Royal Belfast Academical Institution earned a place in the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup Final after defeating Ballyclare High School 18-9 in their semi-final at Ravenhill on Monday.
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The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team outscored their opponents by three tries to one with Iain Jones, Nathan Brown and Rory Bell all crossing the whitewash in response to three Jack Irvine penalties.
The game started at a frenetic pace with both teams wanting to spread the ball wide and offload at every opportunity. The majority of the first half was played in the middle third of the pitch but, despite Ballyclare High School enjoying most of the possession; it was RBAI who opened the scoring.
Left winger Rory Campbell collected his own Garryowen and produced a neat pass to inside centre Rory Bell, who, in turn, fed his right winger, Iain Jones. Iain set off leaving a trail of despairing Ballyclare High School in his wake and the speedster ran in from forty metres out to touch down for a try. Nathan Brown was unable to add the touchline conversion but the Belfast Inst team had a 5-0 lead, after just five minutes of the game and somewhat against the run of play.
Ballyclare High School responded well with captain, Jonny Darling, and prop, Paddy Reid, carrying strongly. This allowed their outhalf, Jack Irvine to orchestrate his attack very effectively. Indeed, Irvine almost created a try with a superb line break and pass to send fullback James Beattie down the touchline. James’s inside pass found James Greer, only for him to be ushered into touch five metres out Fraser Wright.
Jack Irvine did manage to register his side’s first points on the half hour mark when, after a mix up in getting a kicking tee onto the pitch for a penalty; he dropped a goal to reduce the arrears to 5-3. Jack was enjoying a purple patch at this stage causing great problems for the Belfast Inst defence. Another line break and another fine run should have put James McKee under the posts but the winger failed to hold the scoring pass. Despite the Ballyclare High School team enjoying the majority of territory and possession in the first half the teams turned around with the Belfast Inst team enjoying a narrow 5-3 lead at the break.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team started the second period well and scored another try five minutes after the break. Nathan Brown cut an excellent angle from a John McClure pass and sliced through the Ballyclare defence to touch down close to the touchline. Nathan was, once again, wide with his conversion attempt but his side now held a seven point advantage with the scoreline reading 10-3.
Jack Irvine and Nathan Brown traded penalties to take the score to 13-6 with just ten minutes left to play. The Ballyclare High School attack, with Jonny Darling, Paddy Reid and David Lawther featuring strongly, threw everything at the Belfast Inst defence. They got their reward with a third Jack Irvine penalty to take the score to 13-9 and to make it a four point game.
However, heroic defence from the entire Belfast Inst team as well as astute tactical kicking by outhalf, John McClure, kept the danger at bay and it was the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that had the last say with a well-worked try from Rory Bell. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but it was the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that celebrated their hard earned 18-9 win at the final whistle and, with it, a place in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final on Monday 18th March.
Methodist College, Belfast set up an all-Belfast Danske Bank Schools’ Cup Final with RBAI after beating RS Armagh 29-3 in the second semi-final at Ravenhill on Wednesday.
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The defending champions confirmed their status as competition favourites with a comprehensive win, registering three first half tries and two after the break.
It took them just eight minutes to open the scoring when outside centre, Paddy Colhoun, benefitted from good work by Rudolf Benade to scorch down the right hand touchline and score in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Methody team had a 5-0 lead. Methody continued to dominate territory and excellent ball retention created an opportunity for flanker Matthew McIvor to burrow over from close range. Once again, the conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Belfast team had increased their lead to 10-0. The RS Armagh team responded positively and took play deep into Methody territory. They gained a penalty opportunity and Ali Wright’s well struck kick left the score reading 10-3 midway through the first half.
Conor McKee, who started last year’s final, was a menace throughout with ball in hand and he notched up his side’s third try after twenty six minutes. Ali Wright had two chances to reduce the arrears but he saw both penalties come back off the uprights as the half drew to a close with the scoreline reading 15-3 in favour of the Methodist College team.
Methody’s influential No 8, James Gallagher, started the scoring in the second period after a strong run, with Josh Bingham converting, to extend the lead to 22-3. Alex Thomson then crossed from close range for the final try of the afternoon, again converted by Bingham, who produced an assured display.
RS Armagh responded with a passionate last ten minutes, ably led by Captain Michael Hoey and his front row colleague, Darryl Morton. However, they found the Methody defence to be equal to the challenge. Ross Kane epitomised the work rate and tenacity of the Methody forwards with some crunching tackles in the closing stages. The game finished with Methody team emerging as deserved 29-3 winners and Ross’s team will now meet their fierce rivals, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, in the Danske Bank Schools’ Cup Final on Monday 18th March (kick off 3.00pm).
The second of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competition finals took place when Omagh Academy played Rainey Endowed School, at Dungannon Rugby Club, in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition.
