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BRA set to deliver final blow
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
enlargeIn terms of spirit and character the two right teams, Ballymena Academy and Belfast Royal Academy, have qualified for the final of the Northern Bank Schools' Cup at Ravenhill tomorrow afternoon (3 pm).
D-day: Rival captains Conor Spence (BRA) and George Dennison (Ballymena Academy) square up
Methodist College were the favourites from the start of the season and, on their day, would still probably defeat either of the contestants by ten points but they failed to live up to expectation against a gallant Ballymena and lost 11-10.
That was the correct result as the Braid team fought back gallantly to record a warranted victory whereas the Belfast side were a big disappointment.
That is the beauty and unpredictable nature of the Schools' Cup.
Ballymena started their campaign with a 22-3 win over Limavady Grammar but then needed a replay to overcome Friends'. The Lisburn team had a strong pack but it was still a surprise that Ballymena needed to go to injury time for a try to eliminate them 11-10 after the 11-11 draw at Eaton Park. They then faced Methody in the semi-final and stuck to their game plan before needing another injury time try to win 11-10.
Ballymena must now be full of confidence after that victory. They have a young and mobile pack and a formidable half-back partnership of Pumulo Banda and Callum Patterson.
Patterson’s accurate kicking caused havoc in the Methody defence and his strong running set up many moves. Charlie Simpson, the Irish Schools' full back, is robust in defence and can create openings.
Their real strength is in the back row and this is a problem that the Belfast team will have to overcome. Peter Wallace, George Dennison and Timothy Patton have proved their worth on so many occasions.
Belfast Royal Academy started with a 3-3 draw against RBAI and, in the replay, played the better rugby to emerge 18-16 victors at Osborne Park. They then eliminated Dalriada 8-0.
Then in the semi-final, after much late pressure, the strong Wallace High defence eventually gave way for a David Cartmill try to put Academy into the final, 16-12.
Cartmill, a strong running centre, also showed his capabilities against Inst and his accurate kicking has been a big asset. Academy's three-quarters will use the whole pitch and this will create problems.
Their half-back partnership of scrum-half Conor Spence and Stuart Olding should provide an adequate service.
The Belfast side, a fit squad with few weaknesses, will be clinical in the line-outs with forwards Callum Leckey and Niall O'Neill evident but there should be little between the teams in the set-pieces. They do have an excellent No.8 in Ian Henderson who carries the ball well.
It will be a different and refreshing final as neither Methody, Inst nor Campbell will be there for the first time since 1994 when Regent House defeated Wallace High 8-3.
Each team has had eight final appearances with BRA having one success in 1997 although they did share the title three times while Ballymena have won twice, in 1972 and 1981.
Both will be optimistic with a 'never say die' attitude and the result could depend on which team settles quicker. BRA may be the better balanced and, if they can avoid the Ballymena back row, they could have the edge in what should be a closely contested game.
Ballymena Academy: Simpson, McClelland, Delpy, Storey, Morrison, Patterson, Banda, McNabney, Andrew, Galloway, Rea, Whann, Patton, Dennison, Wallace Replacements: Hargy, Gregg, Goodrich, Dick, Stirling, Fleming, McBride.
Belfast Royal Academy: Buchanan, Devlin, Cartmill, Glover, Robinson, Olding, Spence, Martin, Sinclair, McCallum, O'Neill, Leckey, Vincent, Clarke, Henderson. Replacements: McCormick, Thompson, Simpson, Nicholl, Jamison, McClements, Redmond
Referee: D Wilkinson
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when mcb played bra, mcb had no representative players playing, that is why it was even close!
Posted by realistic | 22.03.10, 17:17 GMT
MCB wnk wnk wnk:
He said "ON THEIR DAY" Methody could still beat them by 10 points.
And anyway, it's pretty clear you dislike MCB. You call MCB's win against BRA lucky, because it was won in the dying seconds, but fail to say the same about Ballymena's victory over MCB? Loving the double standards you have.
