RAINEY ES BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Omagh Academy 1st XV 10 Rainey ES 1st XV 24
On Saturday 30th November Rainey ES 1st XV travelled to play Omagh Academy. In lovely conditions Rainey were keen to get back to winning ways. However, in the early stages of the game Rainey found the going tough with Omagh doing all the attacking. Omagh dominance led to a penalty which they converted to lead 3-0. This early score gave them confidence and they continued to attack. They played a predominantly kicking game which the Magherafelt boys had not really encountered this season. When caught deep in their own half, an Omagh forward emerged from a maul and ran in to extend their lead to 10-0. Rainey, however, remained calm knowing that there was still plenty of time left. They began to gain some territory and from a superb turnover by Calvin Smyth were unlucky not to score. The grip on the game was starting to swing the local boy’s way. Rory Nicholl was sent clear twice and was only stopped by fine defensive work by the home side. Nevertheless, Rainey’s first try was soon to follow. A storming run by Conal Murphy set up a great attacking opportunity. The ball was moved left and full back Mark Rooney was hauled down short. The ball was quickly recycled and neatly moved by the backs for David McClelland to dive in at the corner. The gap was now closed to 5 points. With half time approaching Mark Allingham and Anton Lupari drove forward but again stout Omagh defence kept them out. After a shaky start Rainey were back in the game. As the 2nd half began Rainey went on the offensive. Conor Brennan and Timmy Andrews were now doing a lot of damage up front. Rainey’s second try came from a lose Omagh kick. Kieran Lynch fielded the ball and showed some wonderful skill to beat a number of defenders. He passed to Rigan Sanderson in support, who timed his pass perfectly to Andrew Nicholl who touched down in the corner. The scores were now level and Rainey wanted more. The Magherafelt boys now dominated territory and could have had a couple of scores except for little errors. However, once Eunan Shaw ran a smart line in midfield he cut open the Omagh defence. Eunan showed great pace, but was hauled down just short. When the ball was recycled Scott Campbell found Kieran Lynch who fed Rory Nicholl to crash over close to the posts. Kieran added the conversion to give Rainey a 17-10 lead. For Rainey Neal Hastings was having a very good game, taking every kick off with ease. Omagh, however, didn’t lie down and came back at Rainey. From a 5 metre lineout they drove at the Rainey line but super work by Samuel Hawe keep them out. Rainey repelled the attack and the ball was cleared to safety. Rainey though wanted to put the game out of sight, so went back on the attack. A strong run by Rigan Sanderson got them into the Omagh half. Good work by Stephen McAuley continued the attack. When the ball was recycled the ball was moved by Scott Campbell to Kieran Lynch to David McClelland who fed Rory Nicholl to score his second try of the game. Kieran Lynch converted to make it 24-10. The final whistle sounded with Rainey winning 24-10. This was a very good performance by Rainey against committed and difficult opponents. Omagh traditionally is not an easy place to get a victory so with everything taken into consideration this was a very promising victory for Rainey.
Omagh Academy 2nd XV 21 Rainey ES 2nd XV 10
Rainey 2nd XV travelled to Omagh Academy in the hope of regaining some good form after a heavy defeat to Ballymena Academy last time out.
The game started with mistakes and infringements on both sides before Rainey were penalised for hands in the ruck. This allowed the Omagh fly-half to step and convert the penalty after 5 minutes to make it 3-0 to Omagh. Rainey seemed to be struggling to string phases together and numerous pieces of good play were then thwarted by a knock on or a penalty given away. One of these knock ons, handed the ball back to Omagh on the half way line and 2 phases later a grubber kick through from the out-half bounced perfectly for the winger to collect and score. 8-0 Omagh. Rainey eventually started to string some dangerous series of play together and good work by the forwards got the ball deep into the Omagh 22. Eventually it was Lorcan Quinn with his trademark quick feet after a “show and go” which got Rainey over the line to make it 8-5 to Omagh at the break.
