Provincial League Div 1 19th October 2019
Scorers: Smyth(1*Try), Quinn(1*Try), McErlain(1*Try), O’Neill(1*Try), Brown(1*try), McElroy(1*Try), Hastings(1*Try), Kearns(1*Try, 5*Conv)
Rainey II progressed to their sixth bonus point win in Provincial 1 with a comprehensive victory over Belfast Harlequins II at Hatrick Park. As has been the case so far this season, the result was built on forward dominance and an ability to throw the ball around that their opponents have struggled to match. Such was the case last Saturday, as eight different players ran in a try each, while only conceding one, to go eleven points clear of the trailing pack.
Harlequins kicked off with a brisk breeze behind them, and the knowledge they would have to make the best of their scoring opportunities in the first half. They started strongly, keeping Rainey pinned back for the first five minutes before good work from McErlain and O’Neill released Smyth to break through the defence on the 22’ and canter over to score under the posts.
A silly mistake at the restart allowed Harlequins to claw back three points, but normal service was resumed soon after when scrum-half Quinn broke right from the base of a ruck and darted over between the posts. With the forwards carrying well, and the back row in particular swarming like flies over every loose ball from Harlequins, it was only a matter of time before they added to their tally. Friel had a great break down the left wing and Rainey managed to force a lineout 15m out. McElroy carried well and then McErlain forced his way over for Rainey’s third score under the posts.
By the 30th minute they had the bonus point sewn up. A couple of drives from Rutledge took play into the visitors’ 22’ and O’Neill was on hand to power through to give Kearns his fourth conversion from straight in front of the posts. 5 minutes later he was there once more. Rutledge powered out of the 22’ and released Hastings who sprinted into the Harlequins’ 22’ before offloading to B.Hall. As he was upended, he slipped the ball to the oncoming Brown, who drove over between the sticks.
With the half drawing to a close, Rainey relaxed somewhat and were immediately made to pay as Harlequins took play to their 5m line. They withstood a series of scrums and penalties but eventually succumbed as the visitors finally went over for a well-deserved score.
Turning around with the breeze to their backs, the watching crowd expected to see an aerial bombardment of the visiting fullback, but instead Rainey opted to play with ball in-hand. Early on, Harlequins piled the pressure on, but a relieving kick from Kearns cleared the Rainey lines and they went on the attack. From a lineout, Doherty drove for the line. When he was held up, the ball was fed to McElroy who drove through three defenders to touch down beside the posts.
Even though the result no longer in doubt, Harlequins still fought on gamely. Although Rainey were camped in their half, they couldn’t breach the visitors defence until finally a series of drives tied in the defenders and Hastings was able to use the gap to go over in the corner.
Once more Harlequins attacked from the restart, taking play into Rainey’s 5m line, but the home side were able to regain possession and go the length of the field, a great run by B.Hall leaving five would-be tacklers in his wake. When Kearns drove and stretched over to touch down Rainey’s eighth try, the ref decided to call time with over ten minutes still on the clock.
With a break next week, Rainey will continue their campaign in a fortnight’s time away to Queen’s II, in what could be a match crucial to the final outcome in this league.
Team: S.Rutledge, D.O’Neill, D.McErlain, D.McElroy, A.Doherty, C.Smyth, B, Hall, N.Hastings, L.Quinn, R.Kearns, M.Friel, G.Hall, A.Brown, S.Nelson, C.Moran
Replacements: A.Nevin, M.Nevin, C.McSwiggan,