Coleraine AI know they will need to raise the bar, as far as performance levels are concerned, if they are to have any chance of defeating RBAI in the semi-final. Coleraine, coached by Richard Beggs and Stephen Douglas, will, in all likelihood, not really need any motivational speeches prior to the game. This will be the last meeting of a Coleraine Academical Institution team against a Royal Belfast Academical Institution team in an Ulster Schools’ Cup match as Coleraine AI is due to amalgamate with Coleraine High School to form Coleraine Grammar School come September 2015. The players will be going all out to ensure this game will not be the last time they play together under that illustrious title.
Quite a few of the squad experienced the agony of going out of the competition at the semi-final stage last season and they will not wish for a repeat performance this time out. They started off very well against Omagh Academy team in the previous round, opening up a comfortable 15-3 lead midway through the first half, only to have that lead pegged back to 15-9 by the interval. Omagh dominated the game for large periods in the second half and somehow managed to miss a number of penalties that might have put a different complexion on the eventual outcome of the game. They cannot afford to let the same thing happen in this semi-final.
Captain Peter Bonnar will look to the experienced players in his pack such as David McAllister, David Greatorex and Mac O’Neill in the front row, Alistair Corbett and Jack McCarroll in the second row, and the breakaway trio of himself, Oliver McDowell and Peter Weisener to gain parity in all aspects of forward play. Their backline will require a good amount of quality possession against RBAI if they are to have any chance of using the wide open spaces of Kingspan Stadium effectively. Bruce Campbell and Callum Smith form a talented half back pairing and in Matthew Norris and Andrew Weisener they have a centre partnership that has caused opposition teams quite a few problems during the season. Thomas Lavery, Matthew Smyth and Niall Cameron love to get the ball in their hands and, if they do so, the opposition defenders will need to be well-organised. When the opposition have the ball the Coleraine defence will need to display a greater efficiency than they did, at times, against Omagh Academy. First up tackles will be vital, as will discipline at the breakdown so that needless penalties are not conceded. There is a great desire and passion amongst the Coleraine players and coaches to make history in this game and it will take an extra special effort from everyone concerned if they are to do so.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution will be focused on ensuring they take a place in the final at Kingspan Stadium on St. Patrick’s Day. Team coaches, Dan Soper and Richard Hedley, have a very talented squad of players at their disposal. Such is the talent available; the final selections to be made are going to be difficult. There is a great deal of both youth and experience within the RBAI camp. Year 12 player, Michael Lowry, is rapidly developing as one of the most talented players to have come through any school in the Province in years. When he is on song, his team are on song! The RBAI pack, with team captain, Lewis McNamara leading from the front, is a very effective unit. On their day they feel they are a match for any school team they have played against.
The loss of Charlie Fryers, to an ankle injury in the previous round, could be keenly felt. However, his team mates in the pack will be doing their best to overcome his non-availability. John Dickson, Ethan Harbinson, Patrick Nicholas, Mark Mairs and Ryan McComiskey will all raise their game to ensure the quality possession demanded by their talented back division is assured. Players such as TJ Morris, James Hume, Jack Conlin, Callum McLaughlin, Ryan Campbell and Conor Field, if available, have all benefitted from the decision making skills of Lowry. In the previous round Hume left the field of play to for treatment on an injury. On came Ben McGavock who took advantage of a clever piece of play involving Lowry and McLaughlin to score the try that finally put paid to any chance of an RS Armagh revival.
RBAI missed out on a semi-final slot in last season’s Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. They have one this season and will be going all out to take full advantage of the circumstances in which they find themselves this season.
COLERAINE AI SQUAD:
(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 SQUAD:
(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.