The second half began as untidily as the first one, with a lot of set pieces and stoppages in play. Unfortunately, one of these infringements allowed Omagh to kick a penalty and one of the knock ons allowed Omagh to make good use of turnover ball and score in the corner to make it 16-5 to Omagh, in the space of 10 second half minutes. The Rainey backline finally started to make its presence felt with the trio of Brown, Carleton and Bloomer make some bruising runs and Brown in particular with some huge tackles. However, it was the lightening fast feet of Cameron Noble which danced around the Omagh defence and out sprinted the full back to score in the corner and make it 16-10 to Omagh. Game on. Rainey continued to huff and puff away at the Omagh defence with Cameron Stewart continually turning over Omagh line out ball, but to no avail. Unfortunately, it was a lost line-out by Rainey which allowed Omagh to effectively kill the game off with a try out wide to leave the score at full time 21-10.
RAINEY ES Medallion 12 Omagh Academy Medallion 5
On Saturday, the Rainey Medallion were at home against Omagh Academy. Rainey Medallion had never beaten Omagh Academy but they were determined to get back to winning ways no-matter who the opposition were! Rainey started quietly and it took them a while to get themselves into the game properly. With both teams finding it hard to put phases together and keep their hands on the ball, Rainey looked more likely to score as they broke the Omagh back-line several times only to be brought down. With Mark Mulholland breaking through several times in the first twenty minutes, Rainey found themselves in the Omagh 22. Rainey took the lead through Matthew Porter who showed great strength to power through the opposition pack and still have the composure to side-step the full back and bundle over the line. This lifted Rainey spirits, but also made Omagh wake up and find their foot-hold in the game. Omagh put several phases together and managed to find themselves in the home sides 22, even though Rainey showed some brilliant defending. Omagh rumbled through their pack and after about five minutes, managed to power over the line and level the scoring. Rainey found it hard to keep ball when making yards and found themselves defending in their own 22. Omagh tried to rumble over for a second time but in the process got their captain injured due to some outstanding defence from the Rainey pack. Rainey cleared their lines and regained possession within the Omagh half and with some outstanding link up play between Mark Mulholland and Richard Winder, Captain Adam Currie was there to receive an offload from Richard Winder and power over the Omagh line. Adam Hunter kicked the conversion and Rainey regained the lead. Rainey held out for the victory with a final score of Rainey 12-5 Omagh.
Rainey ES U14 12 Omagh Academy U14 0
Rainey U14s defeated Omagh Academy by 12 points with two out standing tries from Jay Sayer and Adam Thornton. Also Matthew Smyth kicked one conversion. It was a forwards game with a lot of rucks. Adam Thornton made a lot of good breaks of the rucks and from the back of the scrums. Also Paul McErlain made some smashing tackles and secured the ball in rucks effectively.
Rainey ES U13 34 Omagh Academy U13 0
Rainey against Omagh always proved to be a tough game but the Rainey boys played well to get a 34-0 victory. Omagh kicked off and it was a good take from the captain Jack Bresland and straight from the kick off Bryan Hall put Rainey in the lead with a try. Karl Warner added another 2 points with the conversion. Omagh kicked off again and it fell for Bryn Davies the Prop who scored the second try for Rainey, but unfortunately the try was not converted. Once again Omagh kicked off and Tim Campbell caught the ball and made a good run. Rainey quickly whipped the ball out for Matthew Dunlop to get a try but again the conversion was missed. Again, Omagh kicked off and was taken by Bryn Davies who made a good run and passed to Tim Campbell to get yet another try for Rainey. Karl Warner got the ball from the kick and stepped his way to score another try. Halftime Rainey 29- Omagh 0. In the second half Rainey put up a good chase from a kick and forced Omagh to kick. The ball fell for Jayden Arbuthnot the hooker, who ran down the wing to get Rainey back into Omagh’s half. Karl Warner then made a nice break to get his second try. Omagh made one last charge to get a score but an unbreakable defence by Rainey left the score 34-0.
This weeks fixtures are against RS Armagh. The 1st XV and 2nd XV are away. The Medallion, U14s and U13s are at home with 9.45am kick offs. All support welcome.
