Two Incredible semi finals last week and BBC were there to cover the action. Game 2 saw Sullivan Upper play Coleraine Academical Institution, the official Danske Bank Schools’ Cup Organisers report is below from this game and the BBC have interviews live now on their website CLICK HERE for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OFFICIAL REPORT
The second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final saw Sullivan Upper School overcome the challenge provided by Coleraine Academical Institution by 27-14 in an exciting game played in front of a large crowd at the Queen’s University Arena.
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This win means that Sullivan Upper will appear in the Schools’ Cup Final at Ravenhill for the first time in the history of the school and the competition. Their opponents will be Methodist College, the most successful team in the history of the competition, and the stage would appear to be set for a great final at Ravenhill on the 17th March.
Conditions dictated the game was going to be won or lost up front and it was the display of the Sullivan Upper pack that laid the foundations for their success. They controlled the set piece plays, disrupted the Coleraine AI lineouts on a number of occasions and won the contest at the breakdown with Dave Cave, Andrew Baillie and team captain, Ross Todd, getting through a lot of work.
The Sullivan Upper scrum half, Charlie McEwen, opened the scoring for his team when he took advantage of lack of communication between the Coleraine half backs to touch down for a simple try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Sullivan Upper team had a 5-0 lead. Mark Adair then kicked a penalty to give his team an 8-0 lead midway through the first half. On the stroke of half time, further pressure from the Sullivan Upper pack presented hooker, Mark Crockford, with the opportunity to touch down for a try. Mark Adair converted the try to give his team a 15-0 lead the interval.
Shortly after the restart, the Sullivan Upper second row forward, Josh Davidson, went over for an unconverted try to put his team into a 20-0 lead. The Coleraine AI team responded positively and set up good attacking positions in the Sullivan Upper 22m area. Conor Shiels, the Coleraine AI captain, took advantage of a Sullivan Upper defensive lapse and ran in for a try. Conor converted the try to reduce the deficit to 20-7. The Sullivan pack then took their driving maul plays close to the Coleraine AI line. Constant Sullivan pressure, on a tiring Coleraine pack, led to a penalty try, which Mark Adair converted, to give his team a 27-7 lead. The Coleraine AI team rallied, once again. A clever chip kick was gathered by Mark Gordon in the Coleraine AI centre. He stepped a number of Sullivan defenders, and outpaced a few more, to run in for an excellent try. Conor Shiels converted the try to leave the scoreboard reading 27-14 in favour of the Sullivan Upper team. Despite the attacking intentions of both teams there were no further scores and it was the Sullivan Upper team, coached by former King’s Scholar’s, Dungannon, Ulster and Ireland captain, Willie Anderson, that celebrated their success at the no-side whistle.
