Rainey ES and @BallyclareHigh share the spoils

On Saturday 9^th January the ’P Keenan Road Surfacing’ sponsored Rainey ES 1^st XV welcomed Ballyclare HS to Magherafelt. Fixtures between the two schools have been very close affairs recently and this game would prove to be very similar. In conditions that deteriorated rapidly Rainey started strongly but found the visiting defence extremely tough. Matthew Gordon, Connor Stringer and Adam Thornton all put in very physical performances. Within in 10 minutes the game settled down with neither side really getting the upper hand. However, when Ballyclare infringed after a nice break by Matthew Smyth, Lorcan Quinn stepped up to kick the conversion giving Rainey a 3 0 lead. Both sides through everything at each other with the defences winning most of the collisions. Andrew Nevin  and Cameron Stewart made tackle after tackle to stop Ballyclare attacks. With half time approaching a defensive error in their own 22 gave Ballyclare a score which they converted to give them a 7 3 lead. Ballyclare now sensed a opportunity and continued to attack but were denied by super tackles from Lorcan Quinn and Adam Hunter. With half time approaching Ballyclare kicked a penalty to extend their lead to 10 3.

A really determined Rainey came out in the second half. They were also lifted by the return from injury of Captain Andrew Brown. Andrew suffered a bad knee injury in early September and had worked really hard over the past few months to get back onto the playing pitch. A well worked move, in terrible conditions, gave Rainey their first try. From a lovely lineout take from Neal Hastings, Richard Winder made excellent ground through the centre. When the ball was recycled David Atkinson spotted the chance on the blindside, were he found Anton Lupari to run in untouched. Lorcan Quinn added the conversion and the score was level at 10 10. Another period time progressed as both teams battled for ascendency. Andrew Hawe was having a really influential game with ball in hand and Matthew Mulholland was displaying some excellent touches when he got the ball at full back. However, it was Ballyclare who regained the lead when another unforced error deep in their own half gifted the visitor’s possession. The conversion was missed and the score was now 15 10 to Ballyclare. A determined Rainey team were reluctant to give up their unbeaten streak and went back on the attack. A fine attack started by Andrew Brown and almost finished by Michael Lynn put them deep into the Ballyclare half. Matthew Young found Lorcan Quiin who put them in a scoring position. When Ballyclare were penalised at the resulting lineout, Anton Lupari showed great awareness to take a quick penaly and drive over for the score. Lorcan was ust wide with the conversion and the score remained 15 15. With time running out that completed the scoring.

This was an extremely physical and closely contested game between two well matched sides. Just the type of game that the homeside needed with the Danske Bank Schools’s Cup around the corner.

The ‘Quinns’s Coach Hire’ sponsored 2^nd XV put in a much better performance but lost 32 0. The ‘N & J Diecast and Toys (Maghera) sponsored Medallion lost 14 12 in another very evenly matched game. They scored two tries by Bryn Davies and Karl Warner and Karl kicked one conversion. The result, however, could have been so different had they not spilled the ball while crossing the line on three occasions. The U14s also lost a closely contested match 19 12 with Abban McCloy scoring two tries and Ross Speers kicking one conversion. The U13s played their part in a very entertaining and high scoring game. They eventually lost 38 29 but lead on a number of occasions. The try scorers were Matthew Cowan (3), Shea Conway and Eoin McGarvey. Daniel Barfoot kicked two conversions.

This Saturday’s fixtures are against Grosvenor GS. The 1^st XV and 2^nd XV are away. The U13s and U14s are at home with 9.30am kick offs. The Medallion are also at home in Round 3 of the Danske Bank Medallion Shield. They play Regent House with a 10.30am kick off. All support welcome.

Another date for your diary is Round 2 of the Danske Bank School’s Cup. The 1^st XV travel to RS Armagh on Saturday 23^rd January and again a big support would be really welcome.