SHIELS STEALS THE SHOW
Rainey Number 8 Michael Shiels was the undisputed Man of the Match at Hatrick Park where the Old Boys beat Ards 28-13 in the Ulster League.His hat-trick of tries helped them to a bonus point in an undistinguished encounter which provided little festive cheer for a subdued crowd on a dry,but bitterly cold afternoon. CLICK HERE for 16 shots from Charles Henderson
With Rainey taking some time to warm to the occasion,Ards made all the early running and were ahead within four minutes with a wind-assisted penalty from over halfway.Two minutes later,they extended their lead when Rainey’s failure to take a high kick left them in disarray.Rainey were then fortunate not to concede a penalty when Ards’ out-half Young was impeded after chipping over the home defence.And they were hard-pressed to hold out when Ards moved the ball well after wheeling a scrum on halfway.But by the end of the first quarter Rainey were 14-6 in front.On their first excursion into the visitors’ 22′,off the top lineout ball from Shiels was flashed out to Martin who found a gap and then had Shiels arriving in support to stroll home.Five minutes later,Simpson broke from a scrum in midfield to release Shiels who had the pace to do the rest.O’Connor again converted.
Rainey then slipped back into their shell as Ards held on and scored a good try in the corner after 36 minutes.A towering conversion left only one point between the sides.Shiels fielded the restart kick on the run to make another of his trademark dashes which had Ards spreadeagled,but the finish was missing.
Rainey missed an opportunity when wing Campbell came infield to set up a ruck from which they went left,but Boyle’s pass to Lamberton was too high.Stephen Rutledge then came on for Nathan Amos who was leading the side on his last appearance for the club before his departure for Israel where a new post awaits him.And three minutes later Rutledge took a short pass from O’Kane to score after Simpson had broken a tackle to put his side on the front foot.Totally dominant in the scrum,they might have scored again when Boyle,Rutledge and Burns headed another charge into the 22′.But,after forcing a five metre scrum,Shiels picked up to secure the bonus point with O’Connor adding the extras.
A game that seldom flowed almost ground to a halt in the final quarter as Rainey made a series of switches.Devlin was stopped within a minute of coming on,but the error count rose and the kicking out of hand became even slacker.Ballynahinch remain in pole position after their victory away to City of Derry.
TEAM :M.O’Connor,A.Campbell,J.Burrows,J.Cassidy,R.Lamberton,G.Martin,S.Simpson,N.Amos,S.Sufferin,N.O’Kane,P.Boyle,T.Burns,A.Dysart,A.Harbinson,M.Shiels.
REPLACEMENTS :K.Donaghy ( Sufferin 30 ) S.Rutledge ( Amos 50 ) R.Mc Kernan ( Dysart 60 ) A.Dysart ( Shiels 62 ) A.Donaghy ( Simpson 63 ) R.Devlin ( Burrows 70 )
RAINEY’S next game is at Eaton Park on 12 January,an Ulster League fixture against Ballymena.
RAINEY O.B. 2 31-7 ARDS 2
Rainey O.B. 2 produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Ards 2 by 31-7 on a heavy surface at Hatrick Park.A hard-working pack gave the backs plenty of good ball right from the start and prop Best opened their account after six minutes.A Dillon try was ruled out for a foot in touch,but full-back Devlin was allowed to run through from 45 yards for a converted try after 16 minutes.Ards improved as the half wore on,but Dillon came across from his wing to support a move and scramble over in the corner right on half-time.
With Michael McCusker showing real potential in a good back-row,Rainey took it on in the forwards from a lineout for Mc Kernan to score near the posts.Ards picked up an intercept try,but never threatened thereafter and Devlin got up to get the touchdown when out-half Poskett twice hacked a loose hack upfield to launch a frantic chase.
