BALLYMENA V RAINEY NUTTY KRUST GROUP B 23/03/2016
At a calm and dry Chambers Park, with the pitch in excellent condition, Rainey came quickly out of the blocks and showed their intent to score tries. For the first 4 mines Ballymena could not get their hands on the ball as Rainey set a high tempo through scrum half Nageen Chada and produced multiple phases using backs and forwards. Two penalties in the 22 were turned down and quick taps maintained the pressure which saw prop Jack MacIntosh crash over for an unconverted opening score.
On their first foray into the Rainey half (after 11 mins) Ballymena were awarded a penalty for off side which out half James Boville pushed beautifully into the corner. Unfortunately an error at the lineout stopped them creating a scoring opportunity.
Ballymena built some phases and territory for several mins with half backs Chris Smyth and James Boville together with Richard Lamont and John Glover prominent.
On two occasions Rainey’s attempted clearance kicks found full back Callum Balmer who showed great feet to beat defenders up the touch line.
Mid way through the half the influential Chada made a great break just inside the Ballymena territory which saw him get into the 22 before a last ditch tackle from winger Mark McGarry prevented a score. At the resulting ruck a penalty was awarded which Rainey again tapped and went. Brave defence held the maul up and gained a turnover.
Ballymena relieved the pressure in the most courageous way when on award of a penalty in front of their posts they too tapped and went. Mark McGarry made a lot of ground before Tim McGuiness carried play forward and linked with Sean McComick who off loaded to supporting prop Jordan Glover. When James Boville took the inside pass it looked as though the crowd were about to witness the tray of the tournament. A chip to beat the last man unfortunately bounced unkindly to go touch and goal.
Rainey finished the half strongly but no further scoring occurred although an altercation close to the try line saw a Rainey back row player sent to the bin. HALF TIME 0-5
Ballymena began with some promise but too often handling errors prevented them from maintaining pressure or converting into scores.
One such error saw Rainey almost capitalise when winger Padraig Totten was just brought down short of the line when it appeared his great pace would create a score.
Rainey spilled a pass in the Ballymena half and ultimately paid the price- Referee James Taggart played advantage despite Rainey regaining possession as he saw the excellent Ballymena defensive press was pushing Rainey rapidly backwards. Eventually Ballymena won the turnover and centre David Fullerton (cap) broke free to score left of the posts –Boville added the extras to put Ballymena 7-5 ahead after 12 mins.
Despite going behind Rainey did not abandon their free flowing strategy and were rewarded on 16 mins when Michael O’Neill made a super break up the right touchline, fed the overhead pass into the supporting Gareth Hall who ran the final 20m to score. Full back Jac Lloyd Evans goaled the conversion to put Rainey ahead again 12-7.
Rainey had the line at their mercy a few mins later but a long miss pass to the two overlapping players went to ground.
The next 10 mins saw open and enterprising from both sides yet no scores were produced as an error usually stopped the play.
Rainey created the defining score with only 5 mins left on the clock with some great rugby. Lloyd Evans began the move with some great footwork before feeding flanker Christian Lawrence. He sold a great dummy to make a line break which got play into the 22- from the quick ruck ball after he was tackled the ball was shifted the width of the field for Michael O’Neill to score an unconverted try in the corner. At 17-7 Rainey were not done – they realised the importance of the bonus point and maintained pressure on the Ballymena line out causing two turnovers deep in the 22. Out half Hall stepped through a gap to go under the posts and earn the bonus with very little time remaining.
Evans converted to give Rainey a 24-7 win.
Rainey scrum half Nageen Chada was almost flawless with his passing, box kicking and decision making and as such was awarded the man of the match. Presented to him by Ulster Branch President Bobby Stewart.
Rainey now await the result of the final group game between Armagh and Randalstown to find out which two of these three sides will join Dromore and Omagh in the semi final draw.
