Ulster Bank AIL 17th February 2017
Scorers: O'Hagan(1*Try), J.McCusker(1*Try), Magrath(2*Pen, 2*Conv)
Rainey Old Boys maintained their second placing in the league, but will have to play a lot better if they are to add to their points total. On a lovely afternoon for playing rugby, the boost of an early try was not even enough to get them going and it took the boot of out-half Andy Magrath to ease them clear for a 23-14 victory.
After playing so well at Wanderers, this was a very poor display, making it a game to forget. Concentration was almost non-existent and too many forwards stood out among the backs watching the ball carrier plough a lone furrow. The passing and handling in such good conditions made it a game of very few try-scoring chances, so different frame of mind will be essential at Barnhall in two weeks time.
Glen Sinnamon, the Dungannon loose-head, was making his 200th appearance in the AIL, a magnificent achievement for a very loyal clubman. Rainey made a lively start, but retaining the ball proved a problem. Taking the first scrum of the game against the head kept them in the visitors' territory and after six minutes O'Hagan broke out of the blue from a ruck to touchdown near the posts.
The name of young full-back Michael O'Neill was added to a lengthening injury list when a knock to the head forced him to leave the field, but the experienced Gavin Martin was a handy replacement. Forty-six players have now played on the firsts this season. Rainey then went to sleep and soon found themselves 14-7 behind. The tackling was either ineffectice or non-existent as Dungannon must have thought that it was Christmas again. Two converted tries in quick succession had altered the picture. Rainey left-wing Scott McLean rose to compete for the restart kick on the run, but the ball just squirmed out of his grasp. Had he held it, he would have been clean through for a remarkable try.
The Rainey pack just could not get back into the game, while the back play was not accurate enough. On the odd occasion they had numbers out wide, but kicked away possession. With Barker and John McCusker beginning to make inroads into the Dungannon defence, Rainey should have crossed, but did not have enough forwards in support. McCusker popped up again to put his side on the front foot and, when scrum-half Wilson spotted a gap close to a ruck, he darted through and looked sure to score until he lost his footing just short of the posts. But, among the supporting players following up was McCusker who picked up to score.
With better ball retention, Rainey stayed on the attack for Magrath to ease them in front and at the three-quarter stage he obliged again when Wilson was impeded. Ten minutes from time, Magrath found the target from fifty yards to leave Dungannon without a losing bonus point. They moved it well around the home 22', but a text-book tackle from McIlroy ended their hopes.
TEAM: M.O'Neill, S.McLean, D.McMurray, J.McIlroy, R.Lamberton, A.Magrath, K.Donaghy, T.O'Hagan, R.McCusker, T.Barker, M.McCusker, J.McCusker, J.McMurray, M.Wilson, M.Nevin.
REPLACEMENTS: G.Martin, A.Harbinson, A.McSwiggan, C.Smyth, D.Corrigan.