Ulster Bank AIL 4th November 2016
Scorers: O'Neill(2*Try), McIlroy(1*Try), McMurray(1*Try), Magrath(2*Conv, 2*Pen)
The match of the day in Division 2B at Hatrick Park between Rainey Old Boys and Wanderers promised to be a real cracker and it lived up to all expectations, as Rainey fought back with a rousing second-half display to clinch a great 32-18 victory and bank a bonus point with a last minute try. The Dubliners were the better side in the first half and could easily have turned round with a commanding lead, but Rainey's big players turned up the heat with great support from their colleagues to gradually assume control and produce some very entertaining rugby in the process.
Rainey were without Ronan McCusker, but welcomed back Josh McIlroy and Robert Lamberton for this huge clash. They started well with Damien McMurray and John McCusker combining through the middle, with Jody McMurray taking it into the Wanderers' 22'. But, as they tend to do, the forwards transgressed at the breakdown with the backs poised for action. Wanderers then missed a very kickable penalty before Rainey wasted a catch and drive opportunity. The Wanderers' backs looked as sharp as a tack on several occasions and on twelve minutes found a big gap in midfield to score at the posts. But Rainey hit back in style with back-row men Pritchard and Harbinson taking them forward for scrum-half Bloomfield to fire out an exquisite twenty-five yard pass which left wing O'Neill with a clear run-in. Magrath converted.
When they fluffed a penalty to the corner, Wanderers made them pay by working their way downfield to go 12-7 ahead. A mazy little run from busy Bloomfield took Rainey forward, with O'Neill appearing to be tackled without the ball. The referee, however, thought otherwise. Following an error, Pritchard had to chase back almost to his own posts, but he stunned the crowd with a prodigious fifty-five yard touch find. A penalty took Wanderers further ahead, but Pritchard somehow managed to worm his way through a ruck to earn a penalty which Magrath kicked.
A little flash of skill from O'Neill almost sent the oncoming Quinn away, but the ball went to ground. Fortunate to be only five points behind, Rainey's ball carriers had to step up to the mark and two big scrums got the crowd going. Barker, Roberts and Pritchard led a series of drives before the ball was moved right for Quinn to send O' Neill over for his second try which levelled the score. Minutes later, more great play from the pack had Wanderers reeling and Quinn joined in an attack with McIlroy somehow managing to get home from the 22' when there did not appear to be a gap. Magrath's conversion gave Rainey the lead for the first time.
But from the restart, Rainey elected to keep the ball alive rather than put it behind the opposition and gifted Wanderers a penalty to set up a very tense last fifteen minutes. They put themselves under unnecessary pressure by making some little errors, but McCusker and Sterling broke away up the wing with a penalty coming as a very welcome bonus. At 25-18, Rainey could not afford to relax and the forwards kept the squeeze on the opposition while Magrath and Quinn kicked well. A penalty to the corner set up an obvious chance of a bonus point. Wanderers held out, but No8 McMurray went round the narrow side from a scrum five to grab the clinching try as the game moved into time added.
TEAM ; O.Quinn, M.O'Neill, D.McMurray, J.McIlroy, N.Sterling, A.Magrath, J.Bloomfield, K.Donaghy, B.Roberts, T.O'Hagan, J.McCusker, T.Barker, A.Harbinson, P.Pritchard, J.McMurray
REPLACEMENTS ; F.Quinn, M.McCusker, R.Lamberton, S.Rutledge, M.Miller.