Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

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DANSKE BANK SCHOOLS'
CUP FINAL PREVIEW
try of the game just ninety seconds after the
restart. A Bruce Houston penalty got Ballymena
up and running on the scoreboard but tries from
David McCann, Yasser Omar and Michael Lowry
opened up a 22-3 lead for RBAI. Number 8 Azur
Allison touched down for Ballymena’s sole try but
Armstrong got in under the posts to complete his
hat-trick before prop Callum Reid bustled over
from close range in the last play of the game to
round off the win.
The following day, Methody and Belfast Royal
Academy met at Kingspan Stadium, and it was
Methody who booked their place in the final
thanks largely to Paul Kerr, who repeated the feat
of Niall Armstrong with a semi-final hat-trick of
his own. Methody got off to a dream start when
centre Kerr slid over after just three minutes for
the opening score of the game. BRA captain
Conor McAuley responded with a penalty but
Kerr answered with his second try just a few
minutes later before added the conversion plus
a penalty of his own. Several phases of BRA
possession was rewarded with another McAuley
penalty but it was Methody once more who
added another try under the sticks from James
McConnell. A third penalty for McAuley reduced
the deficit to 22-9 at the interval. Johnny Jordan
touched down for the first try of the second half
before BRA lock Bradley Luney barged over
for his side’s first try. Thomas Gallagher made
the most of a mix-up in the BRA defence as he
pounced on a loose ball to touch down, while
Kerr completed his hat-trick on 68 minutes with a
very well taken finish. While the result was beyond
doubt, BRA flanker, Matthew Dalton, capped off
a fine individual performance with a consolation
try as the clock edged towards seventy minutes.
McAuley added the conversion as the referee
blew the full-time whistle, confirming a 37-21 win
for the Methodist College team.
Tickets for the 2017 Danske Bank Ulster
Schools’ Cup Final are available now at
Supporters are advised to purchase early
to avoid match-day queues and make
the most of advance purchase discounts,
including special family deals.
RBAI 1st XV Squad 2016/17
MCB 1st XV Squad 2016/17