Ulster School's Cup Final

RBAI WIN DANSKE BANK MEDALLION SHIELD

In the prequel to this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final, RBAI were crowned Danske Bank Medallion Shield winners after defeating Wallace HS 5-13 in the final at Kingspan Stadium last Monday.

RBAI started brightly and opened the scoring with a fourth minute penalty from David Lyttle. Wallace responded with a good period of pressure, working the ball close to the try line on a number of occasions but failing to cross the whitewash. Lyttle had a chance to double the lead after a quarter of an hour but his long range penalty came back of the uprights. However, the Belfast boys did push further ahead in the 24th minute when Ethan Glover powered over following a strong hand off on an opposing forward. Lyttle saw his resulting kick hit the right post for a second time, leaving the score at 0-8. Wallace, to their credit, worked their way back into the game and were rewarded for their endeavours when left wing Conor Rankin spotted a hole in the defence and scorched through to touch down. The conversion attempt from Jack Dillon was off target but the gap was reduced to 5-8.

RBAI second row Jack Gilchrist was shown a yellow card in the closing stages of the first period but his side’s defence held firm, in his absence, until the break. The start of the second half saw both teams continue with their efforts to play entertaining rugby, but knock ons brought numerous attacks to a dissapointing end. That was until RBAI unleashed a superb backline move in the 40th minute. Lyttle did a neat wrap around move with James Heyburn and good hands from fullback Simon McMaster sent Kyle McComiskey racing clear to score in the corner. Lyttle’s missed conversion left the scoreline reading 5-13. Wallace again fought back with a long spell of pressure in opposition territory, but they were twice held up over the line by resilient RBAI defence. In the end there was no way through and the Belfast school held on for a moral boosting win ahead of today.

DANSKE BANK MEDALLION SHIELD

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