The first of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Round 4 matches was played at Friends' School in Lisburn where the home team entertained a very competent Sullivan Upper School team. The game started brightly from a Friends' perspective with Rory Mc Ivor, David Mc Guigan and Michael Cochrane all asking questions of the Sullivan Upper defence.
The Friends' team had an opportunity to put points on the score board after only four minutes but unusually their kicker, Craig Lewsley, missed the penalty kick which had been awarded after an offence at the breakdown.

Sullivan Upper then took play into the Friends' half for the first time in the game. Michael Scott and Oliver Loughead in the Sullivan backrow ensured that the home team was pressurised into giving away a penalty after six minutes of play. Jamie Carr slotted the penalty over to give his team a valuable 3-0 lead.

Sullivan held the upper hand in the game at this stage but the Friends' defence was well organised. However, after twelve minutes the Friends' team tried to run a ball out of defence. The final pass ended up in Sullivan hands and their outside centre, Ryan Mc Candless, did not need a second invitation to touch close to the posts for a try. Jamie Carr added the extras to give his team a very comfortable 10-0 lead.

Friends' School responded positively and from the restart they were awarded a penalty. Craig Lewsley made no mistake this time and slotted the penalty attempt over. This reduced the arrears to 10-3 with only thirteen minutes on the clock.

The Sullivan team continued to pressurise the Friends' players and gave them little time on the ball. As a result there were a number of knocks on which enabled Sullivan to clear their line any time the Friends' School team got close. On twenty five minutes the Friends' defence was rushed into a clearance kick that did not find touch. The Sullivan boys kept the ball in play and, aided by poor Friends' tackling, took the ball deep into Friends' School territory. The Sullivan team was into full stride with Josh Burnside central to all that was going on. Eventually, Michael Scott broke clear to touchdown for a well deserved try which was not converted. With the score reading 15-3 in favour of the Sullivan team, the Friends' boys were simply hoping to hold on until half time.

The first half finished at 15-3 in favour of Sullivan but the Friends' team was going to have to do some work if they were to turn this game around. Both teams started the second half strongly and the game was developing into an entertaining spectacle for the large number of spectators watching the game. The Sullivan team should have extended their lead early in the second half but knocked on with the Friends' line sat their mercy.

Josh Burnside and Jamie Carr were consistently encouraging their Sullivan Upper backs to run with the ball while Ben Semple and Rory Mc Ivor were doing likewise for the Friends' team. The two backrows were working hard in both attack and defence with David Mc Guigan becoming more and more influential for the Lisburn team as time went on. He was ably assisted by his youthful colleagues on the Friends' team, Paddy Ferguson and Andrew Vance.

The Friends' team was coming more and more into the game and got rewarded for their second half endeavours when Andrew Vance crossed for a try following good work from Paddy Pringle and Desi Eastwood. Craig Lewsley converted this try to reduce the Sullivan lead to 15-10.  With only ten minutes remaining could the Friends’ team complete the comeback?

Friends' threw everything into attack but a stout Sullivan defence, with Hamish Graham and Ryan Mc Candless outstanding, thwarted the Lisburn team at every opportunity. That was until the thirty first minute when a solid Friends' scrum enabled their backrow and backs to combine to send Michael Cochrane in for a well deserved try. It was a mere formality for Craig Lewsley to add the conversion to see his team into a 17-15 lead for the first time in the game.

All credit to Sullivan, they stormed back after this severe setback and laid siege to the Friends' line from the restart. However, the Friends' team was not going to let the opportunity of a place in the Quarter Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup slip by. They tackled like demons and forced the Sullivan team into a series of mistakes which ensured that it was the Friends' team that went proudly through from this game into the next stage of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup.

Limavady Grammar School hosted Ballymena Academy in the 4th Round of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup. The Limavady team was confident going into the game as they had already defeated the Ballymena Academy team earlier in the season.

