The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final will take place at Ravenhill on Monday 18th March with a 3-00pm kick off. The final sees a clash of two of the most successful schools in the history of the “Blue Ribbon” competition of Ulster Schools’ Rugby, Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College, Belfast.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team has overcome the challenges provided by Regent House, Limavady Grammar School and Ballyclare High School en route to the final. All of these teams have scored points against the Belfast Inst team in the course of the Schools’ Cup campaign. The Belfast Inst defence looked shaky in the first half of their semi-final clash against Ballyclare High School. The Ballyclare High School team opened the Inst defence up four times in the first half and must still be wondering how they went in to the break points down. The Belfast Inst defence did reorganise at half time in that game and was much more secure in the second half. They will have to be secure for the entire game against a very confident Methodist College team.
It has been a difficult season for the Belfast Inst coaching team of Richard Hedley and Gavin Monteith. Only in recent games have they been able to field their strongest team due to the number of injuries their players have had to this season. However, this has given extended squad members the opportunity to face up to the pressures of 1stxv rugby and this experience will stand them in good stead if they are called upon to play in the course of the final. The Belfast Inst pack is a very compact unit with stand-out players in key positions, particularly in the back row. Team captain, Josh Atkinson, has provided quality leadership at key moments during the Schools’ Cup campaign. He has received good support from his back row colleagues, Paddy Anderson and Andrew McGrath. All three bring Ulster age grade experience to the team and Josh’s performances have been monitored by the Ireland U19 Management team.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution back division has a number of representative players in the ranks. Players such as John McClure, Rory Bell, Rory Campbell and Nathan Brown stood up when required in the semi-final and their hard work, skill and endeavour saw their team across the line. Iain Jones and Frazer Wright are two outside backs who love to get the ball in their hands and take on the opposition defences. The wide open spaces available at Ravenhill should suit their needs.
The Methodist College team are current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup holders. Their team coaches, Nicky Wells and Stephen Lindsay will be keen to ensure their charges will be reluctant to loosen their firm grip on the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. They have overcome the challenges provided by Campbell College, Wallace High School and Royal School, Armagh on their way to yet another Ulster Schools’ Cup Final. In the process, they have conceded only three points- a penalty kick converted by the Royal School, Armagh outhalf, Ali Wright. The foundations for their success to date have been laid by their imposing pack with players such as Michael Lagan, Mark Campbell, Alex Thompson and James Gallagher impressing with their performances. Team captain, Ross Kane, leads by example from his prop forward position and like his opposite number on the Belfast Inst side, Josh Atkinson, Ross has attracted the attention of the Ireland U19 Management team.
The Methodist College back division has a number of key players who will need to be closely monitored. Josh Bingham is a clever outhalf who loves to bring his speedy outside backs into the game. Connor McKee, Conor Kelly, Rudi Benade and Paddy Colhoun thrive on the quality possession provided while Adam Liddell, if fully recovered from injury, will ask questions of the Belfast Inst defence any time he gets the ball in his hands. Like their opposite numbers, the Methodist College back line has the potential to thrive on the wide open spaces the Ravenhill pitch provides.
This game has the potential to be a great game of Ulster Schools’ Rugby. There are quality players available to both teams; both teams like to play the game with the ball in hand and both teams have enough experience in their ranks to enable them to overcome the pre-match nerves which are bound to be present in the run up to the game. Everyone will be hoping for a great game of Ulster Schools’ Rugby.
