The climax of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition will take place at Ulster Rugby headquarters, Ravenhill, on Monday 19th March when Ballyclare High School and Methodist College will meet in a final that has all the potential to be a thriller.
Both teams showed a willingness to move ball through the hands in their respective semi-finals. The Ballyclare High School pack welcomed the influential Matt Dailly back from injury for their semi-final game against Wallace High School. His return gave his team mates a major boost in that game and the Ballyclare High School pack was able to produce some quality possession for their backs to use effectively in that game. Jonny Craig, Marc Logan and Paddy Reid impressed, not only with their set piece work, but also with their ball carrying ability, general movement skills and hard work in defensive situations. David Allen gave Matt Dailly great support in the lineouts while the back row trio of Jordan McKinstry, Jonny Darling and influential captain, Grant Bartley, got through an immense amount of work in both attack and defence.
The Ballyclare High school backline played a very effective game which saw them run in four tries. Half backs, Chris Millar and Jack Irvine, displayed quality game management skills and kept their forwards on the front foot. Andrew Butler, playing Schools’ rugby for only his second season, impressed with his two try tally. Jonny Douglas and Eddie McKee formed an impressive midfield duo with Peter Ferguson displaying the skills that saw him gain representative Ulster U19 honours earlier in the season. Jonny Holmes scored an excellent try early in the second half of the semi-final and seems to have settled easily into the full back role. The Ballyclare High School replacements bench has a degree of strength as was seen when James Beattie ran in an excellent try late in the semi-final game. There are a number of headache forming selection decisions to be made by the Ballyclare High School coaches before the kick- off. It will be a headache they will be delighted to have.
The Methodist College team won a hard earned victory in their semi-final game against the current Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup holders, Campbell College. The Methody pack had to work hard on that occasion with all the players catching the eye with their commitment, work ethic and display of skills. The Methody front row combination of Mark Lagan, Oliver McGoldrick and James Harrison got through an immense amount of work in the course of that game. Dan Bingham and Mark Campbell impressed with their ability in the lineouts as well as open play while Chris Gracey, James Gallagher and Rory Winters made up an all-action Methody breakaway trio.
David McElhinney and Ross Edgar were quietly efficient in performing their half back duties well. Conor McKee and Mark Gribben got through a lot of work in the Methody midfield and will expect to ask a lot of questions of the Ballyclare High School defence in the course of the final. Elliott Mooney, Rudolph Benade and Patrick Colhoun have scored tries for fun throughout the season. They will see no better place that Ravenhill in a St Patrick’s Day final to add to their impressive total. The Ballyclare High School defence will need to monitor the Methody back three closely.
The scene is set for an exciting final and supporters are encouraged to go along and give encouragement to the next generation of potential Ulster Rugby players. The game will kick off at 3-00pm.
INTOUCH REQUEST
Ireland Ladies Rugby I XV Are playing England this weekend and need as much support as they can get – please watch the clip below and feel free to share it, they are on the verge of a great VICTORY & with Ulster representation!
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