Straight from the kick off Ballymena Academy pinned Limavady Grammar School  deep in their own half. The Limavady team found it difficult to get any useful field from which they could unlease their attacking backs. Following sustained pressure on the Limavady Grammar School line, Ballymena Academy and Northern Bank Ulster Schools' U19 2nd Row, David Whann, appeared to have scored the first try of the game but the referee deemed the ball  to have been held up.
From the resultant scrum in the 14th minute, Ballymena Academy were awarded a penalty which Callum Patterson converted to give his team a 3-0 lead.

Ballymena Academy continued to dominate but in the 21st minute Limavady eventually put together their first attack into the Academy half. Following a great tackle by George Hargy, the Ballymena Academy prop, on Nathan Barr and a subsequent turnover by David Whann, the ball was released to the Academy backs. Caleb Morrison and Charlie Simpson cut through the Limavady defence to put their winger, Matthew McBride, son of former King's Scholars and Ulster centre Ronnie McBride, through to score in the left hand corner. This try was unconverted but the Ballymena Academy team had an 8-0 lead.

The Limavady attack finally gained some momentum and in the 32nd min, they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. This penalty was converted by Nathan Barr to reduce the arrears to 8-3 in favour of the Ballymena Academy team.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Ballymena Academy dominating territory. In the 45th minute, from a line out on the Limavady 22, the Ballymena Academy pack proceeded to maul the ball all the way to the try line. The Academy Number 8, Peter Wallace, was awarded the resulting touchdown. Callum Patterson added the conversion to give his team a very healthy 15-3 lead.

As the second half progressed, Limavady came more into the game, but outstanding defence by Ballymena prevented any scores. In the 70th minute of the game, Ballymena Academy and Irish Schools' full back, Charlie Simpson, intercepted a pass on his own 22. Charlie went on to sprint the length of the pitch to score underneath the Limavady Grammar School posts. Caleb Morrison converted this opportunistic try to leave the final score as Limavady Grammar School 3 Ballymena Academy 22.

For Limavady Grammar School there were fine performances from Matthew Haslett, Conor Crampsie, Nathan Barr and Peter Wilson in the course of the game. The Ballymena Academy team will look to David Whann, Timothy Patton, Charlie Simpson and Matthew Mc Bride for laying the foundations of their success in this entertaining game.

Dalriada School continued their Schools' Cup campaign, this week travelling to Campbell College, Belfast. Dalriada went into the game as the underdogs.  Both teams were led out by their respective captains, Cory Tipping with the Campbell College squad and Roger Bonnar with the Dalriada squad, to be welcomed by the large crowd of supporters from both schools who were present at the famous Campbell College pitch, Foxes Field.

The first half of the game was dominated by Dalriada, who straight from the kick off, made their way into the Campbell College 22 metre area. Clever kicking from Cormac McCartney, the Dalriada outhalf, and great running from his fellow backs the, helped Dalriada gain the territorial advantage in the early stages of the game.

The Dalriada forwards held up well against the very powerful Campbell College pack particularly at scrum time. The opening score of the game came after fifteen minutes when Dalriada won a line out, in the Campbell College 22m area, through Roger Bonnar. The ball reached Dalriada scrum half, Stuart Nevin, who combined with Cormac Mc Cartney to put Ben Henderson into space. Ben was tackled just short of the Campbell College line but managed to off load the ball out of the to the waiting hands of Lee Ballentine. Lee touched down for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead.

Dalriada worked their way back into the opposition half and again applied heavy pressure. The forwards set up a great platform for the backs to run off, but credit to Campbell, they held off the attacks. Dalriada showed great patience as they worked deeper and deeper into the Campbell College 22m area once again. From another lineout the Dalriada pack set up a driving maul. Just as it looked as if a second try was coming, the Dalriada pack spilt the ball and the danger, from a Campbell College point of view, was averted.

Lee Ballentine had another opportunity to extend the Dalriada lead mid way through the first half but he was just wide with his well struck penalty attempt. At this stage, the Dalriada team had to make a replacement when they lost their 2nd Row, David Campbell, to a back injury. He was replaced by young Year 12 player, Stuart Mulholland, who came on for his Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup debut.

