A total of seven club cup finals took place at Kingspan Stadium over Easter, with some excellent rugby on show.
McCrea Cup Final:
Malone 2nd XV 21 Cooke 10
Malone retained in the McCrea Cup decider on Easter Monday, with their powerful scrum that set the platform for victory as they outscored the Shaw’s Bridge team by three tries to one.
Malone had the first chance to break the deadlock following a high tackle in midfield but out half Bruce Duff pushed the resulting penalty wide.
Cooke out half Alan Gourley was off target when he tried a long range penalty attempt on 19 minutes.
Gourley made amends four minutes later when he slotted over a penalty from a tight angle after Malone infringed at the breakdown.
Duff missed another penalty from straight in front of the posts on 27 minutes after Cooke went off their feet at the ruck.
Cooke had centre Jonathan Backus yellowed carded on 37 minutes Malone kicked the penalty to the corner but were guilty of a crocked throw at the lineout.
Cooke took the lineout option but Malone stole the throw and the forwards set up a powerful maul and rumbled towards the line before spinning it wide, flanker Neill Alcorn made a strong surge but was held up close to the line before hooker Conor Kelly picked up and dived over from close range. Duff’s conversion gave the Gibson Park side a 7-3 half time lead.
Malone got their second try three minutes after the restart, a speculative high ball caused panic in the Cooke defence, centre Ryan Spence hacked on twice before flanker Johnny Ogilby fell on the ball over the line and Duff added the conversion.
Alcorn got Malone’s third try on 64 minutes.
Malone secured ball from their own lineout in the Cooke 22, the forwards made some hard metres before the ball was spun wider and the openside flanker powered over with Duff adding the conversion.
Malone had replacement Tom Dillage sin binned for deliberately killing the ball. Cooke, from the penalty, worked the ball through multiple phases but were held up over the line. From the resulting scrum the ball was spun into midfield and centre Kyle Mitchell went under the posts for a converted try.
Malone finished the game with 14 men when Darryl James Maxwell was yellow carded but Cooke couldn’t take advantage.
RiverRock Towns Cup Final:
Ballyclare 27 v 6 Portadown
Ballyclare won the Towns Cup with a comprehensive display against Portadown in wintery conditions at Kingspan Stadium.
It was Ballyclare’s first outright victory since 2004 and the first time they had lifted the trophy since sharing it with City of Derry in 2013.
Two tries before the break killed the game as a contest.
It tops a great season for coach Mike McKeever as he led the club to runners up spot in the league and also guided Ballyclare High School to Subsidiary Shield glory.
With former Ulster prop Ricky Lutton in the front row Ballyclare won a scrum penalty and out half Robert Smith opened the scoring after two minutes.
Portadown levelled immediately when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and out half Mark Adamson slotted over the easy kick.
Adamson gave Portadown the lead on 13 minutes when he landed his second penalty from long range.
Smith tied the scores on 28 minutes when he landed a penalty from straight in front of the posts.
Ballyclare got the game’s open try on 32 minutes.
Smith tried to put a kick in behind the Portadown defence but sliced it fortunately the ball sat up for winger Stewart Cusick and he made ground into the 22 before offloading to Paul Robinson, the flanker smashed through a couple of tackles before showing power and pace to hold off another few defenders to slide over which Smith converted.
Smith landed a penalty on 37 minutes after Portadown went off their feet at the breakdown.
Ballyclare extended their lead with the final play of the first half, Portadown conceded a five metre scrum, the Co Antrim side controlled the ball worked it through a few phases before hooker Matthew Coulter barged over.
Smith couldn’t convert and Ballyclare went into the interval with a 21-6 lead.
Smith was on target with a penalty 10 minutes after the restart to increase Ballyclare’s lead.
Ballyclare wasted a good chance to get another try when they were awarded a penalty on halfway and kicked to corner, they went to the front at the lineout and controlled the ball for a couple of phases before knocking on.
Smith landed a long range penalty on 65 minutes as the Ballyclare pack continued to dominate.
Portadown had scrum half Brian Forristal yellow carded on 75 minutes for a trip on Ballyclare captain Grant Bartley as he chased a grubber kick.
Ulster Women’s Junior Cup Final:
Malone 31 Ballynahinch 3
Malone won the Women’s Junior Cup final with a clinical display against Ballynahinch on Easter Tuesday.
