Ulster Bank AIL 27th October 2018

Scorers: Quinn(1*Try), Bloomfield(2*Try), Magrath(2*Pen)

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After a difficult start to the season, Rainey Old Boys picked up their first points when they defeated Galway Corinthians 21-17 at a bitterly cold Hatrick Park.  It was a far from convincing display, but, as they say, a win is a win.  After scoring two tries in the opening quarter, a bonus point victory looked a strong possibility, but Rainey could not sustain the momentum as they conceded an inordinate number of penalties and struggled to get out of second gear thereafter.  They remain in bottom spot, with a late penalty try taking Corinthians above Skerries, who come to Rainey on Saturday.

Ulster Bank AIL 2B 6th October 2018

Scorers: M.McCusker(1*Try),  O'Neill(1*Try), McLean(1*Conv)

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After a very encouraging build-up to the AIL campaign, Rainey Old Boys must be wondering where it has all gone wrong.  A freak result at Barnhall came largely as a result of Rainey's inability to hold on to the ball in contact, but the alarm bells will be ringing after another failure which saw them make a multitude of unforced errors in a nightmare second half.  When Rainey regained the lead around the half hour mark, a home win looked the likely outcome, but Wanderers visibly soared in confidence as Rainey fell apart, to run out 26-12 winners, with a fourth try deep in added time giving them a bonus point.

Ulster Bank AIL 2B 29th September 2018

Scorers: R.McCusker(1*Try), Pritchard(1*Try), Magrath(2*Conv)

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Rainey Old Boys were fully aware of the task that lay before them when they travelled down to Kildare for their opening AIL clash with Barnhall, but they never could have expected to have their line crossed five times in an almost surreal first half as the confident Leinster men went on to win 36-14.

The game was as good as over after fourteen minutes with a rampant Blue Bulls outfit 19-0 ahead.  To their credit, Rainey stuck at it and played much of the game in the Barnhall half, but they coughed up too much ball in contact as they drove at the opposition forwards, and found a couple of key decisions go against them.  They can say that they won the second half, but they had no hope of salvaging anything from this game.

SONI Premiership Division 2 22nd September 2018

Scorers: Rutledge(1*Try), M.McCusker(2*Try), Donaghy(1*Try), O'Neill(1*Try), McLean(4*Conv)
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Following three wins in the Ulster League and a victory in the Senior Cup, Rainey Old Boys are ready for the start of the AIL on Saturday.  Coach John Andrews has used these games to have a good look at his young squad and made further changes with the next game in mind.  With Damien McMurray likely to miss several games due to work commitments, he selected the pairing of Andy Magrath and Conor Fitzsimons in the centre.  The Wellington U20 player did enough to suggest that he could play a key role in the side.  And while a bulging disc continues to trouble captain Paul Pritchard, Ulster U20 captain Charlie Clarke was handed a debut at openside.  He had a fine game and is sure to challenge for a place in the side.  Rainey's five tries all came from the pack, but their scrummage played second fiddle to Lewis Stevenson's big Bangor eight for much of the contest and the penalty count against them was far too high.  Rainey won 33-26, but led 33-14 with eight minutes remaining.  For the second week running, they switched off after emptying their bench, something they cannot afford to do against better opposition. 

First Trust Ulster Senior Cup 15th September 2017

Scorers: Quinn(1*Try), McLean(5*Conv), McMurray(2*Try), Harbinson(1*Try), J.McCusker(1*Try), (1*Pen Try)

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Rainey continued their winning run with a fantastic display against Queens in the quarterfinal of the Senior Cup.  Rainey fielded their strongest team of the season so far with Donaghy, Quinn and O’Neill returning to the backline and Nevin making his first start at hooker adding to the ever-growing squad of young Magherafelt men who’ve gotten the season off to a flyer.

Rainey set the tone right from the off when captain Ronan McCusker regained the kick-off and started an onslaught of attacks on the Queens line.  McLean kept control of territory and when offered the opportunity attacked a static Queen’s defence and with a superb offload sent Oisin Quinn in below the posts for the opening score, before adding the conversion.