In what was considered by Rainey as the break through season to establish themselves as a major force in Ulster Rugby after the undefeated promotion winning season last year they have absolutely smashed their way into AIL Division 2A announcing very clearly in the early part of the season that they have prepared all summer making the step up by losing almost no one from last years squad and in fact making very good signings during the summer. What they have announced is that THEY ARE HERE to take on them all! Having done that they find themselves by forging ahead just one game away from securing their position in the league and in fact somewhere in the region potentially of one game away from going top of AIL 2A!!!!
Dealing with elements on a wet windy day @ Hatrick Park after many game sof free flowing rugby which we also excell at in Ulster Rainey we suspect changed their game to suit the conditions and came away winners v BRUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who would have thought 3 years ago that Rainey Old Boys RFC would be playing Bruff & Winning and promoted and sitting 1 or 2 games away from top of 2A
They are a club on the up ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RAINEY 10 – 9 BRUFF
AIL Div 2A 2nd November 2013
Scores: Shiels(1*Try), O’Connor(1*Pen, 1*Conv)
Going into the break for the autumn internationals, Rainey Old Boys are more than happy with their start in Division 2A of the AIL. Three wins from four games sees them in fourth place, well clear of the relegation zone and on course for a satisfactory mid-table finish. Their home match with Co Limerick side Bruff was always going to be a tight contest, especially after the torrential rain that fell overnight and they were relieved to get the verdict on a 10-9 scoreline. Bruff, back in Div 2A after a meteoric rise from Junior rugby to the top tier of the AIL, have yet to win a game, but they are capable of testing any opposition. Content to go away with a point on this occasion, they will surely kick on from here.
A big scrum earned Bruff an early penalty which was missed. Rainey then strung together some good phases, using second-row Boyle to good effect. Prop Rutledge charged down a kick and led the chase, but was then penalised. Rainey were without forwards Heaney and McGowan and their lineout took a further knock when Mulholland had to retire after only six minutes with a back problem.
O’Connor had a go from 50 yards, but when another penalty followed, they chose to play for position. Bruff held out, but then had a player yellow carded. O’Connor kicked the penalty to leave Rainey 3-0 up after 17 minutes, but indiscipline gifted Bruff the equaliser. Rainey again opted for a tap penalty which came to nothing instead of going for the posts. Approaching the half hour mark, they had a let-off when a Bruff forward drive ended with the ball being spilled right on the line. When Bruff moved lineout ball on halfway, a super tackle from Simpson earned his side a penalty 50 yards out, but O’Connor’s attempt just missed the target. Shortly before half-time, a drop goal attempt from Bruff full-back Bannon struck the angle of the crossbar and upright.
Rainey had a half chance when a high kick from O’Connor was not held, but, after hacking ahead, they conceded a penalty. Bruff missed two long-range shots at goal as the tough, uncompromising southerners proved to be a hard nut to crack. On 50 minutes, Michael Shiels went through a gap to force his way over for a vital try which was converted, but he was yellow carded two minutes later. A great tackle on Bannon saw the ball go clearly forward, but play was allowed to continue, resulting in a penalty which reduced the deficit to a single point.
Some good lineout play and controlled drives enabled Rainey to keep Bruff in their own half, but the scoreline remained the same as O’Connor hit a post from almost 50 yards and pushed another attempt wide. Yet another great drive from a lineout earned them a penalty, which they chose to kick to the corner before Simpson squirmed out of a tackle to score a try. The referee, however, deemed that he had in fact, been held in the tackle, a decision which did not go down well with the home crowd.
As the dark clouds came rolling in and the rain started to fall, Rainey forced a penalty in front of the posts, but opted to run the clock down by kicking to the corner. Although they failed to claim clean possession, they prevented Bruff from breaking out to emerge deserving, if narrow winners.
TEAM : M.O’Connor, K.Moore, D.Mcurray, S.Simpson, N.Stirling, G.Martin, P,Kidd, S.Rutledge, G.Fritz, N.O’Kane, P.Boyle, M.Shiels, J.Lees, S.Mulholland, C.Mitchell.
REPLACEMENTS : J.Mc Murray, J,Fleming, A.Kirk, C.Barclay
Rainey’s next outing is on Nov 23 at The Mardyke where they meet UUC, the first of a run of three AIL games. Their other opponents are Cashel and Banbridge.
