SONI Premiership 31st December 2016
Scorers: Wilson(1*Try), Andrew(1*Conv)
For both Rainey Old Boys and Belfast Harlequins, the performance was more important than the outcome when they met in a SONI Premiership game at Hatrick Park. The Deramore side have had their share of problems this season, but a 19-7 victory might help them to turn the corner. For Rainey, poor home form has been a problem, but there can be no excuses for the fare their supporters had to watch on Saturday. They were able to include three of the players who have missed much of the action in the first half of the season, but, with so many others still ruled out, were a pale shadow of the side which looked so sharp in the autumn. A few more may be available for this week's game in the SONI Premiership at Bangor which has been brought forward to Thursday night ( 7.45 pm ), but, with the Bruff game getting ever closer, the position is far from ideal.
Saturday's game was an untidy affair, a poor advertisement for senior rugby. With a dry ball, the quality of play was not acceptable. Rainey again had more or less a 2nd XV on duty and with players operating out of position, were a shambles. Players were often not on the same wavelength and frequently got in each other's way. Wayward passes and turnovers were the order of the day. Harlequins were not much better, but at least they won.
With the breeze behind them, Rainey dominated the opening quarter territorially, but, with their lineout not functioning at all, failed to trouble the scorer. On their first visit to the Rainey 22', bad defensive organisation from a scrum let Quins through an inviting gap for a try at the posts. Rainey huffed and puffed without getting anywhere and had Lees yellow carded for a tripping offence, but drew level when a perfect exhibition of clearing out by flanker Harbinson created a big enough gap for Wilson to go away from a ruck on the 22' for a try at the posts. Andrew converted. Just as Lees returned, Caithness was heading for the bin.
Nothing of note happened in the third quarter, at the end of which full-back Martin headed for an early bath. Frustrations were rising as yet another play broke down and the referee took immediate action when a remark was directed at him. A pushover try on the hour put the city men in front and in the last minute they scored from a 5m scrum just after Philip McCusker had done well to force an opponent into touch in the corner.
TEAM : G.Martin, A.Donaghy, D.McMurray, M.McClelland, P.McCusker, R.Andrew, S.McLean, A.McSwiggan, K.Donaghy, F.Quinn, R.McCusker, P.Stewart, A.Harbinson, J.Lees, D.Corrigan
REPLACEMENTS : M.Wilson, O.Quinn, M.Caithness, J.McCusker.