Posted by pt | 17.03.10, 16:33 GMT
What a bad article yet again. Its obvious MCB would not beat either team (by 10 points especially) since they had a lucky win against BRA and were beaten by Ballymena??
Sack the writer as hes obviously a MCB fan...
Posted by MCB wnk wnk wnk | 16.03.10, 23:07 GMT
There will be no looser in tomorrows game. Credit should be given to both schools for making it to the final. Both sides can hold their heads high, regardless of tomorrow's result and the main benefactor is the competition itself. For the first time since 1994 we have a final without Inst, MCB or Campbell. This can only be good for schools cup rugby and perhaps a slight headache for Ulster schools selectors.
Posted by William Moore | 16.03.10, 22:10 GMT
GO B.R.A!!!
Oh B.R.A chant!
Oh B.R.A is wonderful, oh B.RA is wonderful!! We have got a horse, a Dozer and a Hendy! Oh B.R.A is wonderful!!!!
We gonna win come on!!!! If you from Ballymena beware cos us B.R.A supporters are gonna be out and ready!!! Cos we are the real academy!!!
Posted by Nc | 16.03.10, 20:28 GMT
Go on Ballymena, do it for the Country Grammars of Ulster!!
Posted by Andrew | 16.03.10, 19:33 GMT
Ronnie Ingram it was a disgrace to say "would still probably defeat either of the contestants by ten points". clearly an ex-methody student
Posted by neutral supporter | 16.03.10, 18:45 GMT
Good luck BRA It's been great supporting you all year.
Go out tomorrow and show what you can do.
Posted by M.A.D.S. | 16.03.10, 18:22 GMT
"What no MCB lol." : You are correct, the comment about Methody was out of place. However, your comment about Campbell was also out of place. Pot calling the kettle black, I'm afraid.
Big Al, indeed his comments about MCB were totally out of place, however, methody COULD still beat BRA and Ballymena. Of course that's possible. It's just unnecessary to mention anything like that in this article.
Posted by schoolscup | 16.03.10, 17:24 GMT
There should be a league table of rugby correspondents . It would in my opinion have Ronnie Ingram at the bottom of the class with this type of reporting. Methody are a beaten team-fair and square-over 70 minutes. BRA were easily the better team when they played Methody earlier in the season. But for a couple of dropped balls over the Methody line they would have been defeated by more than 10 points.
Posted by supporter | 16.03.10, 16:06 GMT
Why the comments about Methody in an article about the final ??
especially deriding comments that they would easily beat BRA and Ballymena ? the two teams in the final ! who writes this rubbish
Posted by Big Al | 16.03.10, 14:23 GMT
"They have a young and mobile pack" As opposed to the rest of the team who are all in their early thirties!
Posted by Aaron | 16.03.10, 13:53 GMT
Why does there need to be a comment about Methody beating either of these teams by 10 points. Face facts they didnt make the final as they were not good enough. Good luck and well done to both finalists. The cup was wide open this year with a number of hard luck stories worst of all CCB having 5 tries disallowed against Dalriada.
Posted by What no MCB lol. | 16.03.10, 12:40 GMT
Nothing like Belfast Telegraph impartial reporting - not.
BRA set to deliver final blow - good to see one eyed reporting is alive and kicking.
Posted by shocked | 16.03.10, 10:45 GMT
Good luck to both teams. Both teams have worked really hard to make the final. Thats what the Cup can produce. However on balance over the whole season Methody are still the best schools team in Ireland !
Posted by Chunky | 16.03.10, 09:57 GMT
Another poor piece from Ingram, full of cheap shots and innuendos against a fine Ballymena Team.
Still can’t get over Methody losing, and then a headline with “BRA set to deliver Final Blow”
All rather sad and pathetic really.
Posted by Rugby Fan | 16.03.10, 08:45 GMT
Go BRA!!!! The last time they won I was in 1st Year.
Posted by Vic | 16.03.10, 02:40 GMT