Rainey Endowed  battled out a 13 – 5 win against Portadown College at a blustery Rainey Road yesterday afternoon.

We’d tipped Portadown for a surprise win in this one but Rainey obviously had other ideas and they started the game on the attack.

Playing into a strong wind the home side seemed determined to get on the scoreboard first and with some strong running from hooker Bryn Davies, who impressed throughout, they applied considerable pressure on the visitors defence.

The pressure told after five minutes when outside centre Ciaran Doyle battled over the line for the opening score. Out half Harry Evans hit the post with the conversion leaving the score at Rainey 5 Portadown 0.

Portadown finally got their hands on the ball and used the wind to keep Rainey pinned in their 22. Eventually a clearance kick came up short and the ball was moved quickly to the right for Portadown to open their account with Dillon Nelson scoring in the corner. the conversion was missed leaving it a tied game.

The first quarter lived up to our billing of a possible tie of the round as both teams set about each other and Rainey came out on top at the end of this period with a second try, scored out wide by Karl Warner. The conversion was short in difficult conditions and the quarter ended with rainey leading 10 – 5.

Unfortunately the game went off the boil after this as both teams seemed content to kick for territory. The defences started to get on top and the first half ended without further score.

The second half was low on action, Rainey appeared happy to play to the corners and defend their lead and, in fairness, they did it rather well, keeping Portadown trapped in their own territory for most of the half.

A skiffle of rain came down and most of the crowd departed as the game ground it’s way towards it’s finish.

Rainey consolidated their win with a late penalty from Evans but it was a disappointing finish to a game that had promised more.

Final score: Rainey Endowed 13 Portadown College 5

Rainey will now travel to Omagh Academy or Bangor Grammar for their fourth round tie. Omagh and Bangor drew 8 all yesterday with the replay set for Saturday 27th January at Bangor Grammar.

GALLERY BELOW