The Campbell College team had an opportunity to reduce the arrears just before half time when the Dalriada scrum half was penalised for deliberately throwing the ball into touch. However, the kick was missed and the score remained at 5-0 in favour of Dalriada at the half time whistle. Campbell College started the 2nd period of play strongly but could not get behind a well organised and very resolute Dalriada defence. It was the Dalriada team that had to weather the storm and weather it they did! The eventually broke out of defence and on their first visit of the 2nd half to the Campbell College 22m area the Dalriada team was awarded a penalty. Lee Ballentine stepped up and duly slotted his kick over to give his team an 8-0 lead.

Campbell College returned to the Dalriada 22 and pushed and pushed for the line but were met by a strong Ballymoney defence. Countless times they drove for the line, but time after time, they were knocked back by the Dalriada team. The Campbell pack appeared to cross the line on a number of occasions, but were held up off the floor each time. From the resultant scrums the Campbell College Number 8 threatened the Dalriada line but his attempts were thwarted initially by the hard working Peter Eakin. However, the Campbell College pressure eventually paid off when they won quick ball which was moved to their left winger who went over for an unconverted try. This try reduced the arrears to 8-5 in favour of Dalriada.

Dalriada then knew they had to keep their cool and keep the Campbell College team restricted territorially. From the kick off they held them back and pressurised the Campbell team into making some elementary errors. With 5 minutes remaining the Campbell College backs tried to kick their way down the field from their own 10 metre line.  Cormac McCartney charged down the kick and gathered to pass to his centre, Jonny McLaughlin. Jonny drew a Campbell College defender to make a perfect pass to his looping scrum half Stuart Nevin. Stuart outpaced the isolated Campbell College winger to run round and score under the posts. Lee Ballentine converted the try secure in the knowledge that his team had come through this challenging encounter as deserved 15-5 winners. This victory saw the Dalriada team name go forward to the draw for the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Quarter Final draw.

Wallace High School knew that it would take an improvement on their most recent performances if they were to be certain of securing a victory against an Omagh Academy team that has surprised a number of pundits in the course the current Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup campaign.The Wallace observers who had witnessed the Omagh Academy replay with RS Dungannon could only have been impressed with the performance of the Omagh pack in that game. To win against Omagh, Wallace would have to negate the influence of the powerful Omagh pack.

The early stages of the game saw both teams test each other with neither side giving much away in these opening exchanges. That all changed after fifteen minutes when Wallace High School opened their account after a period of concerted pressure in the Omagh Academy half. Chris Taylor finished off by touching down for a try but he had the good work of his pack to thank for providing him with the opportunity. Andrew Gilmore slotted over the conversion to put the Wallace High School team into a 7-0 lead.

Five minutes later Andrew Gilmore and Matthew Godfrey combined to lay the foundations for a second Wallace High School try. This time it was David Scott who got the touch down. Once again, Andrew Gilmore was successful with his conversion attempt to see his team safely through to a 14-0 lead. The Wallace High School team had further opportunities to score in the course of the first half but Omagh defended strongly after conceding the two earlier tries. Aaron Shortt, David Thompson, Scott Elliott and Gary Sherrard were all working hard to ensure there were no more scores for Wallace prior to half time. This good work saw the score remain at 14-0 in favour of Wallace High School at half time.

The second half of the game was slow to start with but livened up somewhat after twelve minutes of the second half when Wallace extended their lead with a second, but unconverted, try from Chris Taylor. This try put the Lisburn team into a commanding 19-0. The Omagh team never stopped working but ultimately never really caused any real problems for the Wallace High School defence. Indeed, it was the Wallace team that extended their lead when Jordan Heatley scored a try after good quick thinking from Alistair Mc Collum. This try was not converted but the Wallace High School team had built up a very positive 24-0 lead.

Omagh Academy thought they had gained some form of consolation in the closing stages of the game when it appeared that their powerhouse prop, David Thompson, had scored a try. Unfortunately for the Omagh team, the referee thought otherwise and it was the Wallace High School team that won the game by 24-0 to go through to the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Quarter Final draw.

The 'Match of the Day' was at Pirrie Park in Belfast where perennial Schools' Cup favourites, Methodist College, entertained the potential pretenders, Royal School Armagh.

