Schools Cup 2014

[breakdown]

Ah right get it now, cheers

[will+i+am]

Absolutely player welfare. Its not a matter of giving other schools a chance to beat MCB - its about giving them an even keel. Competition is healthy, but not if its always entirely one sided.

...... It becomes an expectation at MCB to win now and perhaps a shake up is needed at Branch level. Not many other schools can commit staff members or pupils to such a training regime of before and after school, 5 days a week. Perhaps there needs to be a shake up or a maximum number of training hours per team ......

..... Really think UB need to give guidance on what is and isn't acceptable in terms of hours of training, minimum age for weights and this may give all schools an even keel.

I'm sure there are others better qualified than me to comment on this, and I'm sure there are guidelines in place, but if your comments are to do with player welfare, then fine.

If however, as your final comment suggests, this is just about giving other schools a better chance to beat Methody, then you're way out of line ...... imo.

[cheese]

anyone know any details for the semi.
Venue i hear is queens but what price is it in and what time is the game at.

[ormondlad]

Just a question: Had a look on the Ulster website at the schools squad page, and Jack Owens among others werent listed, despite still playing for their schools, yet Owens is playing for the Ireland 18 schools or 19s, is this an error on UR's part, or am I missing something?

Owens as dublane said was part of Ulster 20s and is involved with Irish 19s.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

...... It becomes an expectation at MCB to win now and perhaps a shake up is needed at Branch level. Not many other schools can commit staff members or pupils to such a training regime of before and after school, 5 days a week. Perhaps there needs to be a shake up or a maximum number of training hours per team ......

..... Really think UB need to give guidance on what is and isn't acceptable in terms of hours of training, minimum age for weights and this may give all schools an even keel.

I'm sure there are others better qualified than me to comment on this, and I'm sure there are guidelines in place, but if your comments are to do with player welfare, then fine.

If however, as your final comment suggests, this is just about giving other schools a better chance to beat Methody, then you're way out of line ...... imo.

Absolutely player welfare. Its not a matter of giving other schools a chance to beat MCB - its about giving them an even keel. Competition is healthy, but not if its always entirely one sided.

So despite you player welfare comment, it IS about giving other schools a chance to beat Methody!

[BR]

anyone know any details for the semi.
Venue i hear is queens but what price is it in and what time is the game at.

WHS v MCB, will be played at Queen’s University Sports Pitches in Belfast on Tuesday 4th March, 2014 kicking off at 14.30. The IRFU (Ulster Branch) has advised spectators to get to the venue early, up to an hour before kick off.

WHS was charging their pupils a fiver.

Edit: that would include the bus.

[Beattiespastie]

Fiver adults.... Two quid for kids. I am advised adults can pay at the ground:-)

[rumncoke]

What of the Sullivan. /Coleraine game where when must get to old tie out (50 year ) old model


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Moiraman]

MCB 17-12 WHS. Very big crowd at a real cliffhanger. Methody win with late try from driving maul against 7 man pack as Wallace had a forward yellow carded. Wallace scored best two tries of the contest and had more territory/possession but Methody were better at taking chances which came their way. Wallace guys looked shattered at the end.

[ADM]

Wallace bottled it. They had the majority of possession and chances but just could not turn dominance into points, not to mention that their kicker missed two relatively straightforward kicks that would have given them the draw. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster Schools) looked very good as did openside flanker Ben Pentland.

Based on today's performance I would not have Methody as potential winners, however I would say today was a bit of an off day and they will be better for the final. Josh Bingham was very good with the boot and that turned the tide in their favour while Michael Lagan was brutal both in the scrum and in open play. Scrum seemed to gain the upper hand but the referee appeared to be very laissez-faire at the set piece - another ref may have seen it differently.

As I said, based on today I would see Sullivan as very strong favourites, but Methody will be better for the final.

[breakdown]

Not sure you could say Wallace bottled it, Methody's winning try was pretty unavoidable, I thought Wallace were the better team throughout and would have preferred to see them through than MCB. Agree Jacob Stockdale was immense, made four clean breaks in about 20 minutes, their 7 was good as was the 4 and 8. I think their team is quite young with a lot of the players in 5th year or lower sixth, so would expect them to only improve. Lagan was really good for Methody, apart from him, no one really stood out for me in that Methody side, but I would still maintain Sullivan would be huge favourites

[jamsodonnell]

MCB in another final. At least that chap Turpin had the decency to wear a mask.

[Beattiespastie]

Methody are into their third Schools Cup Final in a row having won the previous two. Granted they have been fortunate to come through against rBAI and Wallace but they NEVER bottle it and NEVER give up and that's why they walked away victorious today. No good dominating possession etc if you cannot cross the try line or slot the ball through the posts under pressure.
Those who have Sullivan as favourites need to remember MCB have beat them two out of two this year and Coleraine have beaten them at Christmas. Sullivan have beaten Bangor and Down on the way to the semi final yet an underperforming Methody have now beaten an excellent Inst and Wallace side to reach their third final in a row. Methody have ridden their luck but have shown tremendous character to reach another final . Wallace were excellent today and their centre pairing were outstanding and it bodes well for the lisburn lads......

[breakdown]

Both centres will be leaving this year I think, certainly the 13 will

[Beattiespastie]

Two excellent players and certainly the axis of their team...their 8 had a great game as well.