We caught up with the Medallion Plate Semi Final between Campbell College and Rainey Endowed at Fox’s Field on Saturday morning.
Campbell at home on Fox’s field was always going to be a huge ask for the Rainey lads. Smarting from their loss to Coleraine in the Shield, Campbell needed to show their quality and they did, in some style.
Rainey kicked off and for a brief spell enjoyed some territorial advantage. This was to be an infrequent excursion into the opposition half as Campbell, playing in white, worked their way upfield and on the 10 minute mark were on the scoreboard after some slick handling through the backs finished off by right wing Charlie Irvin neatly sidestepping the scattered defence. The conversion was accurate by full back Fergus Bevan.
Campbell doubled their lead after a series of kicking exchanges left the ball in the grasp of Campbell’s inside centre Issac Webster who combined with Bevan to open up the Rainey defence before he dotted down under the posts adding the extras for a 14 – 0 lead
Campbell suffocated any Rainey attack with physical defence. On the 20 minute mark captain Lucas Northy battered his way across the try line after a patient build up in the Rainey 22. Bevan missed this conversion but Campbell, 19 points ahead, were in total control.
Rainey responded from the restart with a direct midfield thrust and were threatening to get off the mark but a knock on let Campbell off the hook. From the scrum Northy smashed his way two thirds up the pitch before perfectly passing to the supporting Bevan who sprinted to the try line, again converting his own try. Half time whistle was sounded with the home team 26 – 0 ahead.
With Campbell in full flow further pain for Rainey was to follow in the second half, with tries from winger Keir Gwilliam, Marshall Todd and a hat trick for Bevan who scored a superb solo try from his own half showing great pace and strength to get to the try line.
In the end Campbell won 45 – 0 to progress to the Medallion Plate final at a date to be advised.
I could easily have picked Bevan or Northy as our game changer as both were worthy contenders but I felt winger Charlie Irvin whilst only on the score sheet once gave the visitors so many problems, was involved in so much build up play running excellent support lines and was as good in defence as attack that he should be today’s recipient of FRU Sports Game Changer.
