Nutty Krust Tournament Ballynahinch U18’s v Rainey U18’s Wednesday 1st March 2017
The first of this season’s Group 2 games eventually got underway in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament under the floodlights at a very damp Chambers Park when Ballynahinch U18’s and Rainey U18’s played on Wednesday evening. The Rainey U18 team recorded a closely contested 11-5 victory with the scoreboard having read 5-0 in their favour at the break. A sizeable crowd had gathered to watch an entertaining game which featured quite a few talented players on both teams. Among the group watching the game was Jonny Gillespie, the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Manager.
The difficult overhead conditions dictated the pattern of plays used by both teams in the opening exchanges. Players took a little time to familiarize themselves with the conditions and both teams found difficulty in controlling any possession coming their way. Fifteen minutes into the game Elliott Young and Gareth Hall combined to put the Rainey team into a position of strength. However, the Ballynahinch line speed in defence prevented to Rainey team from taking any real advantage. Mike O’Neill did manage to breach the defence but he was stopped just short of the whitewash by an excellent cover tackle from Jake Bennett. Gareth Hall put his team close to the Ballynahinch line with an excellent penalty kick. Rainey won the resultant lineout but a knock on allowed the Ballynahinch team to clear the danger. Close to the end of the half the Ballynahinch team lost a player to the “Bin”. The Rainey team retained possession through a number of phases before Jac Lloyd Evans put in a clever kick pass to Nathan Jeffers. Nathan fielded the ball under pressure from Jake Bennett and Michael Burgess had the presence of mind to off-load a clever pass to Padraig Totten. Padraig was delighted to finish off this fine sequence of play with an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead at the break.
Ballynahinch started the second half in commanding fashion. Two minutes into the second period of play, and following a rare incursion into Rainey territory, Jake Bennett took a great line to outpace a hesitant Rainey defence and run in for an unconverted try to see the scores draw level at 5-5. Rainey recovered and took play back to the Ballynahinch “Red Zone” They forced the Ballynahinch defence into conceding a number of penalties with Jack McIntosh and Calum Smith carrying well following the penalties being taken quickly. However, the Ballynahinch defence held firm with Andy Boyd, Nick Woods, Ryan Malley and James Rea getting through a lot of work. Midway through the second half another strong carry from Jake Bennett brought play deep into Rainey territory. The Rainey team conceded a penalty but the Ballynahinch kick fell just short of the posts. Ryan Malley and James Rea combined to set up another phase of attacks on the Rainey line but a turnover ensured the danger was cleared. Rainey then found space and attacked from deep through Nathan Jeffers and Cahan Murray. The Ballynahinch team was penalized at a breakdown and Gareth Hall stepped up to convert the penalty to see his team into an 8-5 lead. With just minutes of the game remaining a Ballynahinch player strayed off-side at a ruck. Gareth Hall converted the resultant penalty with a fine strike which ensured the Rainey U18 team finished this closely contested Nutty Krust game as 11-5 winners.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Jim Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Scrummies” kitchen and organised by the ever present Sid Rowe. All players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Paul Stevens then presented the impressive Rainey No 9, Jac Lloyd Evans, with the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post match ceremony.
Another Group 3 game in the 2017 Nutty Krust Tournament will see Enniskillen U18’s play Omagh U18’s at 7-45pm on Wednesday 8th March under the Chambers Park floodlights. All supporters will be made to feel very welcome.
