Both teams were encouraged to play positive rugby with referee, Christopher Lough, using the advantage law to good effect. The game started with a lot of time spent in the middle third of the pitch Ryan Hughes and Matthew McMasters got through a lot of work for Dromore, while Nathan Graham. Jack McCarthy and Jack Magee impressed for the Belfast side.
Ten minutes into the game Marcus Heath intercepted a long floated pass and despite being chased down by Niall McCarthy, he managed to score a try just to the right of the posts. Adam McDonald added the conversion that gave the County Down boys a 7-0 lead.
Malone came back strongly but could find no way through a dogged Dromore defence that was to give nothing away all night. Dromore forced Malone into giving away a series of penalties, one of which McDonald converted, to extend the lead to 10-0.
Just before the break, Kellam Travers took advantage of some great attacking play from the Dromore team. He was on hand to touch down for a try, which McDonald converted, to give his team a 17 point advantage at the break.
Malone started the second half really well but could still not find any way through the resolute defence and Dromore soon registered their third try. Good lineout ball, off the top from Matthew McMasters, was used well by the Dromore backs as Marcus Heath ran a great line and took two defenders with him over the whitewash. McDonald added the extras to bring the score to 24-0 five minutes into the second half.
The game then became somewhat scrappy for the next ten minutes with a number of delays due to minor injuries. Midway through the second half things livened up when McDonald made a telling break from his own half. Determined Malone defence saw him stopped on their 22m line but good use of quick ruck ball was rewarded when McMasters crashed over for an unconverted try.
Close to the full time whistle, James Milligan took advantage of a tiring Malone defence to touch down for a try under the posts. TJ Morris, making a cameo appearance in the game following his Danske Bank Schools’ Cup win with RBAI on Tuesday, converted to secure a 36-0 success.
Following the game, Jonny Gillespie, Ulster Rugby’s Talent ID Officer, presented the Nutty Krust Man of the Match Award to Matthew McMasters, the Dromore second row (pictured below).
The third quarter-final game will take place at Portadown RFC on Wednesday 25th March when Rainey take on Randalstown at 7.45pm.
