The fifth of this season’s Nutty Krust group stage games got underway in the Nutty Krust U18 Tournament under the floodlights at a cool, but dry, Chambers Park when the City of Armagh U18s played the Rainey RFC U18 team. A good crowd had gathered to watch this entertaining Nutty Krust game, which the Rainey team won by 34-12, and which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
This Rainey RFC win ensures that the U18 team is the first team to have qualified for the final of the Nutty Krust Tournament on Wednesday 27 March.
Included among the spectators were Niall Chapman and Ian Wray, respectively current President of City of Armagh RFC and Chairman of Portadown RFC, and two men who have taken a great interest in age grade rugby in their clubs over many years.
The game was well refereed by Simon Crook from the USRFR and the Nutty Krust Committee is grateful to the USRFR for ensuring all games are refereed by members of the USRFR.
Rainey had built up a 5-0 lead, early in the first half, when clever work from Nathan Overend, Paul McCloskey and Callum English, paved the way for Patrick McCloskey to touch down for an unconverted try.
Both teams were determined to play with the ball in hand and Rainey had a second score a short time later when an excellent touchline run from Paul McCloskey finished when he found Conor Kennedy running a great support line. Conor took the clever inside pass and duly touched down for the try. James Cappell added the conversion to see the Rainey team into a 12-0 lead.
Armagh responded positively and a tremendous midfield break from Robert Hamilton finished with a try when he left a trail of despairing defenders in his wake. Thomas Donaldson added the extras to see the scoreboard reading City of Armagh 7 Rainey RFC 12.
From the restart, Nathan Overend made a similar midfield break for Rainey. Nathan ran in for the try, which James Cappell converted, to increase the Rainey lead to 19-7.
Just before the interval, this became 24-7 when good handling skills from Rainey paved the way for Tristan Purdy to touch down for an unconverted try.
Rainey continued to dominate the exchanges after the restart. A clever cross-field kick pass from James Cappell was gathered by Nathan Overend who finished things off with an unconverted try to give the Rainey team a 29-7 lead.
This became 34-7 when Conor Kennedy rounded off an impressive performance with an unconverted try.
Armagh had contributed a lot to the game. They got some reward for their endeavours when Calum Robinson, Andrew Larkin and Elijah McClenaghan all combined to send Luke Windrum in for an unconverted try.
This try left the final scoreboard reading City of Armagh U18 12 Rainey RFC 34.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament, the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Flat Dogs Gourmet Food” Restaurant, and organised by Ryan, the Flat Dogs proprietor. Ryan was assisted by his Flat Dog colleagues, including his father, Tom, in serving the food. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Richard Jackson, a member of the Nutty Krust Committee, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post-match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Conor Kennedy, the Rainey RFC U18 No 9.