The Gibson Park side scored five tries while limiting ‘Hinch to a solitary penalty.
Malone took command early in the game with two tries in the opening eight minutes, winger Brogain Ni Chiarrain finished of a slick handling move on three minutes.
Ella Durkan converted and she scored a great individual try five minutes later, running in from outside the 22 jinxing past a couple of defenders and added the conversion.
Malone’s third try came on 21 minutes after a sustained period of pressure in the ‘Hinch 22, flanker Eimear Hagan picked a nice line to come onto a crash ball and used her speed to dash over unopposed but Durkan failed to convert.
Hinch opened their account with their first visit to the Malone 22 when out half Alexa Grudgings landed a penalty.
Hagan got her second try a minute before half time, from a scrum on the 22 Malone moved the ball inside with Zarah Ryan making a sniping break, the ball was worked through a few phases before the flanker barged over and Durkan’s conversion gave the Gibson Park club a 26-3 lead at the interval.
Hooker Neve Jones showed great strength holding off a number of defenders to rumble over for Malone’s fifth try six minutes after the restart.
‘Hinch thought they had a try when the pack rumbled over the line but it was adjudged held up.
Grudgings missed a penalty from the 22 after Hinch’s best period of pressure in the game.
‘Hinch forced a series of penalties in the Malone 22 and the forwards were held up over the line again.
‘Hinch finished the game encamped in their opponents half but couldn’t turn pressure into points against a well drilled Malone defence.
Crawford Cup Final:
Grosvenor 2nd XV 20 Ballynahinch 4th XV 24
Ballynahinch 4s had to repel a strong second half comeback by Grosvenor 2s to win the Crawford Cup.
‘Hinch had an 18 point lead at half time but were hanging on at the end and prevailed by a four point margin.
The cup stays at Ballymacarn Park after the thirds won it last season but that was the first victory in the competition for the fourth string.
Hinch struck after nine minutes to break the deadlock, centre Chris Orr made a surging break carrying close to the line, the ball was worked through a couple of phases before being spun wide, winger Josh McMullan took advantage of a poor tackle in defence to sprint over with James Gillespie converting.
Grosvenor wasted a couple of chances to get back in the game when their lineout misfired twice in the ‘Hinch 22.
The Belfast club did open their account on 30 minutes with winger Timothy McMullan landing a penalty from just inside the ‘Hinch half.
‘Hinch got their second try on 36 minutes after absorbing a sustained period of pressure in their own 22. They ran the ball out of defence, prop Chris Stevenson put a perfectly weighted grubber kick in behind the defence Orr raced onto it and went under the posts with Gillespie converting.
‘Hinch scored from the restart, the Grosvenor defence failed to deal with a high ball allowing full back Mark Douglas to collect and sprint over with Gillespie adding the conversion.
Timothy McMullan missed the chance to cut ‘Hinch’s 21-3 lead at the interval when his penalty with the last kick of the half came back off the post.
Grosvenor got back in the game five minutes after the restart following a good drive from the forwards out half Stuart McIlwaine jinked past the last defender to touch down with McMullan adding the conversion.
Timothy McMullan chipped away further at the ‘Hinch lead with a 55th minute penalty.
Gillespie was off target with a penalty attempt a minute later.
A strong forward drive ‘Hinch earned them a penalty in front of the posts as Grosvenor failed to roll away in the tackle and Gillespie made no mistake with the easy kick.
‘Hinch winger Josh McMullan was yellow carded on 70 minutes for a deliberate knock on and Grosvenor took advantage immediately.
From the line they had several probing runs at the line before No8 James Bowman cut back on the angle to score with Timothy McMullan converting but Grosvenor couldn’t create any chances to win the game.
McCambley Cup Final:
Ballymena 4th XV 44 Enniskillen 3rd XV 3
Ballymena retained the McCambley Cup, their tenth success in the competition, thanks to a comprehensive win over Enniskillen on Saturday afternoon.
Gordon West Cup Final:
Lurgan 19 Donaghadee 8
Lurgan became the first team to win the Gordon West Cup on three occasions, with their win over Donaghadee.
Forster Cup Final:
Dungannon 3rd XV 18 Ballyclare 4th XV 17
Dungannon have won their third Forster Cup title, and a first since 2012, thanks to the narrowest of wins over Ballyclare at Kingspan Stadium.
