Ballyclare 54–21 Rainey
Ulster Rugby Senior Shield
Try Scorers: Penalty Try, M McCusker, M Nevin
Conversions: R Kearns ×2
Rainey made the short trip up the M2 to The Cloughan on Saturday afternoon to face Ballyclare in their final Ulster Rugby Senior Shield fixture of the season, with both sides knowing that the winner would be rewarded with a place in the Shield final around Christmas.
It was a game of two very contrasting halves, Ballyclare dominating the opening 40 minutes before Rainey produced a much-improved second-half performance.
Ballyclare opened the scoring after just seven minutes. A kick to the corner gave the home side the perfect attacking platform and, following a successful lineout in the Rainey 22, Ballyclare formed a driving maul before moving the ball through several phases and eventually crossing to the left of the posts. The conversion was missed, leaving the score Ballyclare 5–0 Rainey.
The home side soon added a second. Following a clean restart, Ballyclare worked the ball through several phases in the middle of the park before breaking away out wide. A number of Rainey defenders were stepped as the Ballyclare attacker raced over for the try. This time the conversion was successful, making it 12–0.
Both sides exchanged attacking phases as the game progressed, but Rainey struggled to build any sustained pressure. A number of clearance kicks were charged down, allowing Ballyclare to counter once again. The home side broke away and, after more elusive running and missed tackles, crossed for their third try. The successful conversion made it 19–0.
Rainey’s indiscipline then began to prove costly. Needless penalties allowed Ballyclare another opportunity to kick for the corner and, once again, the home side won their own lineout. This time, slick handling and quick ball saw Ballyclare move the ball wide after just one phase, with the Rainey defence unable to cope with the speed of the attack. Ballyclare strolled over in the corner for their fourth try, with the conversion making it 26–0.
After the restart, Rainey again gave away penalties for avoidable mistakes. Ballyclare once more opted for the corner and, rather than releasing the ball to their backs, changed things up and formed a driving maul. The maul gathered momentum and was eventually driven over the Rainey try line for Ballyclare’s fifth try of the afternoon. The conversion was successful, 33–0.
Ballyclare continued to press. From another clean restart, a home lock forward took the ball and tore through the middle of the park, weaving his way through the Rainey defence before drawing a defender and releasing his supporting player, who raced in to score. The successful conversion moved the score to 40–0.
Rainey then had an opportunity to apply pressure from a scrum just outside the Ballyclare 22. However, an attempted backline move went wrong, with the ball fumbled and going to ground. Ballyclare pounced, hacking the ball upfield and giving chase. Although the home side eventually regained possession inside the Rainey 22, the visitors’ defence managed to halt the initial attack.
Ballyclare continued through several phases, however, and eventually a gap appeared for a home back-row forward to burst through and score their seventh try. Another successful conversion left the half-time score:
Half-Time: Ballyclare 47–0 Rainey
The second half was a completely different story.
Ballyclare did open the scoring once again, with the home side extending their lead to 54–0. A scrum on the Rainey 22 provided quick ball, allowing Ballyclare to attack out wide and work their way into the 22. When stopped, they came back infield, with their forwards taking the ball through several phases.
A ruck on the Rainey five-metre line in the centre of the pitch presented an opportunity. With the Rainey defence scrambling, a Ballyclare player picked the ball up from the back of the ruck and simply walked through a gap to score underneath the posts. The conversion was successful.
Despite the setback, Rainey refused to let their heads drop and finally began to show the attacking ability that had been missing in the opening 40 minutes.
The visitors’ first try came from a penalty try, awarded after a Ballyclare infringement at a driving maul. Rainey had finally got themselves into a strong attacking position and were rewarded for the pressure they had applied.
Rainey then added a second try through back-row forward Michael McCusker. The visitors went through multiple phases, with the forwards repeatedly taking the ball into the Ballyclare defensive line. Eventually, McCusker received the ball close to the line and powered his way over for Rainey’s second try.
Out-half Ryan Kearns added the conversion to make it 54–14.
Rainey were now playing with confidence and continued to apply pressure on the Ballyclare defence. Their third and final try of the afternoon came following another penalty, with Rainey kicking to the corner.
The visitors secured the lineout before forming a driving maul. As the maul advanced towards the Ballyclare line, front-row forward Michael Nevin dotted down from the back to score Rainey’s third try.
Kearns again added the conversion to bring the final score to:
Ballyclare 54–21 Rainey
If this was a game of two halves, Rainey would certainly have won the second, scoring three tries to Ballyclare’s one. Unfortunately, rugby doesn’t work that way, and the damage had already been done during a first half in which Ballyclare were clinical and Rainey struggled to find their rhythm.
Ballyclare ultimately ran out deserved winners, scoring eight tries to Rainey’s three. The home side played with plenty of attacking flair and took their opportunities when they came.
For Rainey, the second-half response will at least provide something positive to take from a difficult afternoon. The visitors showed plenty of character to fight back after such a disappointing first half and ensured they would not be nilled on the scoreboard.
Congratulations to Ballyclare on their victory and best wishes to them in the Ulster Rugby Senior Shield final. Hopefully, they can go on to retain their title.
Final Score: Ballyclare 54–21 Rainey
