Before the storm, there was thunder. As spectators came to watch the Danske Bank U16 Cup final showdown, everybody was anxious for a good game and that the forecasted Storm Babet weather didn’t wreak havoc for the match.
The weather was holding up for a good game, but the noise of thunder came from the Campbell College support- whose boisterous foot stamping created a cracking atmosphere.
They were up for it and so were the Wallace supporters too, with drums being brought onto the buses that brought the students to Belfast to support their classmates.
Campbell made a fast start to the match, winning an early penalty and putting Wallace under early pressure with lineouts. Campbell made their quick start count, as centre George Thomas finished a nice attacking phase out on the wing. In what was a tricky, windy day for the kickers, Alfie Hampton’s attempted conversion fell short of the posts- so Campbell took a 0-5 lead for their fast start.
Wallace reacted immediately from the restart, with their attack forcing Campbell into giving away two penalties as they pushed for a way back into the match. Their breakthrough came shortly after a decisive tap and go, near the Campbell 5m line, as Wallace stayed patient against a sturdy Campbell defence. Wallace’s Ross Pedlow got his side back into the match breaching the defence with a well timed run. James Curran nailed the conversion to pull the Lisburn school ahead.
Campbell’s next try was impressive, with the speedy Rus Lovo making a great line break to power his side over the line. Hampton converted his second kick of the final to swing the scoreline back in Campbell’s favour at 7-12.
Lovo was at it again, minutes later sprinting clear on the wing for his second try, after a lazer guided pass from full back Leo Graham. Hampton was in his kicking groove now, with another conversion to send the Belfast school into a 7-19 lead.
Showing the frantic nature of the final, Wallace responded. It was clear that Wallace’s set piece was a sharp weapon, as they looked to their lineout strength to get back into the match. Wallace’s powerful number 8, James Gould, got his side over the line by scoring a try after a maul. Curran added the extras to send it into a 5 point game at half time.
HT: 14-19
Wallace began the second half where they left off, with their impressive set piece at work again, hooker Isaac Brett scoring off the back of a lineout maul to edge Wallace into the lead. Curran’s kick in the blustery conditions was well executed, putting the score at 21-19.
Campbell knew they hadn’t got going in the half and started to attack again. The blue capped lock, Raanan Potter showed good athleticism to finish under the posts for Campbell, Hampton converted to send the end-end match into a 21-26 score.
Wallace hit back, with a similar driving maul from their last try and produced the same result, with Isaac Brett putting on his best Tom Stewart impression for his second try of the half. Curran was unable to convert meaning with 15 minutes of the final left, the scores were square at 26-26.
Campbell were having the lions’ share of possession during the next period and at this point, the Campbell College supporting boys turned on their boombox to chant ‘We Like To Party’ by the Venga Boys, showing that despite the tense score line they were still confident of a win.
And happiness was around the corner for Campbell, with their combative centre Paul Henry scoring a try after he darted near the posts for a pivotal score. Hampton converted to send Campbell into a 7 point lead at 26-33.
The Campbell crowd had another song as part of their album called ‘Russell Lovo’s Black and White Army’, and it was clear to see why as he turned on a show in the closing stages.
Lovo scored two outstanding individual tries, one where he sped through the Wallace 22 to score and the other, a deadly finish in the corner to add the icing on the cake for Campbell. Curran was able to rack up one more conversion to leave the score at 26-45.
Campbell’s noisy support ran onto the pitch when the full-time whistle blew to celebrate with their winning side. Wallace thanked their great support and can be proud of a strong performance in the final.
Both sides respect at the end of the final showed they knew they were in a game that showcased the strengths of both sides.
FT: Wallace High School 26-45 Campbell College
Danske Bank Player of the Match: Rus Lovo
Scorers:
Wallace High School:
TRY: Ross Pedlow, James Gould, Isaac Brett x2
CON: James Curran x3
Campbell College:
TRY: Thomas, Lovo x4, Potter, Henry
CON: Hampton x5
Teams:
Wallace High School
(1-8) Elijah Herdman, Isaac Brett, Thomas McCambley, Ben Ross, Sam Ravey, Ollie Fitzsimmons, Charlie Thompson, James Gould
(15-9) Peter McClughan, Luka Matchett, Luke Wilson, Ross Pedlow, Caleb Morrell, James Curran, Alex Stevenson
Replacements: Reuban Brett, Taidhg Fitzpatrick, Ben Nase, Thomas Moore,. James Andrews, Harry Girvan, Josh Martin
Campbell College:
(1-8) Caelan Doy- Dylan, Henry Costello, Bret McMaster, Raanan Potter, Rex Claney, Rory Adair, Harry Burrows, Charlie Haldane
(15-9) Leo Graham, Rus Lovo, George Thomas, Paul Henry, Caleb Lockhart, Alfie Hampton, James Wells
Replacements: Sam Robinson, Dante Noel Simmons, Fraser Campbell, Daniel Magee, Oli Armstrong, Matthew Thompson, Jake Junston, Aaron Lowey