Regional West 26th January 2018
Scorers: Friel 4*Try), Andrews(2*Try), Flanigan(1*Try), McGuckin(1*Try, 1*Conv), Higgins(1*Try, 4*Conv), Bell(1*Try), McSwiggan(1*Try)
Rainey III maintained their 100% record in Regional West when they ran out easy winners in a 0 – 65 encounter against Cookstown at Drapersfield last Saturday, with centre Friel bagging 4. Although the pitch was soggy, it didn't prevent Rainey from playing some good running rugby as they consolidated their hold on the league.
The first ten minutes of the match saw both teams test each other's capabilities, with neither side gaining an advantage, before a series of Cookstown infringements allowed Rainey kick to the corner. When lock Flanigan took the lineout, the forwards powered over for prop Andrews to open the scoring. The second try came minutes later when the Rainey forwards won fast ball and outhalf Hall kicked for territory. Friel chased well to gather the ball and race clear for the try line.
From the restart, the forwards poured forward again, with No8 McCrea and lock Campton to the fore, before feeding fullback Bell who broke clear, only to be brought down at the 22’. A quick chip over the defence by scrumhalf McSwiggan, allowed him to dart through, gather the ball and run clear for the score. Higgins added the extras.
The fourth came from a scrum in the Cookstown 22’. Following good work by the front row of Lee, Trainor and Andrews, the ball was spun to winger Higgins, who went over in the corner. With Rainey now running riot, the fifth try came from another well taken restart. Rainey went through several phases, working their way downfield, before Friel found a gap in the defence and ran in for his second. Higgins was again successful with the conversion.
Bell got the next, as Rainey once again worked through the phases, stretching the home side left and right, before creating an overlap with the fullback joining the line and having an easy stroll into the corner.
With the result now a foregone conclusion, Rainey ran in a further five tries in the second half, with two converted by Higgins and one by McGuckin. Good running by Friel allowed him to break through for another brace of tries; Andrews who was prominent in attack all day, grabbed his second close to the posts and Flanigan, who bossed the lineout throughout, galloped over after taking an offload from Andrews. Flanker McGuckin rounded off the proceedings, dotting down for the last score of the day when he cantered into the corner.