FRIENDS SCHOOL LISBURN PROGRESS TO FOURTH ROUND DANSKE BANK MEDALLION SHIELD
On Saturday 17th January a rusty Friends School Lisburn travelled to Greenisland to play Belfast High School in the third round of the Danske Bank Medallion Shield competition.
Friends had not played a match since they narrowly lost in a friendly to RBAI Medallion on 13th December although they had been away on a successful Rugby Camp during the Christmas Period.
Belfast High School already entered the competition two weeks ago and defeated Strabane Academy in round 2.
High School won the toss and played with the strong cold wind in their backs meaning Friends were going to have to run most of their ball out of their own half with the High School constanting kicking for the corners. A number of penalties against the visitors saw them soon defending their own line effectively and it was not long until they settled into the game.
Good forward pressure and great handling by the backs saw the visitors taking play into the High School half and within five minutes of play Friends loose head prop Ross Stewart scored an unconverted try from a well practised lineout move, 0 – 5
Soon after the restart Friends number 8, Leon Eley made a significant break and supporting backs saw a great carry by outside centre Bradley Mullholland going in under the posts for inside centre Matthew Chapman to convert, 0 -12.
Five minutes later second row James Scott charged down a High School clearance kick and followed through but the small in-goal area meant he couldn’t get to ground the ball,
Just before halftime another break by Friends number 8, Eley supported by Scott put Mullholland in for his second try, conversion missed, 0 -17.
Although Friends had the points Belfast High were playing good rugby but just were unable to take advantage of their possession.
The second half was to see Friends take control of the game, with the wind behind them out-half George Pringle kept the High School in their half with some pin point kicking, this followed up with good defence by Friends kept the High School in their half and soon Pringle was to rewarded with his own try under the posts by making a break from inside his own half, converted by Luke Beattie, 0 – 24.
Friends lost their influential scrum half, Ben McCaughey through a shoulder injury but Harry Reid stepped up to the mark and kept clean delivery of the ball to his backs.
Pringle was soon to be on the score sheet again when Stewart made another of his trademark breaks, he offloaded to the supporting backline and Pringle sidestepped the full back to score at the posts, converted by Beattie, 0 -31.
Stewart was to be in the picture again, this time after the High School had been attacking the visitors line, turn over ball saw Stewart making 45 mtrs with High school defenders hanging onto him, he offloaded to the supporting backs letting Mullholland go in for his third try, converted by Beattie, 0 – 38.
Final say was to be by friends replacement wing, Luke Scholfield who fielded a ball in his own half and used his speed and skill to go outside the High School defence to score an unconverted try out wide, 0 – 43.
Friends now face Methody College Belfast at home in round 4 of the Shield. The two sides have played each other twice this season with MCB winning on both occasions by the narrowest of margins and not until the finals plays of each game so this meeting will be interesting.
Pics below, or CLICK HERE for full size shots.