The Methody team started very strongly in front of a large crowd of spectators. Their Ulster and Irish Schools' outhalf, Paddy Jackson, opened their account with a well struck drop goal, following good work from his forwards, in the early stages of the game.

The Royal School, Armagh team responded positively to this initial setback and took play deep into Methodist College territory. The Armagh boys asked questions of the Methodist College defence but found it to be well organised and well marshalled. The only return they got from the pressure they were applying was a well struck Andrew Magowan penalty. This took the score to 3-0 midway through the first half.

Coming towards half time it was the turn of the Methodist College players to apply the pressure on the RS Armagh defence. The Armagh defence responded positively until he Methodist College Ulster and Irish Schools' prop, Conor Carey, was driven over their line for a try. Paddy Jackson added the extras to give his team a 13-3 half time lead. The Royal School Armagh team reduced the arrears to 13-6 when their Northern Bank Ulster Schools U19 outhalf, Andrew Magowan, was successful with his second penalty kick of the game. However, it was the Methodist College team that was enjoying the greater percentage of possession and only for the resolute RS Armagh defence, might have gone on to score more points.
As it turned out, they did not score any more points in the course of the game. The Methody team emerged as deserved 13-6 winners but the RS Armagh team had contributed greatly to an entertaining Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup match.

For the visitors, Timothy Mc Neice, Robbie Magowan and a young Stuart Hooks all impressed. For the Methody team, Conor Carey, Rory Harrison and Gareth Reilly all played well. However, the essential difference between the two teams was the performance of the Methody captain, Paddy Jackson. He showed sheer class in all that he did during the game.

Ballyclare High School knew they would have a tough 4th Round Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup encounter with a very feisty Portora Royal School team. They were not to be disappointed!

The game was played on a very sticky pitch in front of a big group of supporters from both schools. From the kick off the Ballyclare High School team got quickly into their stride. They were awarded two quick penalties at the breakdown but were unable to convert these opportunities into points.

The big Portora RS pack started to come to terms with the situation and used their strength the take the ball forward. Unfortunately for the Portora RS pack they turned the ball over on one of their 'pick and drive' ventures. This allowed the Ballyclare High School outhalf, Jonny Holmes, to kick the ball into the corner from a very telling kick.

The Ballyclare pack regained possession of the ball and when the ball was recycled on a number of occasions, Jonny Holmes took full advantage to dummy his way across the Portora RS line for the opening try of the game. This try was not converted but the Ballyclare High School team had a 5-0 lead. This lead was extended to 8-0 shortly afterwards when Ballyclare High School converted a penalty kick through the ever accurate boot of their full back, Chris Harvey.

The Portora team responded very positively to this setback and took play deep into Ballyclare High School territory. Maintaining possession and keeping the Ballyclare team working hard in defence ensured that the Portora team had plenty of territorial advantage. They made this pay off just before the half time whistle when their lively prop, Charlie Sargerison, barged his way over the Ballyclare line for an unconverted try. This took the score to 8-5 in favour of Ballyclare High School at half time.

The opening exchanges of the second half saw the Ballyclare High team dominate territory as well as possession. However, they missed three penalty opportunities which kept Portora in the game. The Portora team was lifted by these misses and a relieving penalty of their own took play into the Ballyclare High School 22m area. From a series of phase plays, Portora Royal School took the lead for the first time in the game when their dynamic No 8, Matthew Tanswell, touched down for a try. James Gormley added the conversion to see his team into a 12-8 lead with only minutes remaining.

The Ballyclare High School team took play straight back to the Portora RS 22m area from the restart. The Portora defence held firm but they did concede a penalty. There was no time for the Ballyclare team to put the ball into touch and work from the lineout. They had to keep the ball in play. As a result a penalty move involving all fifteen players was constructed. The end result of this mass maul was a try from the Ballyclare High School captain and No 8, David Clarke. Chris Harvey was calmness personified as he added the conversion to take his team through to the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Quarter Finals as deserved 15-12 winners of this intriguing game.

