The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team hosted the Royal School, Dungannon team that defeated Portadown Collge in the final minute of their 3rd Round Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter.
CLICK HERE FOR THE PICTURES COURTESY OF THOMAS ANDERSON
However, any fears of another last minute win by the Tyrone men in this game were put to rest relatively early in the game. The Belfast Inst team dominated proceedings for most of the game with the visitors only getting into the Inst half on rare occasions. Despite a nervous start by the home team, they settled in their approach when Gareth Lawlor made a break midway through the first half to touch down under the RS Dungannon posts. Gareth converted his try to give his team a 7-0 lead. Five minutes later John McClure got in on the act when he ran in for an unconverted try to extend the Belfast Inst lead to 12-0. Close to the interval the Belfast Inst team won a lineout and drove the ensuing maul over the RS Dungannon line. Paddy Anderson was awarded the try and with Gareth Lawlor successful with the conversion attempt his team had built a 19-0 half time lead. Despite the best intentions of the RS Dungannon team, with their captain, Andrew Clingan, displaying a great work ethic, it was the Belfast Inst team that continued to dominate proceedings. Following a midfield turnover, John McClure ran in from the RS Dungannon ten metre line to score a try under the posts. Gareth Lawlor converted to give his team a 26-0 lead. Rory Bell then ran in for a try which, once again, was converted by Gareth Lawlor to give the Belfast Inst team a 33-0 lead. Both teams made replacements and, towards the end of the game, the RS Dungannon team got some reward for their endeavours when Matthew Montgomery scored a fine individual try. The try was not converted and it was the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that proceeded to the draw for the Quarter-Finals of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup with their well-deserved 33-5 victory in this game.
