Ulster Bank AIL 6th January 2018
Scorers: McMurray(4*Try), O'Neill(1*Try), Roberts(2*Try), Donaghy(1*Try), M.McCusker(1*Try), McSwiggan(1*Try), McLean(1*Try), Magrath(8*Conv)
After a mid-season dip in form, Rainey Old Boys were more like themselves as they defeated City of Derry 71-0 at a bright, but very cold Hatrick Park. They ran in eleven tries, the first eight of them converted by ace marksman Andy Magrath, against a side facing a very tough future with a positive attitude. With a vigour that has been missing in recent outings, a much sharper Rainey pack overpowered the city men in the set piece and supported well in the loose. No8 Jody McMurray helped himself to four pushover tries, a very rare occurence, as well as being prominent in open play. And, despite having three backs out of action, their handling was most impressive throughout.
Two bursts from prop O'Hagan got the home crowd going in the opening minutes and it looked ominous for the visitors when the Rainey forwards drove their scrum back over the line after seven minutes. Tries came at regular intervals thereafter. From a lineout, Pritchard and Barker led a surge into the 22' where quick ball was moved wide to full-back O'Neill who dotted down in the corner.
A controlled catch and drive was finished off by hooker Roberts who was never far from the breakdown and he struck again when he was helped over after good play from both backs and forwards. Try number five came from loose-head Kieran Donaghy, his first ever touchdown in AIL rugby. Derry threatened for the first time on the half hour, but a magnificent take against the throw by John McCusker made this visit to Rainey territory a short one. A quickly taken penalty in midfield took the Old Boys into the Derry 22' where a transgression earned the Derry No8 a yellow card and the pushover try and conversion which followed left Rainey 42-0 ahead.
In the past,Rainey have tended to switch off having found themselves well in front, but they did not let this happen this time. Most of the crowd stayed until the finish to enjoy some very entertaining rugby. When a Rainey move broke down after some great handling, Derry swooped to the other end where Rainey stole possession to break out of their 22'. Left-wing Stirling carried on the move by heading towards the touchline, at which stage, he plnned back his ears and went for the corner. When challenged a few yards short, he lost his footing and scrambled on a few yards further before being finally halted. It would have been a marvellous score.
Flanker Michael McCusker grabbed the next try after a series of offloads. A try was ruled out when Roberts and Pritchard chased a grubber kick and were adjudged to have knocked on, but the forwards again used their power to set up another pushover for McMurray. Another pushover arrived shortly afterwards when Barker led the charge into the 22' from the tail of lineout. Second-row Ronan McCusker then butchered a certain try when he ignored the support unmarked on his left and Pritchard was sin binned. Prop Aidan McSwiggan got in on the act when he scored in the corner following good work from Roberts and John McCusker and scrum-half McLean nipped through a gap close to a ruck to round off proceedings.
TEAM : M.O'Neill, R.Lamberton, D.McMurray, A.Donaghy, N.Stirling, A.Magrath, S.McLean, K.Donaghy, B.Roberts, T.O'Hagan, T.Barker, J.McCusker, P.Pritchard, J.McMurray, M.McCusker.
REPLACEMENTS : R.McCusker, F.Quinn, S.McLean, S.Crooks, A.McSwiggan.