The result means Coleraine AI has played its last game of Schools’ Cup rugby, with the amalgamation with Coleraine High School (to form Coleraine Grammar School) set to go through this summer. RBAI now await the winner of the second semi-final which will be contested between Methodist College and Wallace High School on Thursday (3.00pm). Click here to buy tickets for that match.
It was Coleraine who took the lead, against the run of play, when outhalf Callum Smith landed a penalty from 40 metres out.
The RBAI backs looked dangerous when in possession but too often the ball was spilled under little or no pressure, to the frustration of Head Coach Dan Soper. They were enjoying plenty of the ball, with forwards John Dickson and Mark Mairs particularly prominent in the loose and their dominance was eventually rewarded with a penalty from scrumhalf TJ Morris, bringing the scores level.
The Belfast boys continued to dictate play for the remainder of the first half but were unable to find a breakthrough and the score stayed at 3-3 until the interval.
Conditions worsened after the break with a band of rain joining the already strong winds at Kingspan Stadium, limiting the number of clear cut chances created by both teams.
The game then sprung into life around the 50 minute mark with the Coleraine forwards punching holes in the defence. But RBAI showed their clinical edge when openside flanker Ethan Harbinson won an excellent turnover inside his own half and Morris and his half back partner Michael Lowry combined to send outside centre McLaughlin racing clear to touch down. Morris converted to push his side 3-10 ahead.
Smith then cut the lead to just four points with his second penalty of the afternoon and that led to a period of sustained pressure for his side. They forced a penalty straight in front of the posts but they spurned the kick at goal in favour the touchline. A succession of phases followed but they were bundled into touch five metres out and RBAI were able to clear the danger.
Coleraine showed plenty of fight in the closing stages as they went in search of a winning score but the RBAI defence, ably marshalled by captain Lewis McNamara, held firm and that secured a 6-10 win and their progression to the final.
COLERAINE AI:
(15-9): Matthew Smyth; Niall Cameron, Matthew Norris, Andrew Wisener, Thomas Lavery; Callum Smith, Bruce Campbell; (1-8): Daniel McAllister, David Greatorex, Mac O'Neill, Jack McCarroll, Alastair Corbett, Oliver McDowell, Peter Bonnar (captain), Peter Wisener;
Replacements (16-23): Andrew McKee, Andrew Moore, Christi Hamilton, James Bleakly, Gabriel Mawhinney, Ryan Gillan, Zac Hutchinson, Connor Skuce.
RBAI:
(15-9): Andrew McGregor; Joe Finnegan, Callum McLaughlin, Ben McGavock, Jack Conlin; Michael Lowry, TJ Morris; (1-8): Jake Chambers, Ryan McComiskey, John Dickson, Garrett Bell, Connor Wallace, Lewis McNamara (captain), Ethan Harbinson, Mark Mairs;
Replacements (16-23): Callum Reid, Neil Saulters, Dermot Wallace, Blair Robinson, Patrick Nicholas, Matthew Young, Patrick Dolaghan, Mark Keane.