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DANSKE BANK SCHOOLS' CUP SEMI-FINAL
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution continued
their hunt for three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’
Cup titles in a row, with an emphatic 41-8 victory
over Ballymena Academy at Kingspan Stadium on
Monday afternoon.
Ballymena Academy started the game in bright
fashion and took the game to their Belfast
opponents, forcing them back inside their 22 with
some powerful drives. However, it was RBAI who
opened the scoring on 9 minutes when an Academy
attack broke down and winger Zak Davidson picked
up possession before sprinting in from 60 metres.
Ballymena responded brightly, again forcing their
way deep into opposition territory but the RBAI
defence held firm, thwarting several drives for the line
before eventually forcing Ballymena into touch.
RBAI got their second try on 20 minutes after some
good work brought them up to the Ballymena 22.
The Ballymena defence temporarily stood up with
some huge tackles, but a well worked scrum move
released RBAI winger Niall Armstrong who darted
over. James Hume knocked over the conversion to
make it 12-0.
Shortly before the interval Ballymena scuppered
a great scoring opportunity, when a quick lineout
opened up the RBAI defence. With the defence
scrambling, the ball was spread from right to left but
was knocked forward on the final pass with the try
line beckoning.
RBAI got off to a flying start in the second half with a
try from their very first attack; Armstrong squeezing
over in the left corner for his second try just ninety
seconds after the restart.
Ballymena’s endeavour was eventually rewarded on
40 minutes when out-half Bruce Houston slotted
over a penalty from 25 metres.
On 44 minutes, RBAI touched down again when
flanker David McCann broke through before releasing
number 8 Yasser Omar to finish it off.
Five minutes later RBAI captain Michael Lowry got in
on the act with a superb individual effort. The out-half
jinked his way past a couple of would-be defenders
in midfield before running in from half-way. Full back
Joseph Finnegan had now assumed place-kicking
duties and he added the extras to make it 27-3.
Ballymena Academy got their solitary try on 52
minutes when number 8 Azur Allison broke in from
the left following good initial breaks by Stewart
Moore and Alexander Clarke.
Armstrong completed his hat-trick on 61 minutes
when some excellent fast hands released the winger
who had the easy task of dotting down under the
posts. Finnegan nudged the simplest of conversions
to extend the lead to 36-8.
While the result was beyond doubt, RBAI remained
relentless in attack and several phases of pressure
opened space for prop Callum Reid to bustle over
form close range with just seconds remaining to seal
the win for the reigning champions.
RBAI AND METHODY SET
FOR SCHOOLS’ CUP SHOWDOWN
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College Belfast will meet in the
2017 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final, following semi-final wins over Ballymena
Academy and Belfast Royal Academy respectively earlier this week.
ROYAL BELFAST ACADEMICAL INSTITUTION
41-8
BALLYMENA ACADEMY
RBAI
TEAM & SCORERS
15-9
Joseph Finnegan, Zak Davidson,
James Hume, David Lyttle, Niall Armstrong,
Michael Lowry (Capt), Rhys O’Donnell;
1-8
Callum Reid, Neil Saulters, Matthew
Nelson, Dermot Wallace, Pierce McLernon,
David McCann, Patrick Finnegan.
REPLACEMENTS 16-23
Connor
McCormick, Ethan Sloan, Bailey Gribben,
Stuart Cameron, Angus Adair, Ethan Field,
Robin McIlveen, Simon McMaster.
TRIES
Zak Davidson, Niall Armstrong (3),
Yasser Omar, Michael Lowry, Callum Reid
CONS
James Hume
BALLYMENA ACADEMY
TEAM & SCORERS
15-9
Mark Thompson, Alan Small, Stewart
Moore, Angus Kernohan, Conor Gallagher,
Bruce Houston, Michael Stronge;
1-8
Joel Gocher, Alexander Clarke (Capt),
Scott Agnew, Joshua McAuley, Christopher
McLeister, Oisin Jordan, James McLean,
Azur Allison.
REPLACEMENTS 16-23
David
Stevenson, Tim Savoury, Matthew Boyd,
Jonathon Browne, Tiarnan Martin, Louis
McGuckian, Jordan Foster, Connor Agnew.
TRIES
Azur Allison
PENS
Bruce Houston