Regent House travelled to Coleraine to play Coleraine AI in one of the most intriguing 4th Round games of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup. Both teams started strongly but both defences were on top in the opening exchanges.
Twenty minutes into the game regent House made the breakthrough when their effervescent captain, Alistair Lockhart, touched down for the opening try of the game. The conversion was missed but it was the Regent House team that had a 5-0 leads.

The Coleraine team responded very positively to this setback and took play deep into Regent House territory. Eventually, the Coleraine team got rewarded for their endeavours when Karl Mc Knight and Paddy Farrell combined to send Michael Brown over for an unconverted try to take the score to 5-5. On the stroke of half time Regent House restore their lead when they score a try through their left winger, Jonny Carmichael. This try was unconverted but the Regent team had a 10-5 halftime lead.

Early in the second half the Regent team increased this lead to 13-5 with a Neil Armstrong penalty. Ritchie Mc Master had the opportunity to reduce the arrears shortly after this setback but he was just wide with a penalty attempt and Michael Shiels and Alex Gourley had caused disarray in the Regent defence. However, he did make amends after fourteen minutes of the second half when he converted a penalty following a good run from Nathan Rankin. This took the score to 13-8. Ritchie repeated this feat with a penalty three minutes later after Regent had infringed at a ruck in front of their posts. This took the score to 13-11 and the Coleraine AI team was back in the game.

However, the Regent team took possession into Coleraine AI territory. The Regent pack was gaining the upper hand and they got reward for their hard work when their mobile second row forward, Matthew Wallace, scored a try with just ten minutes remaining. Neil Armstrong converted this try to see his team take a 20-11 lead.

The final score of this absorbing game came when Neil Armstrong converted another penalty to leave the Regent Housebteam as deserved 23-11 winners. Paddy Farrell, Ritchie Mc Master, Karl Mc Knight and Michael Shiels all played well for the home team while Alistair Lockhart, Ryan Irvine and Nicky Mawhinney featured strongly for the Regent House team.

The Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Round 4 game featuring Belfast Royal Academy and Royal Belfast Academical Institution was played at the Roughfort playing fields. This game was expected to be a close fought affair and that is exactly how the game turned out. The two teams had played in a friendly fixture two weeks ago with the BRA team emerging from that encounter with a one point victory. The Schools' Cup game was a very physical affair with both packs working hard to secure any worthwhile possession.

It was the Belfast Inst team that took the lead when their ever-reliable full back, Matthew Mc Guigan, converted a penalty attempt from the touchline after only five minutes play, to give his team a 3-0 lead. It was a game of nip and tuck with both the BRA defence and the Belfast Inst defence ensuring that their respective lines were not crossed. For BRA Ian Henderson, Stuart Olding and Conor Spence all combined to put pressure on the Belfast Inst line. In response, Jack Carlisle, Alistair Andress and Jach Welshman all caused moments of consternation for the BRA defence. Towards the end of the first half, David Cartmill had a golden opportunity to equalize the score for his BRA team. He was awarded a penalty in front of the Belfast Inst posts but, most unusually for David, he missed the kick. This miss ensured that the Belfast Inst team held onto their 3-0 lead at half time.

The second half was fairly similar to the first half with both packs dominating the exchanges. David Cartmill missed another kickable penalty ten minutes into the second half but he was accurate with his penalty attempt in the sixtieth minute. This took the score to 3-3. Both teams had penalty and indeed, drop goal, opportunities to win this game. Not one of these attempts was successful so there will be a replay of this encounter as the score remained at 3-3 at the final whistle. The replay should take place on Wednesday 10th February.

NORTHERN BANK SCHOOLS' BOWL
There were three Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl games on Saturday 6th February. The game involving Rainey Endowed School and Grosvenor Grammar School was postponed due to a flooded pitch in Magherafelt.

Foyle and Londonderry College hosted Royal School Dungannon in a very entertaining game in the Maiden City. Both teams were disappointed to have lost their Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Round 3 games but were determined to make progress in the Schools' Bowl competition. The game started well for both teams but it was the RS Dungannon team that got the first points of the match when their Irish Schools' centre, Peter Nelson, converted a penalty attempt after only four minutes to give his team a 3-0 lead.

