A number of schools’ games were played on the last week of 2012.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Campbell College in a very scrappy game with the Campbell team emerging as 10-5 winners.
The Campbell College team dominated proceedings in the first half with their pack supplying some quality possession for their talented back line. The first try of the game came when the Campbell backs used the ball effectively t create an opportunity for Harry Howard to run in for a try. Rob Haldane converted the try to give the Campbell team a 7-0 lead. Rob Haldane was then successful with a penalty kick to give his team a 10-0 lead at the interval.
The Belfast Royal Academy team came back strongly after the restart and managed to create a number of opportunities. However, poor decision making close to the Campbell line, linked to a number of handling errors, ensured the line remained intact. That was until the Belfast Royal Academy pack took matters into their hands. Following a series of picks and drives close to the Campbell College line, Stuart Martin, assisted by Daniel Dass, eventually crashed over for an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 10-5.
Both teams tried to play constructive rugby in the final ten minutes of the game but play became more and more scrappy with a lot of mistakes from both teams. It was almost with a sense of relief that players and spectators alike heard the final whistle which ensured a 10-5 win for the Campbell College team.
Royal School, Armagh travelled to play Dalriada in a game that could have been as a potential banana skin for the Armagh team.
However, following a good display of attacking rugby the RS Armagh team emerged as convincing 34-5 winners. The Armagh team started with a spectacular try from Darryl Morton which was converted by Alistair Wright to give his team a 7-0 lead. This was followed quickly by a try from Toby McAlpine which, again, was converted by Ali Wright to extend the lead to 14-0. Further RS Armagh pressure was rewarded with two penalty opportunities which Ali Wright converted to put his team into a 20-0 half time lead.
The RS Armagh team continued in the second half where they left off in the first by attacking at every opportunity. Daniel Ewart and Ali Wright scored one try each in the second half with Ali Wright adding the conversions to increase the lead to 34-0.
Dalriada managed an unconverted try with the last play of the game to leave the final score reading 34-5.
This was a fine performance by the RS Armagh team there were excellent displays from Peter Eves, Darryl Morton, Jonny Morton with Ali Wright weighing in with a “Man of the Match” performance.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Ballyclare High School hoping to extend their recent run of positive results.
However, it was the Ballyclare side that came away with a 50-3 victory.
The RS Dungannon team dominated the early stages of the game and took a 3-0 lead when Jack Milligan converted a penalty chance. As the half wore on the Ballyclare High School team came into the game and scored tries through Jonny Darling, Paddy Reid and James Beattie. Jack Irvine converted all three tries to give his team a 21-3 half time lead.
The visitors dominated the second half and went on to score five tries. David Allen, Michael Kirk and James McKee scored one try each with James Greer scoring two. Jack Irvine was successful with two conversion attempts to secure the 50-3 victory for the Ballyclare High School team.
Wallace High School played Coleraine Academical Institution and ran out as 23-5 winners.
The Wallace team was without their Ulster U19 centre, Jordan Grattan, who was at an Ireland U19 Camp in Dublin. However, this did not inhibit the Wallace High School team who put on a very positive performance
Good performances from Zach McCall and Cal McIlwaine secured good possession for the Wallace team in the first half. They ran in a first half try through Conor Guiney, which was not converted, to give the team a 5-0 lead. Coleraine AI responded with a fine individual try from their talented scrum half, Peter Kidd. The try was not converted but the score line now read 5-5. This became 10-5 just before the interval when Chris Knowles scored a second Wallace High School unconverted try.
Wallace dominated the game in the second half and scored a try through Zach McCall which was converted by Ryan Moore to see his team into a 17-5 lead. Ryan added two more penalty kicks to ensure a convincing 23-5 win for the Wallace High School team.
