City of Derry 27
Rainey Old Boys 36

The Old Boys made wholesale changes, opting to give some promising squad members a run-out; and those brought in did themselves justice in a high-scoring affair.

Rainey scored six tries, and might have had several more as they played some very entertaining rugby; but they will be concerned they allowed Derry - second best for much of the game - to score five tries.

The sides meet again this Saturday at Hatrick Park and both sides will no doubt resort to more familiar line-ups in the AIL encounter.
Derry are desperate for points and will not be lacking in spirit, Rainey should be favourites for the points however.

Derry dominated the opening exchanges but Walsh and Paul linked on the blindside to take play into the Derry '22'. Rainey had a couple of drives for the line before centre Sanderson crossed to give them an eighth minute lead.

Derry drew level through scrum-half Galbraith when Rainey's O'Kane tried to drive out of defence but lost possession.

Midway through the half Martin offloaded to prop Boyle who had Stewart in support. The ball was moved wide for winger Walsh to storm in at the corner.

Rainey added another try minutes later when they handled beautifully out of defence with both wings Walsh and McBride involved. Full-back McBride followed up to finish off a superb move with a try which Heaney converted.

On the half hour, Stewart broke through the middle, brushing off a feeble challenge before touching down at the posts, leaving Heaney a simple conversion.

Four minutes from half-time, McGinnis was sin-binned for handling in the ruck. Derry piled on the pressure, but Rainey did well to hold onto their 24-5 lead.

Early in the second half, Derry's New Zealand full-back Ioane Ioane scored a try out of the blue with out-half Brace converting.
Back came Rainey, but Sanderson's hands let him down after great work from Cullen and Paul.

On 52 minutes, when Walsh was stopped on the wing, the ruck ball was moved to No. 8 Cullen who went through a gap to score try number five.
Despite being totally outclassed in broken play, Derry kept going for Ioane to score again despite a super tackle from Cullen who was withdrawn to give Glendinning his debut.

With out-half Martin getting his threequarters moving well, Paul broke with McBride in support, but at the Derry '22', they transgressed at the breakdown.

Play was held up several minutes as Walsh was treated for an ankle injury and as Rainey lost concentration, flanker Lynch was helped over to narrow the score to 31-22.

Another great run from Stewart took Rainey to the other end where second row Lavery scored in the corner.

Good loose play from the Derry front row took them back to the Rainey line where prop Witherow scored a consolation try.

Rainey Old Boys: R Paul, T Walsh, Jody McMurray, N Sanderson, J McBride, G Martin, M Sargent, P Boyle, C Heaney, N O'Kane(capt), D Dawson, C Lavery, E Stewart, S McGinnis, G Cullen. Replacements: M Glendinning, M Glancy, K Donaghy