Big thanks to Rab Irwin – he got tries on video + pictures – a very important game for both sides and great to see Banbridge back in the QF stages! So much history in this! Below you will find a look at the history with Barney Mcgonigle + the VIDS + Action shot slink and final report ~
It is said in life what comes around, goes around. This can also be true in terms of life in rugby football. In a Schools’ Cup Semi-Final game played in 1992 featuring Wallace High School and Methodist College, quite a few of the players on that occasion are still involved in Rugby Football in a variety of ways but primarily in the coaching of the game.
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On that occasion Derek Suffern played at Number 8 for the Wallace High School team and he is now coaching the Wallace High School team. His outhalf in that game was a sylph like Neil Hinds, now Head of Physical Recreation and Movement Studies at Wallace High School and assisting Derek with coaching the 1stxv. Brian Leslie was the Wallace High School hooker that day against Methody and he takes his Banbridge Academy team to play Methodist College in the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final on Saturday. Gracing one of the Wallace High School wing positions in 1992 was Gavin Monteith who will be responsible for coaching the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team in their Quarter-Final game against Ballyclare High School on Saturday.
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One of the Wallace High School props in 1992 was Chris Webster who is currently the Ulster Domestic Operations Manager. The Wallace High School coach during that season was Brian McLaughlin, now Head Coach with Ulster Rugby. What of the Wallace High School opponents that day, Methodist College? They too have connections with Ulster Rugby as well as this seasons Schools’ Cup Quarter-Finals. Methody hooker and captain in 1992 was Colin Martin who currently teaches in Methody and coaches the school U14 team.
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Colin, of course, has had a coaching role with the Methodist College 1stxv in previous seasons. Methody flanker in 1992 was Aaron Moore who now teaches and coaches in Ballymena Academy, another of the current Quarter-Finalists. Jeremy Davidson played on the 1992 Methodist College team before going off with a Declan Kidney and Keith Patton coached Irish Schools’ Tour to New Zealand. Jeremy, of course, achieved great heights as a player with Ulster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions before taking up coaching roles, including a recent position with Ulster Rugby. The Methody coach in 1992 was David Wells whose son, Nicky, has now assumed the responsibility for coaching the Methodist College 1stxv.
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Check These Out! 427 Action Shots by Rob Irwin CLICK HERE to see them
REPORT:
Methodist College hosted the surprise package of this season’s Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition, the team from Banbridge Academy, at the Pirrie Park venue.
Despite the best intentions of the visitors, who put on a very committed as well as determined performance, it was the Methody team that dominated proceedings for long periods of time. The Banbridge Academy team started well but they suffered an early setback when Methody, stretched the visitor’s defence to enable winger Elliot Mooney to touch down close to the Banbridge Academy posts. Rudolph Benade added the conversion to give his Methody team a 7-0 lead.This early score failed to quell the Banbridge fire however and after a period of pressure they reduced the Methody lead to 7-3 when scrum half, Aaron Kennedy, converted a penalty opportunity. Methody hit back strongly and extended their lead to 12-3 in the thirteenth minute when prop, James Harrison, broke through the Banbridge defence and offloaded for scrum half, David McElhinney, to touch down for an unconverted try. Seven minutes later Mark Gribben broke through the Banbridge Academy defence and off-loaded to his full back Paddy Colhoun who ran in for a try under the Banbridge Academy posts. Rudolph Benade added the extras to see his team into a 19-3 lead. Despite the score line Banbridge continued to show great commitment and, even though they were having to live off limited possession, managed to restrict Methody to a penalty goal converted by Rudolph Benade in the twenty eighth to leave the scoreline reading 22-3 at the interval. The teams turned around at half time which meant the home team had the wind behind them in the second half. During the second half the home side lifted the tempo and played some very impressive rugby moving the ball and stretching the brave Banbridge defence which, despite being encouraged by the vocal visiting support, found the home side increasingly hard to handle. In the forty third minute Rudolph Benade touched down under the posts and converted his own try to make the shoreline 29-3 in Methody’s favour. Five minutes later the Methody centre, Mark Gribben, broke through a number of tackles to touch down for a try and increase the Methody lead to 34-3. Rudolph Benade converted this try to take the score to 36-3 in favour of the Methodist College team. Both sides then introduced a number of replacement players and Methody’s Adam Liddell, on for Patrick Colhoun, wove his way through the visitor’s defence to take the score to 41-3 which increased to 43-3 when Rudolph Benade added the conversion. In the final few minutes Methody continued to press and scored their final points when James Harrison forced his way past a number of weary defenders to touch down for an unconverted to leave the final score reading 48-3 in favour of the Methodist College team. The Banbridge side have to take great credit from a game in which they never stopped competing and those of them returning to school next year can look forward with optimism. Chrissy Watt, David McKeown, Blair McDonald and Colin McGregor all impressed for the Banbridge Academy team but it is the Methody team which takes its place in the draw for the Semi-Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup following this comprehensive victory against the gallant Banbridge Academy team.
