Schools Cup 2014

[Beattiespastie]

Good results for Sullivan, RBAI and MCB this weekend, all teams are finding form in the run in which bodes well for the cup this year. Looking forward to St Paddys day final in the new Ravenhill.... its all to play for and its going to be the tighest final in recent years as there are no clear front runners with all top teams having a few slip ups. All the coaching staff will be hoping for an injury free few weeks ahead.

[Ball Boy]

Sullivan drew with Inst at the weekend - the plot thickens...

[Russ]

Sullivan drew with Inst at the weekend - the plot thickens...

PRL claim Inst were resting players

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[Russ]

Sullivan drew with Inst at the weekend - the plot thickens...

PRL claim Inst were resting players

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MCB claim (a) they rested players and (b) were not used to the referee and (c) RSA are guff and sure we beat their seconds anyway.

Let the all Belfast carve up begin.

Belfast schools are super schools drawing in players from the surrounding high schools with their higher budgets and ability to provide an Ulsterbus in the morning and evening

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[Beattiespastie]

MCB rested no players at the Armagh game that I am aware of? It was one of those games and Armagh came away with the spoils. I honestly believe Coleraine Inst are serious contenders now as they are certainly the team with most momentum coming into the cup having dispatched Sullivan and Armagh. It would be a MASSIVE achievement for MCB to bag three titles in a row and it's a big ask. MCB 2nd XV are at full strength for the first time all year and started their cup run with s 50 v 3 away win at Limavady with a young team so it bodes well for next year. Hopefully Ulster rugby will benefit long term from the great work being done by coaching staff at all the schools concerned -

[HwoodMike2umate]

C'monnn Campbell. Get stuck in.

[Russ]

C'monnn Campbell. Get stuck in.

Thought you would be a Sullivan hack

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[Mr Frosty]

C'monnn Campbell. Get stuck in.

Thought you would be a Sullivan hack

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He wishes

[HwoodMike2umate]

Sullivan = Campbell 2nds

[Beattiespastie]

Just back from MCB 39 v 17 Balkyclare High School game. Horrendous weather conditions so hats off to both sets of lads for an entertaining game... God help the subs on both sides standing in driving torrential rain for 70 minutes

[Rooster]

MCB 2nd XV are at full strength for the first time all year and started their cup run with s 50 v 3 away win at Limavady with a young team so it bodes well for next year. Hopefully Ulster rugby will benefit long term from the great work being done by coaching staff at all the schools concerned -

No disrespect but with the numbers in the various schools involved in the competition your 2nd XV should actually be on a par with most other sides firsts and actually the 3rds and 4ths at MCB playing the country schools seconds would be a more representative system.

[Beattiespastie]

Rooster, my experience of ' country' second XV sides would suggest they are very competitive and push the Belfast schools all the way and the same goes for first XV sides. Everbody has caught up with senior rugby set ups and the coaching/ conditioning requirements involved. Granted MCB is a large grammar school but its mixed and it has a healthy hockey and rowing population as well. The margins are narrowing every year but I think its unfair to put rugby success down to numbers. MCB has been fortunate to have great continuity in coaching with the Wells legacy but the coaching throughout the age groups is very good and a great deal is asked of the kids involved. Limavady is an excellent rugby school and pushed MCB hard and the margin of victory on wednesday did not not reflect the hard fought effort of the Limavady lads.

[Rooster]

Coaching does make a difference but so also do numbers, it will always be difficult for the likes of RSA with 700 total pupils, half are girls so you are automatically down to 350 and if you take it that school cup teams in general are composed of the last 2 years at school you finish with about 80 lads to pick a side from as opposed I'm sure to more than double that from MCB. Remember other schools also do other sports.

Yes other schools compete but it is on a more cyclical basis when they happen to have a decent batch of lads in a particular year group and is no way consistent from year to year and school to school hence you get a good couple of years from Ballymena or Limavady or any of the others for that matter

[Snipe Watson]

Coaching does make a difference but so also do numbers, it will always be difficult for the likes of RSA with 700 total pupils, half are girls so you are automatically down to 350 and if you take it that school cup teams in general are composed of the last 2 years at school you finish with about 80 lads to pick a side from as opposed I'm sure to more than double that from MCB. Remember other schools also do other sports.

Yes other schools compete but it is on a more cyclical basis when they happen to have a decent batch of lads in a particular year group and is no way consistent from year to year and school to school hence you get a good couple of years from Ballymena or Limavady or any of the others for that matter

In my opinion, Kenny Hooks is the best schools coach in Ulster in the last 30 years. His entire coaching philosophy in terms of development of the player as a young man is exemplary. Therein lies the secret of RSA punching above their weight. Now that is some mouthful from a Portora man

[Snipe Watson]

Dear God Snipe!

I can only imagine what it took for you to say that.

With the limited numbers and resources he has done very well. But, in honesty, The Royal ethos has always been about the development of the young man. Kenny, just bought into that and applied it to rugby.

I don't know anything about the school ethos, but Kenny talks the talk and walks the walk.