A game on everyone’s lips is the clash between RBAI and Campbell College, our finalists in last year’s cup. In a tightly-contested game, it took an injury time winner from former RBAI Captain, and now Ulster Rugby Academy player Jacob Boyd, to clinch the title in a 22-17 win. These two teams now face each other on Saturday, 10.30 at Osborne Park.
Another interesting game should be between Belfast Royal Academy and Ballymena Academy. The clash at Roughfort is a repeat of the 2010 final which Ballymena narrowly defeated BRA 10-7, their last success in the competition. The BRA side that day contained future Ulster captain Iain Henderson. This year, BRA finished top of their group, winning all three of their games and defeating Grosvenor Grammar in the last round, 40-0. Both teams are in a great position in this competition and it will be all to play for.
Two teams that did exceptionally well topping both their groups face each other this weekend, Portadown College and Banbridge Academy. Somewhat of a local derby, both teams have played fantastically in this competition, Banbridge even bagged two bonus points on their way. Interestingly, Robin McLoughlin, principal of Banbridge Academy was a former pupil of Portadown College, adding to that derby feel.
Royal School Armagh were the number one team in Group A, successfully winning all three games securing two bonus points along the way. In the last round, they beat Lurgan College 35-8, winning five converted tries throughout the game. They go to Lisburn this Saturday to face Wallace High School away, and again we see a clash of a group winner and one of the top six schools.
Regent House School were also the winners of their group, Group F winning all of their games. They narrowly beat Dalriada in the final round of the group stages, 13-8. They will be hosting Dromore High this Saturday. Dromore were runners up in their group, beating out Belfast High School in the last round with an amazing seven tries, 43-7.
Rainey Endowed School host Methodist College in Magherafelt on Saturday. In the last round of the group stages, Rainey scored a comfortable 40-0 victory against Foyle College to make it to the final sixteen, with players such as Paul McCloskey, Ben Bell, Steffan Lloyd-Evans, Peter Craig, Nathan Overend, Luke Caskey, George Stone, Glenn Caldwell and Owen O’Kane impressing with their performances during the game. Methodist College have had recent games with a South African side, Portugal U19 and Dublin teams so will be in good stead this weekend.
Similarly to Rainey, Larne Grammar were runners up in their group, being successful in a closely-contested game against Royal School Dungannon. They achieved a narrow victory of 20-19 to secure their spot in this round. They face Sullivan Upper away this Saturday, KO 10.30.
The final round of sixteen games on Saturday will see Friends’ School travel to Enniskillen to battle it out with Enniskillen Royal Grammar. Friends’ School team became the first of ten schools to join the six tier one schools in the round of sixteen draw, when they defeated Down High School with a 29-21 bonus point victory. Both Friends’ and Enniskillen both played exceptionally well in the group stages, attaining two bonus points a piece. Enniskillen finished up in second place in Group A, defeating Omagh Academy 33-10 in the final stage of the groups.
Once all the matches have been played, the draw for the quarter-finals will take place in Enniskillen Royal Grammar, organised by Barney McGonigle, Richard Clingan and Chris Webster. Enniskillen Principal, Elizabeth Armstrong and Friends’ Principal, Stephen Moore will also be in attendance. In addition, the draws for the quarter-finals of the Bowl, Subsidiary Shield and the Trophy will also take place.