HAVING won the Limerick Charity Cup and their first five AIL games, promotion favourites Bruff were always expected to beat Rainey at Kilballyowen Park.

The visitors competed well for the first half of the game, but were hampered by injury problems and were blown away in the final quarter as the Munster side's physicality began to take its toll in the Rainey pack.

The 31-0 scoreline perhaps flatters the winners a little, but they performed the basics well and chose the right options to continue their promotion charge.

A strong, crossfield wind and wet conditions posed problems for both sides who opened at a cracking pace. McGlaughlin looked to score for Rainey when he was sent clear after 8 minutes, but a tremendous tackle brought him down just short of the line.

Rainey tried to put width on the ball and winger Walsh put in a few good runs to extend the home defence, which has conceeded only 17 points in the league.

Towards the end of the opening quarter, Bruff crossed the Rainey '22' for the first time, but the Old Boys managed to scramble the ball clear.
But after 25 minutes, the Bruff forwards surged towards the line for flanker Carroll to grab the first try of an entertaining game.

A spirited Rainey hit back with No. 8 Cullen involved in most of their good moves, but a few loose passes undid the good work.

The Rainey scrum began to creak when prop McDowell had to retire with an ankle injury and just before the break, a catch and drive try for second row Murnane put Bruff 10-0 ahead.

Rainey were still in the game when they turned round, but their challenge gradually petered out as their tactical kicking never troubled the Bruff back three and too many first up tackles were missed.

On 59 minutes, Bruff capitalized on a sliced clearance to move the ball smartly across field for left-wing Hogan to end the match as a contest.
Cahill's conversion looked to have been blown wide, but the officials decided otherwise. It hardly mattered and now Bruff sensed a bonus point, restricting Rainey to some frantic efforts which invariably ended with them turning over ball.

Their best moment saw Suiter break through, but he was unable to beat Bruff full-back Deady. Bruff's direct approach brought them a fourth try on 74 minutes, hooker and captain O'Regan going through a static rearguard.

Rainey ran a couple of penalties without creating any clear openings, and in the dying minutes, flanker O'Rourke rounded off a hard-earned victory with the fifth try.

With closest challengers Queen's and Instonians due to travel to South Limerick, Bruff have a great chance of going through the season unbeaten.

Rainey should get back on track when they take on Waterford side Waterpark on Saturday, but they will have to find a plan that suits them and play to their strengths, kicking for field position and using the forwards to carve out chances for the backs.

Their policy of keeping the ball in hand if possible, even in their own half of the field, has not troubled the better sides.

Team: R Paul, T Walsh, N Suiter, J McMurray, A McGlaughlin, M Glancy, M Wilson, S McDowell, D Campbell, N O'Kane(capt), A Kerr, D Dawson, E Stewart, S McGinnis, G Cullen. Subs: P Boyle, C Lavery, C Heaney, J McBride

Division 3 Results:
Derry 5 - 15 Co Carlow
Midleton 9 - 17 Queen's
Instonians 38 - 15 Nenagh Ormond
Corinthians 11 - 10 Naas
Sunday's Well 28 - 22 Old Wesley