Nutty Krust – Portadown vs Rainey
Nutty Krust Tournament Portadown U18s v Rainey Old Boys’U18s Wednesday 6th March 2024.
The third 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 Portadown RFC U18 team played the Rainey Old Boys’ U18 team on Wednesday evening in the second of the Nutty Krust Group A games. A sizeable and very enthusiastic crowd had gathered to watch this entertaining Nutty Krust game, whichthe Rainey team won by 24-10, and which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
Included among the spectators were Mark McBurney and Ian Wray, respectively current President and Chairman of Portadown RFC, and two men who have taken a great interest in age grade rugby in their club over many years.
The game was well refereed by Stuart McAllister from the USRFR and the Nutty Krust organising committee is grateful to the USRFR for ensuring all the Nutty Krust games are refereed by members of the USRFR.
The Rainey team had built up a 7-0 lead, early in the first half, when clever work from James Cappell and Callum English, paved the way for Liam Gribben to touch down for a try. James Cappell added the extras to secure the 7-0 lead for the Rainey team.
Both teams were determined to play with the ball in hand and the Rainey team might have had a second score a short time later but for the excellent defensive work displayed by the Portadown full back, Ethan Dickson.
Ethan then mounted a counter attack and combined well with James Beattie and Jack Graham to take play deep into Rainey defensive territory. Paul McCloskey then displayed great defence to ensure that the Portadown attack went no further.
However, the Portadown team maintained their pressure on the Rainey defence. John Speers, John McQuitty and Jack Graham displayed great handling skills before sending Eldon McDonald in for an unconverted try in the corner and reduce the deficit to 7-5.
Back came the Rainey team with Conor Kennedy, James Cappell and Callum English all combining well to put pressure on the Portadown defence. This pressure resulted in the Portadown defence being forced to concede a penalty try which secured the Rainey team a 14-5 lead at the interval.
Early Rainey pressure, after the restart, saw them increase their lead to 17-5 when James Cappell successfully converted a straight forward penalty opportunity.
Portadown then started to control both territory and possession and scored their second unconverted try of the game when John McQuitty carried strongly from midfield and combined with CJ Shannon who ran in for the try to leave the scoreboard reading Portadown 10 Rainey 17.
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With the last play of the game, Callum English combined with James Cappell to send James in for a try under the posts. James added the extras to his try to secure the 24-10 victory for the Rainey Old Boys’ U18 team at the end of this Nutty Krust Group A game.
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.
Ian Wray, a former Ulster U23 player and current Chairman of Portadown RFC, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post-match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Callum English, the Rainey Old Boys’ RFC U18 No 13.
The fourth of this season’s Nutty Krust Tournament games will be played on Thursday 7th March when the Dungannon FC U18 team will play the Banbridge RFC U18 team at 7-45pm in the second of the Group B games.
All visitors and supporters to the game will be made to feel very welcome and are invited to use the Portadown RFC facilities before and after the game.