The Foyle and Londonderry College team responded positively and was rewarded for some enterprising play which resulted in a Graeme Mc Carter try after twelve minutes. David Murdock added the conversion, on his return from injury, to put his team into a 7-3 lead. David extended the Foyle lead to 10-3 when he converted another penalty attempt on the stroke of halftime.

RS Dungannon started the second half strongly with Gary Wong, Glen Smyton and Andrew Creaney all combining to take play deep into Foyle and Londonderry College territory. Twelve minutes into the second period of play Peter Nelson reduced the scoreline to 10-6 when he kicked a penalty attempt.

This scoreline was further reduced to 10-9, after twenty five minutes of the second half, when Peter was successful with his third penalty of the game following a Foyle infringement at the breakdown. With the score now reading 10-9 in favour of the home team, the RS Dungannon team took every opportunity to attack the Foyle defence. David Murdock, Matthew Kilgore and Conor Cummings proved resilient in defence and ensured that the Foyle line remained intact.

David Murdock had the final say of the game when he converted an injury time penalty to ensure that his team went through to the semi finals of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl competition as 13-9 winners of this game.

The Down High School  team was disappointed that they had not come away from Portora RS in the 3rd Round of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup with something after staging an excellent comeback from being 17-0 down at one stage in that game.

Their ventures in the Schools' Bowl took them on the road once again, this time to Bangor Grammar School, a team that had beaten them earlier in the season. The Bangor team had been bitterly disappointed to lose their 3rd Round Schools' Cup game at Dalriada but had put in a good performance last week despite losing at home to Royal Belfast Academical Institution.

Bangor Grammar School was the first team to register a score in the course of this game when they kicked a penalty through their young outhalf, Daniel Kennedy. Down High School responded positively and took play into the Bangor Grammar School half. The Down team won a line out seven metres out and following good work from their pack in the lineout, their Northern Bank Ulster Schools' 2nd Row, John Donnan, was awarded the touchdown for an unconverted try.

Down High School could not hold on to this 5-3 lead for too long. Back came Bangor and Daniel Kennedy kicked his second penalty of the game to give his team a 6-5 half time lead.Both teams played attractive rugby in the second half but both defences were on top. It took a Justin Rea penalty, with just ten minutes remaining, to put Down High School back into the lead by 8-6. The game now became very open and indeed error ridden. Down High School sealed the victory with an injury time penalty from Justin Rea to see his team through this close encounter with an 11-6 victory.

Down High School assistant coach, Gareth McKillen, was particularly thrilled with the performance of his team as he had brought them back to his 'Alma Mater' hoping for this win that would take his team into the semi final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl.

Larne Grammar School hosted a Banbridge Academy team that has been blighted by injuries throughout the season. A number of the injured Banbridge Academy players had returned for the 3rd Round Schools' Cup encounter with Limavady Grammar School two weeks ago and they seemed to come through without any ill effects. The Banbridge team hoped to be close to full strength for this Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl encounter at Larne Grammar School.

It was the Larne Grammar School that made the stronger start to this game. From the kick off the Larne team took the game deep into Banbridge Academy territory. Five minutes into the game, Larne Grammar School No 8 and captain, Tom Saunderson, crashed over the Banbridge line for the first try of the game. James Mitchell added the conversion to steer his team into a 7-0 lead.

The Larne Grammar School team continued to pressurise the Banbridge Academy defence. They thought they had scored a second try when Tom Saunderson appeared to touchdown only for the referee to state that the ball had been held up.
Banbridge Academy recovered successfully from this close shave.  Shandon Scott kicked a penalty to reduce the arrears to 7-3. Shortly after this Michael Ross scored a fine individual try which Shandon Scott converted to take the half time score to 10-7 in favour of the Co Down team.

Shandon added a second penalty early in the second half to increase the Banbridge Academy lead to 13-7. This score seemed to galvanise the Larne Grammar School team. They took decisive action and got reward for their enterprise when James Mitchell touched down for a try following a quickly tapped penalty. Jonny Henry was successful with the conversion attempt and his team had a narrow but ultimately important 14-13 lead.