McCrea Cup Final:
Malone 2nd XV 21 Cooke 10
Malone retained in the McCrea Cup decider on Easter Monday, with their powerful scrum that set the platform for victory as they outscored the Shaw’s Bridge team by three tries to one.
Malone had the first chance to break the deadlock following a high tackle in midfield but out half Bruce Duff pushed the resulting penalty wide.
Cooke out half Alan Gourley was off target when he tried a long range penalty attempt on 19 minutes.
Gourley made amends four minutes later when he slotted over a penalty from a tight angle after Malone infringed at the breakdown.
Duff missed another penalty from straight in front of the posts on 27 minutes after Cooke went off their feet at the ruck.
Cooke had centre Jonathan Backus yellowed carded on 37 minutes Malone kicked the penalty to the corner but were guilty of a crocked throw at the lineout.
Cooke took the lineout option but Malone stole the throw and the forwards set up a powerful maul and rumbled towards the line before spinning it wide, flanker Neill Alcorn made a strong surge but was held up close to the line before hooker Conor Kelly picked up and dived over from close range. Duff’s conversion gave the Gibson Park side a 7-3 half time lead.
Malone got their second try three minutes after the restart, a speculative high ball caused panic in the Cooke defence, centre Ryan Spence hacked on twice before flanker Johnny Ogilby fell on the ball over the line and Duff added the conversion.
Alcorn got Malone’s third try on 64 minutes.
Malone secured ball from their own lineout in the Cooke 22, the forwards made some hard metres before the ball was spun wider and the openside flanker powered over with Duff adding the conversion.
Malone had replacement Tom Dillage sin binned for deliberately killing the ball. Cooke, from the penalty, worked the ball through multiple phases but were held up over the line. From the resulting scrum the ball was spun into midfield and centre Kyle Mitchell went under the posts for a converted try.
Malone finished the game with 14 men when Darryl James Maxwell was yellow carded but Cooke couldn’t take advantage.
RiverRock Towns Cup Final:
Ballyclare 27 v 6 Portadown
Ballyclare won the Towns Cup with a comprehensive display against Portadown in wintery conditions at Kingspan Stadium.
It was Ballyclare’s first outright victory since 2004 and the first time they had lifted the trophy since sharing it with City of Derry in 2013.
Two tries before the break killed the game as a contest.
It tops a great season for coach Mike McKeever as he led the club to runners up spot in the league and also guided Ballyclare High School to Subsidiary Shield glory.
With former Ulster prop Ricky Lutton in the front row Ballyclare won a scrum penalty and out half Robert Smith opened the scoring after two minutes.
Portadown levelled immediately when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and out half Mark Adamson slotted over the easy kick.
Adamson gave Portadown the lead on 13 minutes when he landed his second penalty from long range.
Smith tied the scores on 28 minutes when he landed a penalty from straight in front of the posts.
Ballyclare got the game’s open try on 32 minutes.
Smith tried to put a kick in behind the Portadown defence but sliced it fortunately the ball sat up for winger Stewart Cusick and he made ground into the 22 before offloading to Paul Robinson, the flanker smashed through a couple of tackles before showing power and pace to hold off another few defenders to slide over which Smith converted.
Smith landed a penalty on 37 minutes after Portadown went off their feet at the breakdown.
Ballyclare extended their lead with the final play of the first half, Portadown conceded a five metre scrum, the Co Antrim side controlled the ball worked it through a few phases before hooker Matthew Coulter barged over.
Smith couldn’t convert and Ballyclare went into the interval with a 21-6 lead.
Smith was on target with a penalty 10 minutes after the restart to increase Ballyclare’s lead.
Ballyclare wasted a good chance to get another try when they were awarded a penalty on halfway and kicked to corner, they went to the front at the lineout and controlled the ball for a couple of phases before knocking on.
Smith landed a long range penalty on 65 minutes as the Ballyclare pack continued to dominate.
Portadown had scrum half Brian Forristal yellow carded on 75 minutes for a trip on Ballyclare captain Grant Bartley as he chased a grubber kick.
Ulster Women’s Junior Cup Final:
Malone 31 Ballynahinch 3
Malone won the Women’s Junior Cup final with a clinical display against Ballynahinch on Easter Tuesday.
