UBL 25th March 2017
Scorers: Donaghy(1*Try), P.McCusker(1*Try), Wilson(1*Try), Barker(1*Try), O'Hagan(1*Try), McLean(2*Pen, )
After a couple of late setbacks,Rainey Old Boys eventually got going to run in six tries against Cork visitors Midleton for a 42-26 win. But they only held a two point lead with seven minutes of normal play remaining and they cannot afford the sloppy passages of play that kept Midleton in the game for so long. Tommy O'Hagan returned at prop to show just why he is so highly rated at the Ulster Academy and replacement wing Philip McCusker, a relative newcomer to the game, had a second-half to remember. Prop Stephen Rutledge was another happy man, his troublesome hamstring standing up to the test.
With John McCusker on duty for Ireland against Japan "A" at the Aviva and brother Ronan failing a late fitness test, Rainey were simply not at the races in the opening minutes. Captain Jonny Lees then had to retire with a thumb injury, to be replaced byMattie Miller, making his home debut. Midleton went ahead with a penalty before a rampaging burst from O'Hagan got the crowd going and should have resulted in a try. Little darts from Michael McCusker and Andrew should have been rewarded before McLean brought the sides level. A blatant forward pass, which the referee somehow missed, helped Midleton gain a penalty, but McLean repeated his act.
McLean, Andrew and Jody McMurray combined to create a promising situation, which saw a Midleton player yellow carded and Rainey opting for a scrum which came to nothing. Things began to look up for Rainey when they finally started to put width on the ball and use the numbers which they had on both wings. O'Hagan was inevitably involved in the action which led to Wilson sending wing Donaghy over in the corner. Rainey have acquired the habit of conceding penalties immediately after scoring and the usual, of course, happened.
On a beautiful Spring afternoon,Rainey looked good until a series of silly decisions handed Midleton a simple penalty. Philip McCusker sprang into action to lift the gloom which had returned. Taking a high ball in his own half, his giant strides fairly ate up the turf as he turned defence into attack. When centre Damien McMurray made good ground, play swept acrossfield for Jody McMurray to send McCusker in for a well-deserved try. But, minutes later, a wayward pass from scrum-half Wilson left Rainey undermanned at the back and they hacked through for a try. Play switched to the other end when McCusker did his party trick and a superb long pass from Andrew looked to have been wasted until Wilson managed to get the touchdown. Rainey's joy was short-lived, as Midleton swept to the other end for a converted try, leaving only two points between the teams.
Realising that a front line place-kicker might be needed, Rainey brought McLean back on from the bench, and not before time too. O'Hagan tore into the away 22' with Andrew and flanker McCusker on his shouder and when the ball was moved out, Barker drove over for a converted try to ease the fears of the home crowd. A spirited Midleton side tested the Rainey defence in the last ten minutes, but it was that man O'Hagan who deserved to have the final say when he powered his way through to make the line despite being twice grounded.
TEAM : S.Mc Lean,A.Donaghy,D.Mc Murray,J.McMurray,P.Mc Cusker,R.Andrew,M.Wilson,F.Quinn,M.Caithness,T.O'Hagan,T.Barker,P.Stewart,,M.Mc Cusker,D.Corrigan,J.Lees. REPLACEMENTS : K.Donaghy,M.Miller,P.Mc Cusker,S.Rutledge.G.Martin.