RAINEY 18 – 16 ARMAGH
Ulster League 7th September 2013
Scores: O’Connor(2*Pen), Martin(1*Conv), Rutledge(1*Try), Campbell(1*Try)
There was an air of expectancy around Hatrick Park last Saturday, where a good crowd turned out to run the eye over some of Rainey Old Boys’ exciting new recruits on their home debut. The inclement weather improved considerably during the Minis’ exhibition game beforehand, leaving conditions just about perfect for the Ulster League tilt with Armagh. But what followed was a desperately dull contest which only came to life in the dying minutes. Rainey managed to haul themselves back into the game, edged ahead, only to gift the opposition the lead again in time added on and then snatch an 18-16 victory.
While Rainey were without O’Kane, Heaney and Mullholland up front, they fielded a strong side with Michael Dawson on the flank and several other new faces on the bench. It soon became clear that Armagh had a decided edge in the scrum and they opened the scoring with a penalty after 16 minutes. Flanker Shiels then made ground, but lacked support as Rainey struggled to get going. Armagh disrupted another Rainey scrum to go 8-0 up and it took a bad decision from the referee to enable O’Connor to open Rainey’s account on the half hour. An overthrow at a key lineout typified Rainey’s fortunes on a bizarre afternoon and, when hooker Donaghy was yellow carded, Armagh opted for a scrum from which a little chip to the corner almost put them further ahead.
Two minutes into the second half, things got even worse when a charged down kick led to Armagh’s second try. The visitors remained in control, but had a forward sin-binned. With O’Connor receiving attention on the sideline, Martin took the 30 yard penalty, but pushed his kick wide. Loose-head Rutledge and second-row McGowan raised Rainey’s spirits with determined bursts and only a touch judge’s flag denied them a score after good hands down the left.
It was fitting that Rutledge finished off the move which began Rainey’s revival. A Simpson break in midfield and a neat reverse flick to wing Stirling saw McGowan take it on, before allowing Rutledge to add the coup de grace. Martin converted.
Another exciting sortie from McGowan and a neat outside break from Stirling set Armagh back and another yellow card gave Rainey just the boost they needed. After launching an attack down the left, they switched the play for wing Campbell to take a loop pass and go in for a dramatic score.
But, on a day when little went right for them, scrum-half Fleming’s box kick back upfield was charged down and Armagh were awarded a penalty which put them a point ahead. Rainey surged forward through Kirk, McGowan and Campbell to force a penalty which O’Connor goaled to take the points.
TEAM : M.O’Connor, K.Moore, S.Simpson, D.McMurray, N.Stirling, G.Martin, J.Fleming, S.Rutledge, K.Donaghy, R.Hall, D.Dawson, P.Mc Gowan, M.Shiels, C.Mitchell, M.Dawson.
REPLACEMENTS used : C.Kernoghan, A.Kirk, A.Campbell, M.Caithness, J.Lees.
BALLYCLARE III 20 – 14 RAINEY III
Junior 3 7th September 2013
Scores: Irvine(1*Try, 2*Conv), McGuckin(1*try)
First games of the season can tend to be error strewn affairs and this opener for the IIIs proved to be the case. The weather played a big part, with 38, yes – 38 scrums in all, as the rain fell heavily from minutes one to eighty. The pack, lead by veteran Declan McKenna dominated at the scrum, but their lineout play was poor and starved them of any meaningful possession. Handling and trying to play running rugby from their own half didnt help the Old Boys either.
8-0 down after 5 minutes wasnt the ideal start, but the team clawed their way back into it as John McKenna, Richard Fowler and Mark Montgomery carried well. It took a bit of magic from Kenny Irvine to waltz his way over the line after Conor Magee whipped the ball out from a scrum, 5 metres out from the Ballyclare line. The impressive Declan McGuckin extended the lead when he charged down a kick to take the score to 14-8 at half time.
He was unlucky not to add to his tally as he came within an inch of touching down again, after a powerful run from half way by Paddy Kidd saw Kenny Irvine eventually grubber through the defence only for the ball to skid out of play on the greasy surface. It was all Ballyclare in the remainder of the second half and they played the conditions and referee better than the Old Boys. A try in the corner took them to within one point and the final blow came after Rainey had been reduced to fourteen men, with John McKenna having been sin binned. Ballyclare scored under the posts to claim their opening win of the season.
Man of the Match goes to Paddy Kidd who made some great yards whenever he did see the ball out wide on the wing. Local derby away to Ballymena III in two weeks time, where a superior performance from all 15 is expected. Big thanks to all who came along to support and got a good soaking. A special mention goes to Declan McCann who announced before the game of his transfer to Larne RFC. Without his input over the years the Third and Fourth fifteens would not be in as fine a state as they are at present. All within the Three’s wish him well and hopefully will get to bump into him on the pitch in the not to distant future.
TEAM: R.Deehan, R.Fowler, D.McKenna, I.Patterson, M.Eastwood, C.O’Kane, D.McGuckin, J.McKenna, C.Magee, K.Irvine (c), M.Montgomery, M.Donnelly, D.Johnston, P.Kidd, A.McErlane
