Energia AIL 2A 15th February 2020
Scorers: Connolly(1*Pen), (1*Pen Try)
Storm Dennis caused havoc at Hatrick Park on Saturday where Rainey Old Boys met Queen's University in a crucial AIL fixture. The pitch had dried out well on Friday, but a downpour at lunchtime Saturday put the match in jeopardy. After two inspections, the referee called the game off. Then it was on again and then off again. The all-weather pitch at Meadowbank was an alternative, but it did not meet all the criteria required for staging an AIL game. But, after a phone call to Dublin, the game was given the go-ahead. Some of the Queen's players were on their way home by this stage, but returned in time for a 3.05pm start. All this upheaval was soon forgotten when they held on for a deserved 16-10 victory.
Queen's had a strengthening wind at their backs and were 5-0 up within two minutes. A penalty to the corner and lineout possession brought them a try as Rainey just could not get going. Connolly found a little gap, but had his kick through blocked. Some great forward play pushed the visitors back with props Quinn and Hume driving on to earn a penalty on the 22'. But, after going to the corner, the lineout did not go as planned. O'Hagan and Donaghy took them forward again before a hoof upfield and two treacherous bounces of the ball caused panic in the home defence.
Rainey had Brad Roberts yellow carded as Queen's turned the screw and a penalty to the corner saw them forcing their way over at the posts, giving them a 15-0 lead. Dennis returned with a vengeance to the dismay of all present as Rainey ended the half well in search of a badly needed boost. They put the phases together in style, only to give away possession with Queen's on the ropes.
It took Rainey some time to realise that using the wind would gain them field position quicker than running from deep, but poor ball retention continued to frustrate them. Queen's had a forward yellow carded as Rainey hemmed them in their 22'. Opting for scrums instead of going for the posts, the referee penalised the students four times before awarding Rainey a penalty try on 63 minutes.
Two shots at goal from Connolly sailed wide as Rainey's challenge petered out. But, lacking in inspiration on the day, they spluttered along as Queen's threatened to strike again, before Connolly landed a penalty with the last kick of the game to secure a losing bonus point.
TEAM: M.O'Neill, N.Stirling, D.McMurray, M.Connolly, C.Moran, A.Magrath, J.bloomfield, C.Hume, B.Roberts, F.Quinn,J.McCusker, C.Brockschmidt, A.Bratton, J.Bresland, P.Magowan. REPLACEMENTS: K.Donaghy, M.McCusker, T.O'Hagan, A.McSwiggan, A.Harbinson.