Ulster Carpets U14 Provincial League North 19th November 2022

Scorers: Kelly(3*Try), Cassidy(2*Try), Loughran(1*Try), McIvor(1*Try), Douthart(1*Try, 6*Conv)

When these two sides met earlier in the season, Ballymena emerged victorious, with a 21-0 scoreline. The return fixture, however, saw a massive change in fortune, with a 52- 5 home victory, clearly showing the dramatic improvement in this young Rainey side.

All-Ireland League Semi-Final
Scorers: Molloy(2*Try), Kearns(1*Pen, 1*Conv)

Rainey Old Boys U18s travelled to Ashbourne RFC on Saturday to face Leinster champions Skerries in the Semi-Final of the All Ireland League and despite a heroic effort fell to a very hard fought 22-15 defeat. A late and very harsh penalty try finally gave the Leinster champions a bit of breathing space in a most entertaining encounter between two very good sides.

With a stiff breeze behind them Rainey made the perfect start as from a ruck outside the Skerries 22 they were penalised for being offside trying to clear their lines. Up stepped Kearns to open the scoring with a sweetly struck penalty to nudge Rainey 3-0 in front within two minutes.

Skerries playing in to the wind knew they would have to carry hard and this they did through their visibly bigger pack but they were met with ferocious defence all afternoon. They were helped along the way with some poor indiscipline which allowed them to build an attack in the Rainey half. Following sustained pressure from their pack they worked their way towards the Rainey line and eventually squeezed in at the left corner to go 5-3 in front.

U18 Ulster Carpets Cup 31^st March 2017
Scorers: C.Corr(1*Try), N.Corr(1*Try), Clarke(1*Try), McGlone(2*Try), O’Neill(1*Try), Diamond(1*Try), Kearns(2*Conv), Friel(3*Conv)
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After their mid-week exertions in the Nutty Krust Cup, when they knocked out Malone by 57-3, Rainey were understandably slow out of the blocks when they met Virginia in the cup quarter final at Hatrick Park.  Although finally running out 47 – 3 winners, the result was in the balance for most of the first half, before they finally pulled clear.

Ulster Carpets U18 League Final
Scorers: Kearns(2*Try, 4*Conv, 1*Pen), Molloy(1*Try), McGlone(1*Try), Friel(1*Try)

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In literally Baltic conditions at the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena, Rainey U18s secured the Ulster Carpets sponsored Ulster 18 League title against a strong Randalstown team, running out 36-7 victors.  With a strong icy wind blowing straight down the pitch, the belief among the shivering supporters was that it would be a classic “game of two halves”, but in the event, the Magherafelt men were more than capable of winning both.

Ulster Carpets U18 North 17th February 2018
Scorers: Kearns(1*Try, 3*Conv, 2*Pen), Clarke(2*Try)

Rainey U18s set themselves up very nicely for the league playoffs with a surprisingly comfortable 27-0 win over section winners Ballymena.  Rainey started the game in determined fashion, aiming to put an abrupt halt to Ballymena's unbeaten record this season. The balance of play was very even in the early stages as both sets of forwards set about testing each other out, though Rainey with Kealan Friel having a super game in the 10 jersey, held an advantage in the backs department.

Ulster Carpets U18 North 25th November 2017
Scorers: Young(1*Try, 1 Conv), Molloy(1*Try), McGlone(1*Try), Murray(1*Try), Friel(2Try), Diamond(1*Try)
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Rainey U18s had their sternest test of the season so far when they came up against Letterkenny in the league last Saturday.  In the end, they ran out comfortable 37 - 5 winners, but they were made to work hard for their victory by the Donegal men.  Rainey can look back on some missed opportunities and handling errors which took the gloss off the performance, but all said and done, it was a good day at the office.