The Gibson Park side scored five tries while limiting ‘Hinch to a solitary penalty.
Malone took command early in the game with two tries in the opening eight minutes, winger Brogain Ni Chiarrain finished of a slick handling move on three minutes.
Ella Durkan converted and she scored a great individual try five minutes later, running in from outside the 22 jinxing past a couple of defenders and added the conversion.
Malone’s third try came on 21 minutes after a sustained period of pressure in the ‘Hinch 22, flanker Eimear Hagan picked a nice line to come onto a crash ball and used her speed to dash over unopposed but Durkan failed to convert.
Hinch opened their account with their first visit to the Malone 22 when out half Alexa Grudgings landed a penalty.
Hagan got her second try a minute before half time, from a scrum on the 22 Malone moved the ball inside with Zarah Ryan making a sniping break, the ball was worked through a few phases before the flanker barged over and Durkan’s conversion gave the Gibson Park club a 26-3 lead at the interval.
Hooker Neve Jones showed great strength holding off a number of defenders to rumble over for Malone’s fifth try six minutes after the restart.
‘Hinch thought they had a try when the pack rumbled over the line but it was adjudged held up.
Grudgings missed a penalty from the 22 after Hinch’s best period of pressure in the game.
‘Hinch forced a series of penalties in the Malone 22 and the forwards were held up over the line again.
‘Hinch finished the game encamped in their opponents half but couldn’t turn pressure into points against a well drilled Malone defence.
Crawford Cup Final:
Grosvenor 2nd XV 20 Ballynahinch 4th XV 24
Ballynahinch 4s had to repel a strong second half comeback by Grosvenor 2s to win the Crawford Cup.
‘Hinch had an 18 point lead at half time but were hanging on at the end and prevailed by a four point margin.
The cup stays at Ballymacarn Park after the thirds won it last season but that was the first victory in the competition for the fourth string.
Hinch struck after nine minutes to break the deadlock, centre Chris Orr made a surging break carrying close to the line, the ball was worked through a couple of phases before being spun wide, winger Josh McMullan took advantage of a poor tackle in defence to sprint over with James Gillespie converting.
Grosvenor wasted a couple of chances to get back in the game when their lineout misfired twice in the ‘Hinch 22.
The Belfast club did open their account on 30 minutes with winger Timothy McMullan landing a penalty from just inside the ‘Hinch half.
‘Hinch got their second try on 36 minutes after absorbing a sustained period of pressure in their own 22. They ran the ball out of defence, prop Chris Stevenson put a perfectly weighted grubber kick in behind the defence Orr raced onto it and went under the posts with Gillespie converting.
‘Hinch scored from the restart, the Grosvenor defence failed to deal with a high ball allowing full back Mark Douglas to collect and sprint over with Gillespie adding the conversion.
Timothy McMullan missed the chance to cut ‘Hinch’s 21-3 lead at the interval when his penalty with the last kick of the half came back off the post.
Grosvenor got back in the game five minutes after the restart following a good drive from the forwards out half Stuart McIlwaine jinked past the last defender to touch down with McMullan adding the conversion.
Timothy McMullan chipped away further at the ‘Hinch lead with a 55th minute penalty.
Gillespie was off target with a penalty attempt a minute later.
A strong forward drive ‘Hinch earned them a penalty in front of the posts as Grosvenor failed to roll away in the tackle and Gillespie made no mistake with the easy kick.
‘Hinch winger Josh McMullan was yellow carded on 70 minutes for a deliberate knock on and Grosvenor took advantage immediately.
From the line they had several probing runs at the line before No8 James Bowman cut back on the angle to score with Timothy McMullan converting but Grosvenor couldn’t create any chances to win the game.
McCambley Cup Final:
Ballymena 4th XV 44 Enniskillen 3rd XV 3
Ballymena retained the McCambley Cup, their tenth success in the competition, thanks to a comprehensive win over Enniskillen on Saturday afternoon.
Gordon West Cup Final:
Lurgan 19 Donaghadee 8
Lurgan became the first team to win the Gordon West Cup on three occasions, with their win over Donaghadee.
Forster Cup Final:
Dungannon 3rd XV 18 Ballyclare 4th XV 17
Dungannon have won their third Forster Cup title, and a first since 2012, thanks to the narrowest of wins over Ballyclare at Kingspan Stadium.