The Larne team had to work hard to defend this lead in the remaining few minutes but defend it they did. It was a relieved Larne Grammar School team that heard the final whistle and take their place in the draw for the semi finals of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl competition.

There was one Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Trophy replay on Friday 4th February. This game involved Cambridge House School and Antrim Grammar School who had played a 10-10 draw in the first game.The match was played in sunny conditions on Friday afternoon on a very wet Cambridge House pitch. Both sides started with ferocity but the Cambridge House team was rewarded with an early penalty which helped settle them. This was converted by the Cambridge House outhalf, Maury McDowell. Converting this penalty helped Maury overcome his pre match nerves and from there he took control of the game. Two further penalties followed which he dispatched with confidence to give his team a comfortable 9-0 lead.  Just before half time the Cambridge House team moved the ball through several phases before Matthew Harkness finished a long run through a tight defence to score wide on the left. Maury McDowell again added the points from the touchline and the first half ended 16-0 in favour of the home side.

In the second half the Cambridge pack, who despite being very young, looked superior to their opponents. They took control of the ball after several phases of driving runs and scored through their hard-working second row, David Boyd.  Not surprisingly Maury McDowell was again on target with the conversion to put his team 23-0 ahead. The outhalf then decided that converting scores was not enough and single-handedly opened up the Antrim defence and accelerated away to score himself. He proceeded to add the extra points taking the score to 30-0 in favour of his team. 

Cambridge House right wing, Luke Murphy, then added a further try following good work from his inside backs. On this occasion Maury McDowell's usual X-Box accuracy deserted him, with him hitting the upright but was forgiven on the final whistle when he added the last 3 points from a long range penalty.  These final scores ensured that it was Cambridge House who go through to the semi finals stage of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Trophy competition.

Undoubtedly Antrim deserved something from the game and were it not for the performance of players such as Supreet Jayaprakash, Aiden Howe and Calum Mc Clenaghan the scoreline could have been much worse from an Antrim point of view.

The final game of the day was the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Trophy semi final clash featuring Strabane Grammar School and Portadown College.

Portadown College dominated most of the early stages of the game encamped in the Strabane 22 through some excellent tactical kicking by outhalf Chris Goodland and by some strong running from their two centres Steven Hyde and Andrew Richardson. Portadown created numerous scoring opportunities and but for some poor decision making and inaccurate passing should have scored a number of tries early in the game.

Portadown's first score came after a period of patient build up resulting in their captain, John Graham, receiving a pop pass from scrum half Marc Beggs to crash through under the posts. Chris Goodland converted this try to put his team into a 7-0 lead.

The score settled Portadown and were quickly on the score sheet again with a further try, scored by centre Stephen Hyde who timed his run to perfection taking the ball on the gain line and crashing through two tacklers to score under the posts. Once again, Chris Goodland converted this try to see his team safely through to a 14-0 half time lead.

Strabane had a number of scoring opportunities early in the second half, mainly coming from the good play of their talented outhalf, Derek Lynch. This early pressure resulted in a penalty opportunity, which was duly converted by Andrew Stewart. This penalty took the score to 14-3 in favour of the Portadown team.

Portadown then made a number of changes bringing on five replacement players. This seemed to re energise the team resulting in a well worked try by replacement winger Matthew Trouton who ran in off his wing to score under the Strabane Grammar School posts. Once again, Chris Goodland converted the try to see his team take a 21-3 lead.

Portadown were now running the ball from all areas of the field as the Strabane heads began to drop. However, a speculative pass from Portadown College replacement full back, Stephen Buckley, resulted in an intercept try by Strabane Grammar School full back, David Armstrong. Andrew Stewart added the conversion to take the score to 21-10 in favour of the Portadown College team.

This try rejuvenated Strabane's efforts but a further try from Portadown College centre, Stephen Hyde, sealed the game for the Co Armagh team. Chris Goodland dutifully added the conversion to see his team into the Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Trophy competition as 28-10 winners of this game.

Match report by Barney McGonigle