Ulster Rugby vs Zebre

DANSKE BANK SCHOOLS' CUP FINAL PREVIEW

RBAI 1st XV Squad 2016/17

MCB 1st XV Squad 2016/17

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 www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets Supporters are advised to purchase early to avoid match-day queues and make the most of advance purchase discounts, including special family deals.

23

www. ULSTERRUGBY .com