Rugby: Rainey slip to home loss to Sunday’s Well

The Cork city side, looking for their first victory, were good value for their win, having dominated most of the game and could have been out of sight by half-time.

Rainey’s indiscipline contributed in no small measure to their downfall. Throughout this insipid encounter they conceded penalty after penalty and when handed a lifeline in the dying minutes, they were unable to make the opposition pay.

On a nightmare afternoon, the only aspect of their play that they can be happy about is their tackling, which in the end earned them a losing bonus point which they scarcely deserved.

As an attacking force, they showed very little. Their game plan was undecipherable, their kicking game never troubling the Well back three who wee given far too much room.

The tone was set straight from the kick-off, Rainey allowing the ball to bounce and seconds later conceding a penalty in front of their own posts.

Full-back McIlroy brought them level after 14 minutes when Well had a player sin-binned for interfering as Rainey threatened to score from a quickly taken penalty.

But it was the visitors who were sharper in every exchange. Three Rainey forwards drove on at one stage, but had the ball snatched from them by a single opponent.

McIlroy and McClelland both got back well to save the day and Donaghy and Lees combined to steal a vital ball in front of their own posts.

After missing four shots at goal, Well opted to go to the corner on other occasions.

They appeared to have scored beneath the posts, but the try was disallowed for a double movement. At half-time, Rainey were somehow level at 3-3.

Pyper, making his first appearance of the season, moved in to the scrum-half spot when Wilson retired with an injury, but, when Lees did well to get a hand to the drop-off, yet another silly penalty was conceded.

McIlroy went close from fifty yards before a turnover cost them 50 yards.

Damien McMurray came infield to make a timely tackle as Well enjoyed another spell in the home half, but it was Rainey who edged ahead when a big scrum earned them a penalty which McIlroy cooly goaled.

The game was won and lost in the next two minutes. Rainey No.8 Corrigan came within inches of scoring a crucial try for Rainey.

Taking a short pass from O’Kane near the touchline, he broke towards the posts, but was decked when he looked set to score and was unable to stretch out for the touchdown.

Lees was then rather harshly blown up for not retreating from an offside position when out-half Pittman found touch from his 22.

Well again opted for the scrum back and worked their way over after moving it along the line.

Rainey might have sneaked it in the dying minutes,but there is no doubt that Well were deserving winners of a dreadful game.