TUESDAY 21ST FEBUARY 2012
This was a real grudge match for Belfast High School Medallion Rugby Team as Down High School was the only team to have beaten them this season. In a controversial friendly match that saw BHS go from a first half 12-5 lead to being overcome in the later stages by a determined DHS. With 3 tries in the last ten minutes, after suffering the loss of four key players due to injury and due to a thin squad of replacements which had many players out of position, not exactly confident in what they were doing and many decisions not going their way with the final result being 15-27 to Down.
So, with a chip on their shoulder BHS got the game started, both sides put immense pressure on one another but BHS broke the deadlock with the first score a try and conversion by outhalf Joel McBride with a superb kick against the strong wind. The game then went Down’s way with constant attack and pressure resulting in a penalty just inside the BHS twenty two, but the wind pushed the kick just wide of the posts, so the score remained 7-0 to BHS.
Down responded after the restart with constant driving by the forwards working their way closer and closer towards the BHS goal line. This resulted in a try from the DHS number 8 with a quick pick up from a ruck who pushed his way over but the conversion was missed. By now the score was 7-5; BHS made every effort to make ground but to no avail and the match was anybody’s. Then, out of the blue BHS big wing forward Scott White bulldozed his way over the line to score and was calmly converted to leave the score at half time 14-5 in BHS favour at half time.
After the restart BHS were awarded a penalty just outside the DHS twenty two which was cleanly taken by Joel McBride, now 17-5, but that is where the game changed. Down came out all guns a blazing and caught BHS napping with two tries in quick succession. Then another, despite a brave hard tackle from the BHS wing Ryan Duddy which resulted in him going off with an injured wrist. Now the tables were turned and a score line of 17-26 to Down, BHS didn’t lie down after another gruesome attack from Down, they had a scrum inside the BHS twenty two, a quick change to the blind side with two on one the tackle of the match came from the BHS replacement wing Ryan Pickering who not only stopped a certain try but turned the game on its head. BHS took the game by the throat and with a period of play for the last ten minutes, that any international team would have been proud of, they finally woke up. Taken up by the forwards with run after run from Connor Elliott, Scott White and Alex Curry in fact all the forwards were there in support, it was amazing to watch.
Pop pass after pop pass saw the BHS forwards make their way down the pitch and a quick ball from scrum half James Creighton saw its way straight out the back line for a run over try from centre Mathew Gregg. 24-26, now it was game on! With 8 minutes left BHS took the ball from the restart with a great run from Ryan Pickering who took the ball down the pitch narrowly missing a try himself
And got the ball to the forwards who in turn made a clean ball to the backs, this time ‘The Whippet’ full back Darren Scott ran in Belfast Highs 4th try and McBride got his 3rd conversion, now 29-26.
The BHS heads were now up and they were on form, it was nail biting stuff .Still they came forward and played like true heroes, every player played their heart out. Constant pressure with pop passes, quick fantastic rugby brought in another try from centre Ethan Rock and good conversion, 36-26.
Then game started again and Down did their best to come back but to no avail. BHS were too strong and put the game out of reach with a 6th and final try, number two for Darren Scott and a final conversion from the boot of ‘ Mr Reliable’ the kicker Joel McBride. The winning score 43-26 to Belfast High. Both teams played some great rugby and Down can hold their heads high as the score line did not reflect how close the match really was.BHS played as a team with every player putting in 110 percent getting their just reward. The win!
This takes Belfast High into the semi finals to meet Dalriada at Ballymoney on the 3rd of March.
