Big Month For Rainey
After a welcome short break, it’s back to the grindstone for Rainey Old Boys who have four important fixtures in the next few weeks, three of them in the AIL and the other in the cup. First up is the long trip to Clifden on Saturday where they play Connemara at the Monastery Field. The Blacks had a good season under new coach Peter Bracken last time round and beat the Old Boys at Hatrick Park with a freak try during their mid-season dip in form. But they have struggled in their first four games and have yet to pick up a point. Rainey will not be underestimating them,knowing from experience that they can be a tough nut to crack on home territory.
After the disappointment of Jonny Shiels’ enforced retirement, the new faces have settled in well and the match day squad has taken on a more familiar look. No8 Paddy McGowan should return from a groin strain, but replacements will have to be found for Conor O’Neill (shoulder) and Alan McCluggage (knee). Michael Pyper, if available, and Alex McGlaughlin, on the strength of some fine displays for the Seconds, would be obvious contenders for consideration, while Paul Heaney could be the answer to their back-row problems.
Hot favourites Malone will be everyone’s choice to emerge victorious when they face Rainey in the semi-final of the First Trust Ulster Senior Cup at Gibson Park on November 24. Ulster-contracted players are barred from this competition, but the Cregagh club has a number of Ravens and Ulster U20 players to call on.
Sligo come to Magherafelt for the first time on December 1, a narrow home success against Clonakilty all they have to show for their first five outings. Rainey cannot afford to take them lightly, having required a last-minute try to snatch the points at Strandhill last season. And on December 8, Rainey travel to Shaw’s Bridge to play Instonians.
RAINEY 10 – 6 BARNHALL
AIL 3rd November 2012
Scorers: O’Connor(1*Pen, 1*Conv), Burns(1*Try)
Photos
Previous meetings between Rainey Old Boys and Barnhall have been closely contested affairs, so it was always likely that their top of the table encounter at Hatrick Park would be a ding-dong battle. While it was no classic, the closeness of the score and the importance of the result kept the crowd on tenterhooks throughout. Rainey took a battering from a taller and heavier Barnhall side, but stuck to their task with some superb tackling to get the verdict on a 10-6 scoreline. With a try-scoring bonus point never on the cards on the day, Rainey were happy to get the win, while the Parsonstown men returned to Kildare with a losing bonus point.
Defending the Meadowbank end against a cold, stiff breeze, Rainey had to make an early change after only five minutes. Scrum-half McCluggage was unable to continue after picking up a knee injury, Simpson moving in from centre to perform a role in which he is quite comfortable. When Rainey were guilty of bringing down a scrum, Barnhall kicked to the corner, but their catch and drive attempt left them frustrated.
Rainey managed to cross the halfway line when Simpson found a gap, but flanker Harbinson was unable to take the offload on the burst. Missing the presence of the injured McGowan in the lineout and under pressure in the scrum, Rainey relied on some excellent tackling around the fringes and along the threequarter line to keep the visitors at bay, but their plans were further disrupted when both flankers Harbinson and O’Neill had to retire injured after 24 minutes.
Barnhall missed a 45 yard kick at goal, but Hopkins made no mistake on the half hour when the Rainey scrum was again disrupted. Rainey then had a good little spell, the forwards keeping it close to the ruck, but Barnhall forced a penalty to increase their lead. O’Connor boosted Rainey’s hopes right on half-time, having just missed with a huge kick into the wind minutes earlier. Barnhall turned round with only a 6-3 lead.
Rainey found several inviting field positions early in the second half, but were wheeled in the scrum and conceded penalties. Their chances improved when Barnhall had a forward yellow carded and Harbinson returned to the fray. A great piece of skill on the ground from centre McMurray enabled Shiels and Campbell to threaten, but Barnhall survived only to lose a prop to the sin bin. With a numerical advantage in the scrum, Rainey turned down kicks at goal to go for the try and were rewarded after 63 minutes when the forwards went for the line and Burns got the all-important touchdown. O’Connor converted.
Barnhall failed to take advantage when an O’Connor kick ahead went straight into touch and Simpson broke down the left where Clarke was helped into touch by a high tackle. From a perfect position in the corner, however, Rainey lacked control, to squander a great chance of closing out the game. Barker and O’Kane kept Rainey on top, but Barnhall patiently worked their way upfield again to show that they were still capable of snatching victory. The Rainey pack’s counter rucking and the tackling of the backs gave them chances to pin Barnhall back, but a succession of poor decisions kept the outcome in doubt right until the final whistle.
TEAM : M.O’Connor, A.Campbell, D.McMurray, S.Simpson, A.Clarke, G.Martin, A.McCluggage, S.McDowell, S.Sufferin, N.O’Kane, P.Boyle, T.Barker, A.Harbinson, M.Shiels, C.O’Neill.
REPLACEMENTS : M.McClelland ( McCluggage 5 ) P.Stewart ( O’Neill 24 ) T.Burns ( Harbinson 24 ) N.Amos ( Sufferin 50 ) S.Rutledge ( McDowell 48 )
