Ulster Rugby vs Cardiff Blues

21 / 66

Top Left
RBAI win Medallion Shield
Top Right
Dromore retain U16 High Schools’ Trophy
Right
Subsidiary Shield success for Ballymena
Academy
19 ULSTERRUGBY
UlsterBranch
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
SCHOOLS’ RUGBY REVIEW