In the first of this season’s Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ finals, Portora Royal School hosted near neighbours and close rivals, Omagh Academy at a sun bathed Dungannon Rugby Football Club in the Schools’ Trophy final on Thursday afternoon. Played in front of an enthusiastic group of supporters, it was the Omagh Academy team that started the game in a more determined manner.
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The Tyrone team controlled most of the territory as well as possession in the opening exchanges. They will look back on the game wondering how they did not manage to score on a number of occasions in the first twenty minutes. Chances were created on a regular basis but a combination of poor decision making and handling errors by the Omagh Academy team ensured that the Portora RS line remained intact.
Indeed, it was the Portora team that could have opened the scoring when, on a rare venture into Omagh Academy territory, they were awarded a penalty. Robert Connors missed a reasonably straightforward kick but his team had survived the hectic opening period. Towards the end of the first half, the Portora team was encamped deep in Omagh Academy territory. A series of penalties were kept in play with the Portora team working hard to get over the Omagh Academy line. Adam Farrell, Alex McCurry, Graham Rutherford and Neil Allen were all thwarted in their attempts by a well organised Omagh defence. Gary Sherrard, Adam Longwell and Harry Gibson tackled like demons to deny the Portora team a try. That was until the seventh minute of injury time when Neil Henderson scrambled his way over the Omagh line to touch down for a try. Robert Connor added conversion to give his team a 7-0 half time lead. If Omagh Academy dominated proceedings early in the first half, it was the Portora team that did so early in the second half. The Enniskillen team made the Tyrone team work hard in defence and they were successful until midway through the second period of play. A good combination of play involving both forwards and back presented the opportunity for the Portora RS centre, James Ferguson, to run in unopposed for a deserved try. The try was not converted but the Portora team had a 12-0 lead. This was extended 17-0 some ten minutes later when the Omagh defence failed to deal with a bouncing ball close their line. The ever alert Portora RS flanker, Matthew Mulligan, took advantage of the Omagh Academy hesitancy to pick up the ball and score a try. Once again, the conversion attempt was missed but the Portora team was sensing victory. On thirty three minutes Jonny Magwood took advantage of more hesitancy in the Omagh defence to romp home for an unconverted try to give his team a 22-0 lead. From the restart, the Omagh team regained possession and took play deep into Portora RS territory. A series of driven mauls were rewarded when Adam Longwell touched down over the Portora line for an unconverted try. The try was scored, the full time whistle went and it was the Portora RS team that celebrated their first win in the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy competition. It was a delighted Portora RS captain, Adam Farrell, who received the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy from Ulster Branch President, Sir Nigel Hamilton.
