Derek Lee Memorial Cup 12th August 2017
Scorers: McIlroy(1*Try, 7*Conv), Moran(1*Try), Crooks(2*Try), Bloomfield(1*Try), McMurray(1*Try), Hall(2*Try)
While the scoreline would suggest a landslide victory for Rainey, Clogher Valley enjoyed their fair share of possession when the sides met in the Derek Lee Memorial Match at the Cran. Up front, the Valley worked hard and had several spells close to the Rainey line, but they did not know how to turn possession into points. Rainey held all the aces behind the set piece to score eight tries, all but one converted by out-half McIlroy, for a 54-3win. They put together a lot of nice moves with good handling and offloading.
Clogher were first to show, but Rainey broke upfield after seven minutes through forwards Higgins and Donaghy, with quick ball giving them numbers on the left creating a try for wing Moran. Clogher replied with a penalty, but Rainey ran it out of defence for wing Crooks to finish off a slick move in which full-back Lamberton and scrum-half Bloomfield played their part. Rainey tackled very well and were resilient as the Valley forwards camped in the Rainey 22' for several minutes without reward. Rainey showed them how by adding two more tries before the break. Prop McSwiggan put them on the front foot with a telling run and, when Clogher were penalized, Bloomfield took a quick tap to dummy his way through. Then they finished well again through captain Damien McMurray to lead 28-3 at the interval.
McIlroy cut inside to claim try number five before a scrappy period of play. Wilson broke up to halfway to release young wing Hall for a try and six minutes later he picked up a second while several players were involved in a melee some forty yards away. Some good offloading deserved to result in a try, but they had to wait until the final minute for Crooks to cross again after more crisp handling.
SQUAD : J.McIlroy, S,Crooks, D.McMurray, R.Lamberton, A.Moran, J.Bloomfield, T.Andrews, G.Hall, K.Loughran, M.Nevin, A.McSwiggan, P.Stewart, H.Henry, M.McCusker, D.Corrigan, J.Higgins, J.McKenna.