Spectators arriving slightly late at Hamilton Park for the AIL game between Ards and Rainey Old Boys would have been rubbing their eyes in disbelief.The scoreboard had Ards 12-0 ahead and less than three minutes had elapsed.The visitors clawed their way back into the game to nose ahead before half-time and went from strength to strength to run out convincing 40-12 winners. Outstanding young second-row Michael Shiels led the revival with three tries,making it five from the last two games.
Rainey conceded a very careless penalty within seconds of the kick-off,the forwards failing to retreat from an offside position when scrum-half Sciascia kicked upfield.Ards ran the penalty to set up a ruck and use quick ball to send centre Scott Young through with the Rainey defence nowhere.A minute later,Rainey were penalised on their own put-in and were badly caught out again as Ards broke clear from a ruck for flanker Ryan Diver to score beneath the posts.A shellshocked Rainey side continued to question the scrummage interpretation of referee Danny Wallace as they struggled to get out of first gear,but after ten minutes quick-thinking Sciascia put them on the front foot with prop O’Kane and his support driving towards the posts to force a penalty which full-back O ‘Connor kicked.
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From a scrum on halfway,Rainey attacked again,only to turn over ball on the Ards’22’,but a lovely piece of skill from Shiels took them forward again.This time,a penalty decision left them frustrated.They lost centre Derby after 23 minutes,but were fortunate to have a very talented replacement in Mac Mahon.Ards threatened when Rainey’s tackling again let them down,but wing Suiter lifted the siege with a powerful break out of defence.Approaching the half-hour mark,Ards were penalised for pulling down a scrum thirty yards out,but O’Connor’s kick just veered to the right of the posts.Rainey were by now in the ascendancy and five minutes later Sciascia broke from a scrum on halfway to offload to flanker Heaney who found Shiels in support.The livewire lock cut inside to race through and touch down at the posts for a try that gave his colleagues all the confidence they needed and two minutes later they took the lead.Mac Mahon’s determination took play up to the halfway line and out-half Martin made a clean break to send O’Connor in for another fine try.With the last kick of the half,O’Connor landed a 45 yard penalty to leave Rainey 18-12 in front.
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Ards enjoyed possession for the first few minutes of the second half,but made no impact on a by now fully tuned in Rainey outfit.The South Derry team created a half chance by taking a quick lineout,but wing Campbell was unable to hold a high pass.Paul and then O’Connor both used the cold,diagonal breeze to pin Ards back and their measured approach was rewarded when Shiels stormed through after a strong burst up the middle from Suiter.There would be no way back after that for Ards.
Thriving on quick second phase ball,half backs Sciascia and Martin were able to dictate and a well-placed box kick from Sciascia took them to the corner where they stole lineout ball for Dawson to score on his return after a long absence.O’Connor converted and minutes later fired a 60 yard penalty into the corner where his pack went for a catch and drive which brought Shiels his third try.
After clearing their bench,Rainey found themselves a man short when Sciascia had to retire with cramp,but they had the luxury of having Mac Mahon on board to switch inside and he slotted in with ease.The forwards retained possession well in a confined space near touch to work an opening that ended with prop Amos forcing his way over for try number six four minutes from time.
Three wins on the trot have taken Rainey into a mid-table spot and a home victory over Nenagh on January 29 would make them contenders for a top four place.
TEAM : M.O’Connor,A.Campbell,S.Derby,R.Paul,P.Suiter,G.Martin,P..Sciascia,N.Amos,S.Sufferin,N.O’Kane,M.Shiels,D.Dawson,P.Heaney,S.Hawe.R.Mc Crea.
REPLACEMENTS : J.Mac Mahon ( Derby 23 ) R.Hill ( O’Kane 60 ) C.Donaghy ( Sufferin 60 ) P.Stewart ( Mc Crea 60 ) R.Devlin ( Campbell 60 )
FIXTURES – Sat.15 January.
1st XV v Queen’s Ulster League away 2.30 p.m.
2nd XV v probable re-arranged home Towns’ Cup game with Clogher Valley 2.30 p.m.
4th XV v probable first round tie at home to U.U.C. 11.
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