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In an exciting game, the Omagh Academy team came through as 24-0 winners. The TC Autos sponsored Omagh Academy side won the toss and decided to play with the wind in the first half. The opening ten minutes were played between the two 10m lines with neither team giving an inch and both defending well. It was through such strong defence that Omagh created their first scoring opportunity. A magnificent tackle from James Catterson forced a knock on and from the scrum, James picked from the base and fed his scrum half, Lloyd Kane. Lloyd raced through a hole in the defence and side stepped the Rainey Endowed full back to run in for the try. Lloyd converted his try to give the Omagh team a 7-0 lead. Omagh had now settled into the game and started to play for territory, keeping Rainey deep in their half. With a blustery wind blowing straight into Rainey, they were forced to run the ball out of defence. However, Omagh’s defence could not be broken down. Strong tackling in midfield forced another handling error and the lively Scott Hemphill hacked the ball towards the try line and went on to win the race to touch down for the try. Lloyd Kane narrowly missed the conversion but Omagh had increased their lead to 12-0.
Rainey had one opportunity at the end of the half but were thwarted by a huge tackle from the Omagh Academy out half, Neil Maclaine. He forced a knock-on and the half time whistle blew with the Omagh team in a commanding 12-0 lead.
Turning to play into the blustery conditions was going to be difficult for Omagh in the second half and the half time team talk was all about keeping their discipline and defending well. Rainey came out strongly in the second half and set up camp inside the Omagh 22m area for the opening ten minutes but just couldn’t score. Omagh’s pack defended the fringes of the ruck brilliantly with important tackles coming from Matthew Sproule, Jack Mitchell and Adam Longwell. A massive double hit by Andy Wilson and Adam Longwell finally forced the opposition into making an error and conceding a penalty. Omagh grew in confidence from this and worked their way into the Rainey half. With fifteen minutes remaining, Omagh Academy scored their third try. Lineout ball was secured and the backs were released with Adam Stephenson coming up just short of the line, James Kelso thought he had scored having picked from the base of the ruck but was just short of the line. Lloyd Kane moved the ball from the breakdown and Scott Hemphill ran an fantastic line off Neil Maclaine to cut through the defence and go over for the try which was converted by Lloyd Kane.
With confidence high Omagh Academy now looked dangerous with every attack. The final score came from another set piece move from the scrum. Again, James Catterson picked and fed Lloyd Kane who produced a flat pass to the impressive Scott Hemphill. Scott darted over for his hat-trick by touching down in the corner. Lloyd Kane missed the difficult conversion from wide out and the final whistle blew with the Omagh Academy side triumphant by 24-0.
Following the final whistle, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl was presented to the Omagh Academy team by Mr Richard Anderson, representing the Danske Bank. Mr Stephen Black, Principal’s representative on the Ulster Branch congratulated both teams on their performances, thanked the referee and his officials. Mr Black also thanked Harold Walker, Willie John McKenzie and Davy Wishart from Dungannon RFC for all their hard work and effort in the hosting of the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl.
The annual RBAI U14 tournament took place on Thursday 7th March at the Osbourne Park playing fields. There were twelve teams divided into four groups. The group winners came through to the semi-final play offs where Ballymena Academy defeated Down High School by 21-0 and the Belfast Inst team defeated Friends’ School by 12-7. The very strong Ballymena Academy team went on to win the tournament when they defeated the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team in the final.
There were two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-finals played on Saturday 9th March.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Coleraine Academical Institution in very wet, cold and windy conditions at Roughfort.
However, the conditions did not overly impact on the home team players who recorded an excellent 27-0 win against a spirited Coleraine AI team.
The Belfast Royal Academy team had built up a 17-0 lead by the interval with first half tries from Daniel Dass and Mark Wylie. Daniel McFadden converted both tries as well as adding a first half penalty.
It was more of the same in the second half with Stewart Martin and Ryan Montgomery running in for two well taken tries. The conversion attempts were unsuccessful but it was the Belfast Royal Academy team that recorded their well-deserved 27-0 win at the final whistle and, with it, a place in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield.
The Subsidiary Shield Final will be played at Ravenhill on Wednesday 20th March at 2-30pm.
The second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-final took place in Ballymoney where Dalriada hosted Campbell College. The game was played in difficult conditions with the Campbell College team emerging as 31-3 winners.
The visitors started strongly and Jack Owens ran in for an early try. Jack converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead. This soon became 14-0 when Aaron Haigh crashed over for the second try of the game. Once again, Jack Owens was successful with his conversion and the Campbell College team now had a 14-0 lead.
The Dalriada team responded in a positive manner and got some reward for their efforts when Rory Strang was successful with a penalty opportunity to reduce the arrears to 14-3. There were no further scores in the first half.
The Campbell College team continued to dominate proceedings in the second half and scored two further tries with Michael Reilly and Jack Owens crossing the white wash. Jack Owens converted both tries, as well as a penalty opportunity, to leave the final score reading 31-3 in favour of his Campbell College team.
This ensures a Belfast Royal Academy v Campbell College Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Final on Wednesday 20th March.
There are four Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Finals scheduled to take place during the week beginning Monday 11th March.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Final, featuring Wallace High School and Campbell College, will take place at Ravenhill on Monday 11th March at 2-30pm.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Final, featuring Methodist College and Down High School, will take place at Wallace High School on Tuesday 12th March at 2-30pm.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Final, featuring Carrickfergus Grammar School and Grosvenor Grammar School, will take place at the Belfast Royal Academy playing fields at Roughfort on Tuesday 12th March at 2-30pm.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Final, featuring Lurgan College and Dalriada School, will take place at Antrim Grammar School on Thursday 14th March at 2-30pm.
