CAI Medallion Plate Winners 2013-2014
CAI 24 v Banbridge Academy 21
Coleraine Inst Medallion XV travelled to Roughfort playing fields on Thursday 20th March to play Banbridge Academy in the Medallion Plate final. The Coleraine side defeated Dromore High School and BRA to progess to the final and were seeking to finish off a very positive season on a real high. The squad knew they would face a very tough challenge against a big and physical Banbridge Academy side who they narrowly defeated earlier in the season away from home.
Click HERE for 56 Official SHOTS
Inst won the toss and made the decision to play into a very stiff breeze. As expected Banbridge started off very strongly and put real pressure on the Coleraine side with strong running from their pack and smart kicking from their half back pairing. Inst defended resolutely but conceded an early try after sustained pressure inside their 22.
Daniel McCreadie scored a superb individual try midway through the first half to bring Coleraine right back into the game. From a scrum on the halfway line the strong centre burst through the first line of defence and handed off the full back to score under the posts, Hutchinson converted to leave the score 7-7 after 15 minutes.
Unfortunately Inst had the worst possible end to the half conceding a soft try and penalty to leave the score 15-7 to the Banbridge side at the Interval who fully deserved their lead.
Coleraine showed real character and dug deep to score two tries in the space of five minutes at the start of the second half. Glenn Scroggie scored an excellent individual try after following up a clearance kick and kicking through smartly to score in the corner. Zach Hutchinson slotted a superb conversion from the left hand touchline to make the score 18-14 to Banbridge.
From the kick off Coleraine scored another well worked try with the dynamic Jack Kilgore touching down after good work from centres Lavery and McCreadie. Zach Hutchinson was successful from the right hand touchline this time to give his side a 21-18 lead.
Banbridge responded again by powering their way into the Inst half and slotting a penalty to regain the lead but with three minutes left on the clock Coleraine went through a number of phases and gained a penalty in front of the post. Hutchinson kicked the resulting penalty straight through the posts to give his side the lead which they held onto until the final whistle!
This was a very entertaining game of rugby and a real thriller for the neutral. Despite the conditions the error count was relatively low and the game was played in the correct spirit. Both sides fought hard for supremacy throughout the game and it was the Coleraine side who ran out victorious after a real tight battle.
Thanks must go to Belfast Royal Academy for hosting the event, the officials on the day, the Ulster Branch and to Banbridge Academy for playing a big part in an exciting final!
This was an excellent end to the season for the Inst squad. The side have improved significantly since September and produced some stunning results including wins over Campbell, Wallace , Dalriada, BRA and beating Methodist College both home and away for the first time in many a year. Daniel McCreadie, Peter Wisener and Christy Hamilton have all stood out throughout the season but it has been a real squad effort in truth. Thanks to the boys for their commitment, to Mr Nicholl and Mr Cooper for all their hard work and efforts and to the parents for their strong support this year. A great final, a great season and a super bunch of boys who progress to Senior rugby with great confidence!
Mr R Boyd (CAI Medallion Head Coach)
Coleraine Inst Plate Final Squad:
Bradley, McKee, Hamilton, Mooney, Millsopp, Beggs, Kilgore, Wisener, Leighton, Hutchinson (Capt), Scroggie, Lavery, McCreadie, Booth, Telfer, Gregg, Murdie, Tayler, Murchison, Mawhinney, Baillie, M McClelland, L McClelland, Kirkpatrick.
