U13 XV

Season 2009-2010

MATCH REPORT

Saturday 28th November v Omagh Academy

The match kicked off in freezing conditions with Rainey needing a win after some poor results. The game started well with a lot of turnover ball and big tackles. Then, after about 15 minutes, Mark Rooney got the first try after some brilliant rucking by the Rainey pack. Mark Rooney narrowly missed the conversion. Again, there were a lot of good defensive and attacking moves from both teams, but just before halftime Rainey struck again with a fantastic individual try from Andrew Nicholl who ran the pitch to touch down. This time Mark Rooney hit the post from far out. After half-time, Rainey started to become more dominant and was getting a lot of territory and eventually they broke through the defence again with Rory Nicholl beating his man and then passing to Callum Stewart who finished the move with a try in the corner. After this the game quietened down a bit with substitutes coming on and Rainey held on for a good victory over Omagh Academy.

FULL TIME SCORE 15-0 Win

By Callum Stewart


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Saturday 7th November

The team arrived in a confident mood after a comfortable win over RSD in the Arnold Shield last year. Rainey started well but a few mistakes led to a try for RSD, which was then converted. However, encouraged by the presence and voice of Dr Peggs on the sidelines, Rainey soon struck back with a great break and unconverted try from Rory Nicholl. The team looked to narrow the gap further but RSD’s powerful forwards managed a second try just before the break. Half time score = Dungannon 14 – 5 Rainey.
The second half began with some good breaks from the backs but Rainey were unable to put any scores on the board. Despite some determined tackling Dungannon scored two more tries to lead 26 – 5. However the team never gave up and good play by the back row led to a try for Calvin Smyth. The final score was a 26 – 10 loss for Rainey.
It was a disappointing result but a much improved performance. The team kept on going to the end and if a few more passes had gone to hand, and decisions had gone the other way, things might have been different. Thanks to our enthusiastic supporters who made the trip, and, as always, to Michael, Pete, and Mr. Palmer for all the work they do with the team.

Saturday 3rd October

The team arrived bright and early and concentrated on the game ahead. Andrew Nicholl is deputising at captain for Mark Rooney. The game started with Rory Nicholl kicking off for Rainey, we all pressed hard and we had a breakthrough when Andrew Nicholl set off down the wing, Rory Nicholl just missing the conversion. Clounagh Managed to pull one back when their out-half squeezed past our defence, but we came back strong and yet again Andrew taps his feet and flies down the wing, this time Rory scores the conversion. They once again pulled the scores level, we needed to tighten our defence. Just before half time we were having most of the possession and from a good build up, Eoghan Bradley pops up and scores a try, Rory narrowly missing the conversion.
 
Half Time- Rainey-17 Clounagh-12
 
It was a quiet opening to the half but when we won the ruck Rory with his sidesteps found the try line, again narrowly missing the conversion. From then Clounagh had a lot of possession and their biggest man barged his way through a weak Rainey defence, Clounagh scoring the conversion. From the restart we worked hard and as a result Luke McQuillan found space on the left side of the pitch and ran to the line scoring a wonderful try, Rory missing the conversion. Our defence tightened and we would not let Clounagh through until they got penalty 2 metres from the line, resulting in a try. Rory kicked the ball into touch and the whistle was blown we had won the match, by 1 point!

Final Score- Rainey-27 Clounagh-26
 
Match Report written by Calvin Smyth.

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MATCH REPORT

Saturday 26th September

Rainey U13A XV v Foyle
 
Rainey U13A XV took to the pitch with high hopes of reversing their previous year’s fortune when they last met Foyle. There was no shortage of confidence after last week’s win over Dalriada.

The match started with some good rugby being played, scrums were won and lost by both sides. From a ruck Mark Rooney gathered the ball and ran down the touch line with the try line in his sights but unfortunately put a foot in touch in the attempt.

With the second half approaching Foyle managed to score a try, giving Rainey’s self-esteem a dent going into the break.

In the second half Foyle’s centre kept the pressure on Rainey supplying quality ball for resulting in two consecutive tries. Rainey were strong in some scrums, but unfortunately could not remain consistent in this element and lost some ball against the head. Rainey lineouts were brought back for not being straight on a number of occasions eventually culminating in two more unconverted scores against the visitors.

In the dying seconds of the game Rainey were pressed on the try line. A kick from Callum Stewart flew straight into the hands of the oncoming centre who seized the opportunity to touch the ball down for another score. The conversion was scored.

