Rainey bow out of Ulster Senior Cup
RAINEY made their exit from the First Trust Ulster Senior Cup when City of Derry beat them 29-12 last Thursday night under the lights at Judges Road.
In the next round Derry meet Division 2 leaders Malone at Gibson Park.
This fixture meant little to either club. Rainey were well below strength (such is the injury crisis at Hatrick Park) while Derry, facing an uphill battle to preserve their senior status in the coming weeks, also fielded a young side.
It was a strange game if ever there was one. Facing a strong wind, Rainey recovered well from a terrible start to draw level before turning round only 17-12 in arrears, but they failed to come out for the second half as the home side assumed control to have the game sewn up long before the final whistle.
Derry went 5-0 up within two minutes, their hooker pouncing on the loose ball when Rainey failed to control lineout possession near their own line.
Minutes later, debutant flanker McCallion held on too long coming out of defence and had his pass intercepted handing Derry a gift try.
Rainey got going and played some excellent rugby for a spell with Sanderson coping well in the unaccustomed position of scrum-half.No.8 Stewart broke from a scrum to send Walsh in at the corner and Derry were under severe pressure when Rainey out-half Martin had a little kick through blocked allowing the opposition to hack the ball all the way to the other end.
A heel against the head set Rainey on the front foot again and after several phases prop McDowell drove over from close range for a great try near the posts.Heaney's conversion left the sides level.
Derry used the wind well to establish field position and a catch and drive try put them back in front after 27 minutes. Rainey defended well and handled confidently to keep the deficit at five points.
From a Rainey point of view, the second half was a non-event. After making a number of substitutions and positional switches they were forced to play second fiddle as Derry took over completely.
Struggling to win decent possession up front and unable to get out of their own half, they conceded two more tries before the hour mark to finish up a well beaten side. It became a damage limitation exercise as McBride's gutsy tackling saved them from further punishment.
TEAM:A.Campbell, T.Walsh, N.Suiter, J.McMurray, J.McBride, G.Martin, N.Sanderson, P.Boyle, C.Heaney, S.McDowell, M.Glendinning, A.Kerr, D.McCallion, E.Stewart, D.Dawson. Replacements; B.Simpson, N.O'Kane, D.Pugh, K.Campton.
Division 3 results (23 February): Connemara 13-19 Banbridge; Nenagh Ormond 33-6 Waterpark
Division 3 - fixtures for March 1 : Banbridge v Corinthians; Bruff v Queen's Univ.; City of Derry v Midleton; Connemara v Naas; Instonians v Co.Carlow
Sunday March 2 : Old Wesley v Nenagh Ormond; Sunday's Well v Waterpark
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Weather for Belfast
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
