Ulster Rugby vs Cardiff Blues

SCHOOLS’ RUGBY REVIEW

SUBSIDIARY SHIELD SUCCESS FOR BALLYMENA ACADEMY Ballymena Academy finished their season off in style with a 20-10 win over Down High School in the Danske Bank Subsidiary Shield Final at Kingspan Stadium on Thursday. It was Down HS that dominated the opening exchanges but the Ballymena defence was resolute. Both sides were unsuccessful with early opportunities from the tee before Ballymena outhalf Andrew Magrath and Down HS fullback Joe Bingham swapped penalties. Magrath kicked another to push his side 6-3 ahead on the stroke of half time. Ballymena made the first breakthrough in the second half; Joe Thompson and Jonny McKewon were involved in the initial burst, before Magrath sent Angus Kernohan racing clear to score under the posts for a converted try. The result was sealed for Ballymena when captain Josh McIlroy started an finished an attack five minutes from the end, with Magrath’s conversion extending the advantage to 20-3. But there was still time for a consolation score from Bingham, who collected the ball in his own 22 and outpaced the tiring

defence to touch down for a fine individual try. His conversion reduced the gap 20-10 as the final whistle sounded. DROMORE RETAIN U16 HIGH SCHOOLS’ TROPHY Dromore HS won the Danske Bank U16 High Schools’ Trophy after a dominant display over Ballyclare Secondary saw them win the final 41-0. It took seven minutes for Dromore to open the scoring as outside centre Aaron Atkinson took advantage of good hands by his inside backs to touch down for an unconverted try. Atkinson’s midfield partner Ben Davis then broke through the Ballyclare defence to double the lead just five minutes later and there were no firther scores in the first half. Influential number 8 Ben Heath scored two in the third quarter, one of which was converted by Ben Martin to extend the advantage to 22 points. Hooker Jonathan Scott squeezed for a try in the right corner and it was beautifully converted by Martin for a 31-0 lead, before replacement Bryan McCandless scored two late tries in a superb cameo appearance. Martin converted one of McCandless’ scores to seal the 41-0 win.

SCHOOL FINALS

Top Left RBAI win Medallion Shield Top Right Dromore retain U16 High Schools’ Trophy Right Subsidiary Shield success for Ballymena Academy

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