City of Derry 17

BOTTOM of the table team City of Derry came agonisingly close to recording their first AIL victory of the season when they led Rainey Old Boys 17-15 with time running out at Hatrick Park.

But it was out-half Glancy who saved the home side’s blushes when he landed a 28 yard penalty to put Rianey in front for the first time.

There was still time for more drama as Derry broke out of defence in the dying seconds of injury time and had the Rianey cover scurrying across in desparation to force the ball into touch on halfway.

The judges Road side had to settle for a losing bonus point but if their forwards can maintain the form they showed in the second half they will soon have the clubs just above them looking over their shoulders.

On a bitterly cold afternoon Derry had first use of a gusting wind which blew towards the town end. The early handling errors were understandable in the conditions but a late tackle from McGinnis allowed the opposition to establish a good field position in the Rainey 22.

Wing McGlaughlin eased the pressure with a good little break through the middle.

Derry’s opening score came after nine minutes and there was a touch of good fortune about it too. Moran’s kick ahead came off the fingertips of a Rainey player forcing full-back Paul to find touch rather than touch the ball down for a 22 drop out.

From close range Derry drove over with flanker Tucker getting the try which full-back Iaone converted.

As the error count rose Derry were soon back in the Rainey half. The Old Boys tried to up the tempo but their ball retention let them down on a number of occasions.

Glancy saw a shot at goal into the wind fall well short and they gave the ball away on several occasions by trying to find the tail of the lineout when such a tactic was almost impossible on the day.

After 23 minutes Rainey finally made the breakthrough when McMurray and Stewart took it on after Moran had a kick charged down on the Derry 10 line.

The pack made further ground towards the posts before Paul came forward to break a tackle and score in the corner. Three minutes later Iaone kicked a penalty for Derry who had a forward sin-binned on the half hour for deliberatley slowing down ruck ball.

Rainey were looking comfortable at this stage but the picture altered considerably after 48 minutes when Leinster referree John Carville awarded Rainey a penalty for obstruction just inside the Derry half only to revrse his decision when a Rainey player appealed to the official after a Derry player kicked the ball away.

This ill-advised remark allowed Derry to pile on the pressure and hooker Duffy was driven over for a try which left them 17-5 ahead.

But rainey were handed a lifeline when Derry failed to secure the kick-off and Rainey worked their way slowly forward for Cullen to break from a ruck and score beneath the posts.