While Ulster and Biarritz were engaged in Heineken Cup combat at nearby Ravenhill,Queen’s University and Rainey Old Boys were in opposition at Dub Lane where the outcome was just as close and the ending equally dramatic,if not quite as important.With the last kick of the game,full-back Mark O’Connor won this Ulster League fixture for Rainey with a monumental kick into the wind from long range,a strike that would have graced any occasion.And though there was little at stake for either side here,there was no love lost between the sides and Rainey clearly relished emerging 30-27 winners after a late rally appeared to have clinched the verdict for the AIL 2 students.
In view of the rain that had fallen,underfoot conditions were just about perfect and the rain did not return until after the game.Rainey found themselves ahead after only two minutes,second-row Stewart going over when scrum-half Sciascia took a quick free to create an opening.O’Connor converted.Queen’s replied with a penalty from gifted full-back Quinn who was to have a huge impact on the game.A wind-assisted touch find from Martin took Rainey into a good attacking position and a spell of pressure led to a penalty which O’Connor kicked.
Queen’s replied almost immediately with Quinn taking a great line on the visitors’ 22′ to accept a lovely delayed pass from Pyper and cruise home for a great try and add the extras.When the pace of Quinn brought Queen’s another lovely try,Rainey looked to be in for a torrid afternoon,but they dug in to make it a very interesting encounter.
Good forward play took Rainey close to the Queen’s posts,but the ball was spilled. Sciascia then broke wide from a scrum to link with O’Connor who,unfortunately,took his eye off the ball and the chance was lost.Further pressure saw Mc Crea and then Mac Mahon test the Queen’s defence before Sciascia chipped over an unorthodox drop goal from the base of a ruck about five yards out. Queen’s had a forward sin-binned for coming in from the side at a ruck and their lot was to get even worse when Rainey wing Devlin intercepted fifty yards out and just made it to the line.O’Connor’s conversion left Rainey 20-15 ahead at half-time.
Rainey withdrew Sciascia at the interval,with Mac Mahon moving in to play a vital role.Good handling between backs and forwards took Rainey deep into the Queen’s 22′,but an eighty yard clearance had them chasing all the way back to their own territory.Queen’s sweet-moving threequarters began to look even more menacing,but they squandered a gilt-edged chance and then conceded a free kick at a scrum in front of the Rainey posts which allowed Mac Mahon and Dawson to sweep up to halfway.Queen’s had a second forward yellow carded as Rainey took the game to them up front and when a period of pressure earned them a penalty,they opted for a scrum from which No.8 McCrea broke to crash over just to the left of the posts.
Trailing 15-27,Queen’s upped the tempo in the final quarter and prop Karayiannis forced his way over with Quinn converting.Devlin was then yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on to make Rainey’s task even tougher,but they put in some great tackles around the fringes to preserve their lead.With two minutes remaining,Quinn completed his hat-trick,but,crucially,missed the kick which would have put his team in front.But the drama was not over yet.In injury time Rainey were awarded a penalty on the 10′ line,only a few yards in from touch.Rather than put the ball dead and settle for a draw,Rainey elected to go for goal and,though the wind strength rose just as O’Connor approached the ball,it sailed between the posts with plenty to spare.A really remarkable effort.
TEAM : M.O’ Connor,R.Devlin,J.Mac Mahon,R.Paul,P.Suiter,G.Martin,P.Sciascia,N.Amos,C.Donaghy,R.Hill,M.Shiels,P.Stewart,D.Dawson,C.Brennan,R.Mc Crea.
REPLACEMENTS : N.O’Kane ( Hill 40 ) A.Campbell ( Sciascia 40 ) S,Sufferin ( Donaghy 50 ) A.Harbinson ( Brennan 50 )
AIL Division 3 results : Instonians 19-16 Sunday’s Well Navan 6-20 Banbridge Nenagh Ormond 36-5 Ards
In the Towns’ Cup,last year’s beaten finalists Clogher Valley beat a very poor Rainey O.B. 11 side 49-0 at Hatrick Park.Rainey,who trailed 27-0 at the break,showed no zest for the fight and never looked like scoring,even with the wind behind them in the second half.
FIXTURES for Sat.22 January.
3rd XV v Clogher Valley 111 away
4th XV v City of Derry 1V away