FINAL SCORE

22-0 LOSS
 
Match Report written by Luke McQuillan


U13B v Foyle – Saturday 27th September
 
Today the Rainey U13B’s were all eagerly awaiting to go play against Foyle. The only thing was we were down two players (Taylor Hutchinson, Jack Donaghy) so we got two players from Foyle. Following some last minute training we were ready to play. The first half didn’t go as well as we had hoped.  Rainey weren’t focusing on the game which resulted in Foyle immediately scoring 3 tries
and no conversions.   
                                                       
Half Time
           
The next half was underway with more determined Rainey players and more lust for the ball. This finally resulted in Lee McLean scoring our long awaited try. Rainey again lost focus which made an opening for Foyle to score another try. More focused than before we made more ball stealing tackles and started to get our defense line at the rucks more effective by using what we learned in training. This helped retrieve the ball out of rucks and pass it of to the backs so Timothy Hagan could score our second well deserved try. Now there were only minutes left in the game everyone feeling the pressure but we kept our mind on the game which lead to Callan Bloomer bursting through their defense and scoring at the very last moment! It was all up to Ryan Smyth to score the conversion so everyone was suspended into silence as he kicked the ball and scored the conversion. I would say if we had a few extra minutes of play Rainey would have left victorious but the better team won and that was Foyle. 



Final Score 
20 – 17 Loss

Match report written by Shane McNulty

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MATCH REPORT

Saturday 19th September

U13 A XV v Dalriada U13 XV A
 
 
Rainey U13 arrived early at the school only to be wakened up with some tough training; the match was to be played on the 1st XV pitch, a real honour for an U13 squad. Rainey started the match strongly with most of the possession on their side but couldn’t make it past Dalriada’s tough defence, Eoghan Bradley soon made a break with the ball to make it 5-0 to Rainey, Mark Rooney came close to scoring the conversion but the ball just squeezed wide of the post. Again Rainey had most of the possession after the try but pushed harder to the try line, it came near to the second half and Rainey were still pushing hard. Callum Gilfillan popped the ball of to Connor Stobo who pushed through nearly all off Dalriada’s players when he was brought down centimetres from the try line, he then popped it off to Calvin Smyth who scored Rainey’s second try to make it 10-0. Mark Rooney came close again to scoring the conversion but unfortunately never made it.
 
The second half started and Dalriada had most of the possession and came to score a try to make it 10-5 to Rainey. Dalriada also missed their conversion an unlucky day for both teams conversion wise. Rainey stood strong and no longer let anything past their defence and managed to hold on to get the clinch a hard fought for win.

FINAL SCORE

10-5 WIN

Match Report written by Connor Stobo

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MATCH REPORT

Monday 16^th September 2009

 

U13A v CAI

 

After a win on Saturday against Regent House, the team were somewhat tired and maybe not up to full fitness yet, so early in the season. 

 

Coleraine played well and secured a try within the first 5 minutes of the game and converted with ease.  They were stronger than us in the rucks and finished the first half 19-0 in front after 2 more tries and a conversion.

 

At half-time, our coaches gave us a good team talk and advised us to get the ball out to the wing.  Coleraine were playing hard and continued to win the balls in the rucks.   They won the game on the wing; their winger scored all four tries in the second half.  

 

In the final period of the match, Rainey really picked up their game making some crunching tackles and forcing Coleraine back.  We started stealing the balls in the rucks.  Maybe if we had played that way from the start, there could have been a much more favourable score line.  

FINAL SCORE

39-0 loss

  

 

Match Report written by David Campbell
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MATCH REPORT

U13A v Regent House - Saturday 12th September
 
With Regent kicking off, the match was underway. After a series of rucking, Andrew Nicholl made a breakthrough running along the left wing scoring the first try of the match. Regent responded by scoring their own try and converting it to make it 5-7 to Regent. Towards the end of the half Rory Nicholl ran from the half way line offloading superbly to Adam Moore scoring and converted by Mark Rooney to make it 12-7 to Rainey at half-time.
 
 The next half started with Regent scoring almost immediately but missing the conversion. Rainey responded with again Andrew Nicholl scoring but Mark Rooney just missed the conversion by hitting it off the bar. Rainey managed to slow Regent down but they got a break down the middle and scored but again missing the conversion. Coming close to scoring again Regent were held up on the try-line by Connor Brennan, saving Rainey from being faced with an almost impossible comeback. With the score 17 a piece in the last 5 minutes it was looking to be a draw but coming out of nowhere yet again Andrew Nicholl manages to score again winning the match.

FINAL SCORE

22-17 WIN

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MATCH REPORT

U13B v Regent House - Saturday 12th September
 
Today the U13 Rainey B team entered the game with enthusiasm and excitement.  Rainey U13B had prepared long and hard for this game.  The first half didn’t go according to plan. Rainey started with high hopes but lack of focus led to a try being conceding within ten minutes of the game.  As Regent kept piling on the pressure Rainey gained three more tries and from this three more conversions. 
 
 
Rainey had seen what Regent were capable of producing so had to get pull together and target Regent’s weaker game plays.  After a refreshing drink Rainey huddled together to discuss tactics.
 
 
Rainey started the second half more determined this time holding back Regent and had the ball ten metres from the line but lost it in the ruck conceding another try.  Rainey gave it their all in the last ten minutes of the match and were duly awarded with two tries in the final minutes.  It still wasn’t enough however to win the game but showed the determination of the Rainey side. In the end the better team won. Regent House.
 
FINAL SCORE

33-10 loss

Match report written by Stephen Cullen