RAINEY EXTEND WINNING RUN
Rainey Old Boys chalked up another vital victory when they defeated joint-second placed Boyne 41-7 at Hatrick Park where conditions were surprisingly good after the rain and snow of the week before.But it was not as easy as the scoreline would suggest.In fact,it was far from it.After trailing 7-6 at half-time,Rainey made the Drogheda club pay for their indiscipline which resulted in a red card for captain and try scorer Kerbey.Referee Robbie Watson eventually lost patience,having been on the receiving end of persistent backchat,and awarded Rainey two penalty tries as they turned the screw to make their numerical advantage count.They would have settled for a win at the threequarter stage,but secured a bonus point three minutes from time and added their fifth try in the last minute of an incident-packed game
Rainey welcomed back scrum-half Alan Mc Cluggage after injury,his return allowing Scott Simpson to revert to centre,and both were to play very well.Mc Cluggage made an early little break which led to a penalty,but advantage was played and none accrued.However,after six minutes,another opportunity came along and O’Connor opened the scoring.Rainey failed to deal with the restart kick,but swept to the other end when Mc Gowan seized the loose ball and O’Connor kicked upfield.O’Kane and Hawe then set Boyne on the back foot,but a wayward pass spoiled the attack.
Rutledge and Lamberton took Rainey back to the Boyne 22′ for O’Connor to extend their lead.They were making all the running at this stage,No. 8 Dawson breaking blind,but just unable to find his support.But,on the half hour,the picture changed dramatically.Wing Clarke got back to pick up a little kick ahead,but turned the wrong way to find himself running into traffic and when he opted to chip over a chasing opponent,it all went horribly wrong.Rainey worked their way into a good field position,but failed to control possession and right on half-time,put themselves under unnecessary pressure when two men went for an innocuous high ball and almost paid the penalty.
On the resumption,Rainey managed to regain possession after losing two lineout throws and Mc Cluggage broke from a ruck just outside the 22′ to score beneath the posts.A Lamberton run brought them a penalty,with a scrum the sensible option and three penalties later,a penalty try was awarded.Boyne hit back strongly,forcing Rainey to pullout all the stops before they scored their third try after 70 minutes.O’Connor was the scorer,the opening carved out by the intelligent Mc Gowan,now operating at No. 8.They looked sure to score again when Barker stormed forward from a lineout,but Boyne survived only to concede a five metre scrum which resulted in another penalty try.Following more dissent,the game restarted with a Rainey penalty on halfway.In the final minute,a little kick over the top from Mc Cluggage bounced perfectly for Clarke to add insult to injury.The conversion gave O’Connor a personal tally of 21 points.
TEAM : M.O’Connor,A.Clarke,S.Simpson,D.Mc Murray,R.Lamberton,G.Martin,A,Mc Cluggage,S.Rutledge,S.Sufferin,N.O’Kane,T.Barker,P.Mc Gowan,A.Harbinson,D.Dawson,S.Hawe.
REPLACEMENTS : M.Mc Clelland ( Mc Murray 54 ) M.Shiels ( Dawson 54 ) K.Donaghy ( Sufferin 69 ) P.Boyle ( O’Kane 69 )
DIVISION 2 B : Clonakilty 17 v 17 Navan Connemara 13 v 29 Sligo Barnhall 53 v 11 Instonians Sunday’s Well 19 v 20 Skerries Suttonians 10 v 19 Armagh
PORTADOWN 5 27-24 RAINEY O.B. 4
In Minor:South,Portadown 5 beat Rainey O.B. 4 by 27-24 at Chambers Park.The result could have gone either way,Rainey coming back well from a 17-0 deficit.A try from wing Mc Elhone,converted by Martin,boosted their hopes before half-time.
Rainey scored again when flanker Moore broke free from his own 22′ and when wing Mc Alynn crossed,the conversion had them in front.Portadown replied with a penalty and then added a try before centre Mc Bride closed the gap five minutes from time.
FIXTURES – 26 January.
1st XV v NAAS away
2nd XV Derry 2 Towns’ Cup away
3rd XV v Donaghadee 3 Crawford Cup home
