Saturday 2nd February Friends Medallion travelled to Pirrie Park Belfast to play a Methody Medallion Select .
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This game was in further preparation for Quarter Final stage of the Danske Bank Medallion Trophy competition after their shock defeat to Belfast High School in the Shield competition
The Draw for the Quarter Finals after the weekend results of games will be from Dalriada, Lurgan College, Foyle College, Royal School Dungannon, Friends, Wellington College, Ballyclare Secondary and Downshire High School.
Friends travelled missing a number of players but this was not to deter them from their task and in fact a number of their players put their hands up for starting positions.
Methody were a well drilled side and certainly had the physical ability to out muscle the visitors but excellent refereeing kept the game under control resulting in a free flowing and skillful games for both sides enabling Friends to go through their set plays for the games ahead.
Friends first try came from excellent handling from both backs and forwards resulting in the Friends Captain, Kirk McGrady scoring an unconverted try
The second was again by a forward. prop Peter Esler who was in support of hooker James Maxwell and was there to take a lovely pop pass off the ground to score out wide
Their third was by the very productive Tom Le Selleur who had been having an excellent game all day, winger Luke Gibbons broke a tackle and passed to the supporting flanker McGrady who in turn made a quick pass to number 8 Gareth Hill, Hill was well tackled by the skillful Methody right winger but managed to offload to Le Selleur who scored out wide.
The second half started at the same pace and the fourth try was to come from quick ball from a scrum to Centre and Ulster Schools Development player Ryan Hall who made his way through the defence to score at the posts, converted by Maxwell.
Friends fifth try was from a set move enabling a score at the posts converted by Maxwell
Their last try was from a Methody clearance kick fielded by Hall who managed to skip down the wing to score, converted by Maxwell.
It was an entering game for the supporters who had come to support the home team and certainly Friends appreciated Methody for supplying the fixture which both sides took something from. The game was not about the result for either side but enabling the two teams to gain from a non-pressure situation.
Friends next match is on Tuesday against possible rivals in the competition , Lurgan College in a game neither will want to show their hand
