2nd XV League 15th October 2022
Scorers: McErlean(1*Try), Crooks(1*Try)
Rainey II travelled to Rifle Park on Saturday for round 6 of the 2nd XV League against Banbridge II, but despite a bright opening, a slew of injuries ultimately cost them dear as they crashed to a 35 – 10 defeat.
The earlier heavy rain had cleared as Banbridge kicked off, with Rainey playing with a strong wind to their backs. The early exchanges were fairly even, but eventually Rainey started to make ground. A clever chip-and-chase by out-half G.Hall brought play into the home side’s ’22. Good carrying by No8 Hastings and prop McCullough pressed the advantage, before an unnecessarily long pass was carried forward by the wind and the attack collapsed.
Banbridge then came close, but despite being repeatedly strung across their entire tryline, the Rainey line held, with 2nd-row Millar to the fore. They cleared their lines and forced play back to the other end, where, under pressure from McCullough, the Banbridge out-half misjudged his clearance kick and it was easily retrieved by full-back Pollock. He kicked left and winger Crosier and centre A.Brown were quick in attack to force a knock-on. From the scrum, scrum-half MacGinty sent the ball across the backs and A.Brown popped up for a great carry in the centre of the park. The forwards took over, with Millar, McCullough and Hastings all carrying strongly before prop McErlean stretched to place the ball on the whitewash for Rainey’s opener. Pollock was unsuccessful with the conversion.
With Banbridge searching for an equaliser, prop Andrews was forced to retire with a damaged shoulder, which necessitated a reorganisation of the front-row. From the next scrum, Banbridge fed their centre, who suddenly found himself wide-open and he cantered half the pitch to score a converted try under the posts.
They extended their lead to 14-5 on the half-hour when the pack took a 5m lineout and mauled their way forward for the hooker to fall over the Rainey line. However, just before half-time Rainey clawed their way back into the game thanks to another moment of magic from McErlean. Emerging from a ruck near his own ’22, the big prop spotted no-one was home in the Banbridge defence and launched a mighty kick to within 5m of the Banbridge line. The home defence scuttled back, but Hastings was up quickly to make the tackle. Both sets of forwards arrived and Banbridge secured the ball, but as the No9 attempted a clearance kick, winger Crooks was suddenly on him to charge down and dive on the ball in the in-goal area. Pollock was just wide with the conversion.
Unfortunately, G.Hall had to retire at this point with a damaged ham-string, so Pollock moved to out-half. As the second period commenced, now playing into the strong wind, Rainey were up against it. A 50-22 kick by the Banbridge No10 looked ominous, but the Rainey forwards managed to pinch the ball from the ensuing maul and the situation was averted. It couldn’t last however, and it was the home No13 who once more carved the Rainey defence open after 50 mins for another converted try.
With the result no longer in doubt, Rainey continued to defend manfully. A great break by flanker P.Brown provided some welcome respite as he carried play into the opposition half, but yet again, another quick dart by the Banbridge centre released his winger to add to their tally.
Reduced to 14 men when Hastings was forced to leave the field with a shoulder injury, and struggling in the scrummage, Rainey performed heroically for the last 15 mins to limit Banbridge to one further converted try.