Schools' Cup Final: RBAI 13-3 Campbell College

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ADM
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Schools' Cup Final: RBAI 13-3 Campbell College

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[tag=image]http://ulsterrugby.com/images/news/Scho ... 759_60.jpg[/tag][tag=content]It was a game where defences reigned but eventually RBAI were able to defend their Danske Bank Schools’ Cup title with a 13-3 victory over Campbell College at the Kingspan Stadium.

Centre Jack Hume scored an intercept try with the last play of the game to seal the win after he himself had landed two penalties in the first half, while Campbell could only manage one penalty from flanker John Crowther in reply.

Campbell will be devastated not to have won this game though having comprehensively dominated the second period, however they just could not find their way through the RBAI defence which in the end was what won them the game.

RBAI got off to an ideal start, putting pressure on their Belfast rivals from the kick-off and it yielded an early penalty that Ulster U18 Schools centre James Hume converted after just two minutes.

For all their early dominance however, RBAI could not get over for a try to make that dominance count with a knock-on at the line from the closest they could get to a five-pointer.

Instead Campbell waited their time and grew into the game, and after an RBAI player came in the side at a ruck, openside flanker John Crowther struck over a penalty of his own to level the scores just after the 20 minute mark.

And it nearly got even better for Campbell when Ulster U19 Schools centre Jonny Haldane made a break and hacked the ball through however the RBAI defence scrambled back well to prevent winger Justin Savage from racing onto it on the inside.

RBAI were showing promise too with Ulster U18 fly-half Michael Lowry pulling the strings from fly-half, but handling errors were constantly thwarting their attacks, but they were able to go in at half-time in the lead courtesy of Hume’s second penalty just before the break.

If their attack was letting them down, RBAI’s defence was not as they held firm through an onslaught from Campbell just after the restart with winger Mark Keane putting in a brilliant try-saving tackle on Jamie MaCartney to spare RBAI’s blushes.

Their blushes were also spared when Crowther, successful with his first penalty in the first half, pushed a second effort wide in the 48th minute that would have levelled the scores back at 6-all.

Despite saving a try, Keane would find himself in the sin bin only a matter of minutes later as, in the effort of chasing down his own kick through, he tackled Campbell full-back Ben Webb around the neck and received his marching orders.

Campbell then thought they had that all-important try ten minutes from the end when they burrowed over from close range, however the try was chalked off due to a knock on prior to the ball being grounded – a call that resulted in rapturous applause.

And the decision was to prove vital as, completely against the run of play for the entire half, RBAI sealed the victory right at the death through an intercept try.

It looked like it was on wide for Campbell and the ball was flung wide only for it to drop between two players and centre Jack Hume was on hand to snatch up the ball and sprint from one end of the pitch to the other to seal the Schools’ Cup for RBAI.

The scorers

For RBAI
Try: Hume
Con: Hume
Pens: Hume (2)

For Campbell College
Pen: J Crowther

RBAI
(15-9) Joseph Finnegan, Conor Field, James Hume, Ben McGavock, Mark Keane, Michael Lowry, Rhys O’Donnell; (1-8) Callum Reid, Neil Saulters, John Dickson (Corrie Barrett 42), Harry Gallagher, Pierce McLernon (Blair Robinson 35), Charlie Fryers (Bailey Gribben 56), Charles Cloke (Yasser Omar 43), David Whitten.

Subs not used: Jake Chambers, Niall Armstrong, David Lyttle, Zak Davidson.
Yellow card: Mark Keane (54’)

CAMPBELL COLLEGE
(15-9) Ben Webb, Justin Savage, Jonny Haldane, Nicolai Koplewsky, Jack Howard, Patrick Beverland, Malcolm Corry; (1-8) Matthew Russell (John McKee 42), James Boyle (Jamie Clarke 52), Tom O’Toole, James Nelson (Tom Brady 50), Matthew Crowther, Jamie MaCartney, John Crowther, Jack Barry-Glendinning.

Subs not used: Josh Chambers, Marcus Collim, Rory Cahoon, Oscar Yandall, Ryan Meharg.

Referee: Stuart Gaffikin[/tag]
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