Energia AIL 12th October 2019
Scorers: Bloomfield(2*Try), Magrath(1*Try, 3*Conv, 2*Pen), (1*Pen Try)
Photos
Despite having to make several changes, some of them positional, for their first ever meeting with Buccaneers at Hatrick Park, Rainey Old Boys gelled well as a team to have a try-scoring bonus point safely in the bag long before the final whistle. A 34-10 victory leaves them on a very satisfactory six points after two games the AIL campaign.
Buccaneers came into being when Athlone and Ballinasloe amalgamated in 1993. The Galway men reverted to Junior rugby in Connacht in 2006, but the Westmearh side continued to be called Buccaneers and with former Ireland No8 Noel Mannion back in their ranks and Eddie O'Sullivan as coach, they enjoyed two spells in Division 1. Current internationals Robbie Henshaw and Jack Carty then starred for the Midlanders before they slipped down the ranks. Last season they reached the play-offs in Div 2A as they strove to get back up.
On a fine autumn afternoon, Rainey had a few new faces in their squad, but hit the ground running to exert early pressure and move 3-0 ahead with an eighth minute penalty. Buccaneers threatened briefly, but some excellent tackling forced them back for centre Magrath to tap over another close range penalty following a lineout on halfway. The pack drove forward to create the space for Bresland and Donaghy to surge through and force a penalty.
While Buccaneers were strong in the middle of the lineout, Miller and Bresland took some great ball at the tail to keep the Old Boys on top and a penalty try made it 13-0 when Fitzsimons and Bloomfield did well to cause the visitors to resort to employ illegal tactics to stop a certain try.
Rainey made a mess of dealing with the restart kick, but Buccaneers missed a good opportunity of opening their account and on the half hour Bloomfield scored a remarkable opportunist try when he blocked a clearance kick at the back of a lineout and managed to claim the dropping ball in the dead ball area and touch down despite being on his back at this stage. Rainey were naturally well pleased with their 20-0 interval lead.
Buccaneers ran in a fine try early in the second half, but Rainey, despite conceding silly penalties and firing out some careless passes, remained in control with Connolly, big South African loose-head Hume and Bresland, an obvious contender for man of the match, combining in a terrific move. Buccaneers enjoyed a good little spell, moving the ball well at times, until Bloomfield came to Rainey's rescue with a timely intervention.
A careless flnal pass cost Rainey another try, but play was brought back for a penalty. Opting for a scrum, the pack edged forward to present Bloomfield with an easy score at the posts.
The bonus point fourth try came midway through the half when Magrath went through following great work from forwards Michael McCusker, Donaghy and McSwiggan. As Rainey switched off, as they tend to do, Buccaneers took advantage by scoring a try from a quickly taken lineout near halfway. In the last play of the game, Magrath went for an interception, but just could not hold on to the ball with not a defender in sight.
TEAM: C.Devlin, A.Donaghy, C.Fitzsimons, A.Magrath, M.O'Neill, M.Connolly, J.Bloomfield, J.Bresland, R.McCusker, A.Harbinson, J.McAuley, M.Miller
REPLACEMENTS: C.Hume, M.Poscitt, K.Donaghy, M.McCusker, C.Smyth.