Click HERE for offivial Rainey Old Boys Action shots from U17s I XV superb game against Monaghan RFC U17 I XV
Click HERE for 200+ shots from Intouch Rugby of the same game
Below are reports from the III XV on fire v City Of Derry & The I XV who are close to the top of the table in AIL 2A after a hard fought brilliant winning!!!!!!!!!! game v Bruff
RAINEY I XV 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.
CITY OF DERRY III 7 – 57 RAINEY III
Junior 3 9th November 2013
Score: McIvor(3*Try), Patterson(1*Try), McGucken(1*Try), McKenna(1*Try), McNamee(1*Try), M.Donnelly(1*Try), Irvine(1*Try, 6*Conv)
Top met bottom in this Junior League Three match between county rivals Derry and Rainey. With conditions perfect for the start of November/Movember, Rainey’s brand of running rugby and facial hair was in abundance.
The Magherafelt men got of to a flyer. Some excellent rucking saw the ball recycled to Ciaran McIvor who hit the line at speed to sear through the Derry defense and score under the posts. With their tails up it wasnt long before full back Mark Donnelly scored his fifth of the season. Touching down in the corner after a fantastic off-load by the superbly mustachioed Paddy Kidd in the middle of the park. Tackle of the day went to Ciaran McNamee who demolished the Derry second-row with an almighty hit. Things got even better a few minutes later as half backs Connor Magee and Kenny Irvine combined outside the Derry 22’ to put Colin Patterson through a gap on the right hand side. With a fierce hand-off to the opposition winger, he outpaced two defenders to score just to the right of the posts.
It was now all one way traffic. Ciaran McNamee caught the restart, shimmied through the oncoming defense and raced down the pitch, only to be hauled up short . Gavin McGucken was quickest to react, simply having to pickup and step over the line to score. Ciaran McIvor claimed his second of the day after some excellent close quarter handling and off-loading from Connor O’Kane, John McKenna and Declan McKenna saw Rainey work their way into the opposition 22’. More quick ball by Connor Magee sent Ciaran McIvor through one of the many holes in the Derry defense that were now appearing. Derry lost their second-row to injury half way through the half, meaning both packs had to have seven men in the scrums. Flanker, Ciaran McNamee scored his fourth of the season as the Rainey backrow were proving to hot to handle. The half ended with Paul Smyth going extremely close after beating his opposite number, only to be hauled down short of the line. Half time 38-0
Rainey started the second half just as they they had finished the first. From the kick-off the ball was spread wide to Mark Montgomery who proceeded to swap passes with Mark Donnelly and JP.Clayton, the latter throwing arguably the best pass of the day to the oncoming John McKenna, who powered over the line for his first of the season. JP.Clayton then went close himself, but just as he thought he was about to score, the referee blew for blocking. Rainey did take their foot off the peddle to let Derry in for a score, but soon were back on the front foot, with Declan McKenna showing a flash of brilliance from the restart to catch both teams off guard as he raced up the pitch and put in a delightful chip. The Derry defender caught the ball but was then turned over, Kenny Irvine doing the easy task of sending Ciaran McIvor under the posts for his hattrick. Kenny Irvine converted for his eighteenth conversion of the season. The game ended 17 mins early after Kenny Irvine took it on himself to canter through the tired and out of sorts defense and score under the posts, only to miss the conversion as he cockily attempted a drop goal which possibly hit the corner flag.
Man of the Match goes to Ciaran McIvor. Not only was he on the end of three well worked tries but was also unbreachable in defense, on one occasion putting in four consecutive tackles.
Rainey now travel to Queen’s next week. This match may well indicate where the title will be going to at the end of March. All support welcome.
TEAM : M.Keenan, G.McGucken, D.McKenna, C.Patterson (c), C.O’Kane, C.McIvor, C.McNamee, J.McKenna, C.Magee, K.Irvine, P.Kidd, M.Montgomery, P.Smyth, JP.Clayton, M.Donnelly
