil marshall last year, this season has seen both make a definite breakthrough with both in the upper echelons.
The visitors fielded a massive pack and playing downhill with the wind in the first period, quickly assumed territorial dominance. Omagh fought back well and refused to be overawed with both sides testing each other out in an entertaining opening quarter. Both sides attempted to put their phases together but each defence held firm and were on control.
Rainey had the upper hand in the scrum early on, though the Accies dug deep and steadied the ship with replacement prop, David Thompson showing up well, though it was no surprise when Rainey took the lead with a well constructed try, followed up with a similar effort minutes later.
A Steffan Hamilton penalty sandwiched these scores, while Alistair Beckett was very unlucky not to score after a fine individual break saw him held up inched short by a superb last ditch tackle by the visitor’s fullback.
Half time 3-10.
Sensing that the next score was crucial, The Co. Tyrone men started the second period on the ascendancy and secured turnover ball in midfield. The ball was moved trough the backs to Stephen Maclaine on the wing. He put through a beautifully weighted grubber kick which allowed Beckett to stretch his legs, show some tidy dribbling skills and win the race to touch down for a classic counter –attack try.
The next scored showed exactly the standards this Omagh side will aspire to with Rainey scoring two excellent tries. The first was a slick backs move to create the overlap for the openside winger to go over, the second a well times blindside move involving the No.8, scrum half and fullback.
With 20 minutes to go, Coach phil marshall urged his troops on, realising that they could have wasted an honest hours work. To their credit, they had the upper hand for the last quarter, pushing the Hat-trick Park men all the way.
A fine passage of play started with the hard working pack was carried on by a slick backs move which saw Andy McFarland finish off for an excellent team score. Steffan Hamilton added the touchline conversion with aplomb.
Omagh continued their efforts to win the game but ran out narrow losers after a fine match played in the old fashioned Corinthian traditions in a rarely see encounter these days, – the friendly.
“We were pleased with the performance against a very well drilled, experienced and massive side. We battled hard, took our tries well and will appreciate the standard we have to get to”, noted Accies captain, Mervyn Edgar, after the game.
“All with be wasted though if we don’t build on this performance in our next match against Bangor next week”, he warned and aware that his side had slipped to third in the league table following bonus points wins by Ballyclare and UUC respectively.
Team: Alistair Beckett, Andy McFarland, Neil Browne, Stuart McCain, Stephen Maclaine, Jamie Lagan, Alistair Ferguson, David Thompson, Stephen Giboney, Mark Smyth, John Sproule, Steffan Hamilton, Mervyn Edgar, Colin Lee, Richard Smyth.
