News

Club Academy Cup Final | Ballyclare v Banbridge

29th March 2023

It’s been another action-packed season in the Ulster Rugby Club Academy programme, with more than 20 clubs will having fielded a team of U21 participants, within League, Cup, or Festival formats.

The centre-piece of the Club Academy season is undoubtedly the Club Academy Cup final, where defending champs Banbridge will hope to replicate their success in the 2022/23 season that saw the men from Rifle Park take the title in the inaugural Club Academy season.

Standing in their way this year will be their counterparts from Ballyclare, who still harbour ambitions of winning the Club Academy double, with a Merit Table final against Portadown still to come in April.

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### Ballyclare RFC

Returning participants from the inaugural season of Club Academy rugby, Ballyclare have proved tough opposition for any team in the province in both Merit table and Cup competitions this season. With highlights including wins over Donaghadee and Enniskillen, it was the Stags from Ballynahinch who travelled to the Cloughan to contest the semi-final. In what was a hard-fought and exciting affair, Ballyclare would eventually run out winners by 23 points to 7.

Stephen Langley, Team Manager:

"I must praise the players, coaches and management for their efforts over the season and the previous year to create this opportunity for young men to play rugby. Our squad has a real mix of experience. Those returning to the game as well as those transitioning from U18 club and school rugby. Players from a number of local schools are represented and guys who haven’t played for 2 or 3 years are back playing the game with friends and making more! To now have the opportunity to run out as a squad at Kingspan Stadium is exciting for the group, who are Ulster Rugby supporters."

Ballyclare RFC Starting Lineup

1 Harry Mawhinney

2 Olly McCalmont

3 Josh Taylor

4 James Weir

5 Brynn McCallen

6 Jamie Kelly (C)

7 Jack Turner

8 James Nelson

9 Zak Wilson

10 Rhys Cobain

11 Darrah Flynn

12 Adam Warren (VC)

13 Callum McComb

14 Chad Morris

15 Zak Scarlett

Replacements

16 Callum McConnell

17 Jaime Cross

18 Joe McConnell

19 Owen Lockhart

20 Joel Flynn

21 Ewan Wasson

22 Thomas Rea

### Banbridge RFC

Another successful season of Club Academy rugby has seen Banbridge remain one of the teams to beat at this level. Having seen off competition from local Co. Down rivals Ballynahinch and Dromore earlier in the season, Banbridge came through the most evenly contested Semi-final game imaginable. They got past host Enniskillen by virtue of first try scored after the game finished in stalemate at 8-all. A massive defensive effort from both teams limited the scores but not the excitement as Banbridge held on the take the spoils.

Marc Eadie, Director of Rugby:

"The Club are so proud of these young lads getting to the final of the Club Academy Cup for the 2nd year running. Playing with your mates and people your own age is something that can go missing in Rugby when the players go into senior rugby, but the Club Academy/U21s brings them all back together for a few games each year and they really enjoy it. We have 2 finals on the same day as our U18s are in the final of the Nutty Krust against Dungannon RFC, so we’ll be making sure both squads are supported equally. I’d like to thank 2 senior players in Christian Trimble and Macauley Little who have taken over the mantle of managing these lads with support from Club Head Coach Rob Logan."

Banbridge RFC Starting Lineup

1 Ryan Rodgers

2 Eddie Dawson (C)

3 Jonny Murray

4 Lewis Magowan

5 Josh Quail

6 Dean Hayes

7 Marcus McNeil

8 Zac Simpson

9 Lewis Nelmes

10 Ali Morrow

11 Ethan Mount