Royal School Armagh 29 RBAI 22
Royal School Armagh have booked their place in the 2020 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final, thanks to an action-packed 29-22 victory over RBAI at Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
In the opening minutes, smart counter-rucking by the RBAI forwards earned themselves an early penalty, with full-back Ronan Boyle duly slotting over for three points.
Inst had the lion’s share of the territory for the first quarter, pinning Armagh inside their own 22, but a wayward RBAI lineout gave The Royal School the opportunity to clear their lines.
The RBAI back line showed some enterprising rugby, going through the hands, but a knock-on led to a scrum for Armagh. Excellent box-kicking from their scrum-half, Charlie Worth helped the Armagh side get back on the front foot and into opposition territory.
Inst withstood a sustained period of pressure on their own line from the Armagh forwards going tight around the fringes, directed by scrum-half, Worth. RBAI defended superbly, forcing a turnover and scrum, but were unable to kick to touch, allowing Armagh to go on the attack again and their second row, Nicholas Bothwell powered his way over for their first try on 27 minutes. Fly-half Romain Morrow was unable to make the difficult touchline conversion.
RBAI responded soon after, when Oscar Lowe and Jude Postlethwaite made a break through Armagh’s defensive line, sending full-back Ronan Boyle over for a try. Boyle attempted to convert his score but his kick went just wide.
Half-time score: Royal School Armagh 5 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 8
The second half had barely started when RBAI’s Oliver Metcalfe made a break down the right wing, stretching out the arm to score. Ronan Boyle made a superb kick to add the extras.
Inst began to turn the screw, as Jude Postlethwaite found a gap in the Armagh defence, linking with back row, Paddy Eames to go over for another five points. Boyle slotted over for the two.
Armagh remained resilient, going on the attack and the forwards picking and going, but it was scrum-half Charlie Worth who picked up and darted his way past the Inst defence to score, Morrow converting.
Just four minutes later, Armagh winger Sam Cunningham made a phenomenal break, throwing a long pass inside to James Allen to score. Morrow’s conversion narrowed the gap to just three points.
Royal School Armagh were in the ascendency, as back row Josh King broke off a maul to score to the left of Inst’s posts, taking the lead for Armagh. Morrow’s difficult conversion attempt just bounced off the posts.
Armagh had an opportunity to extend their slender lead through a penalty, but Romain Morrow’s kick was off-target.
RBAI enjoyed a spell of pressure and showed some lovely offloading skills, but Armagh were quick over the ball in the ruck, forcing a penalty and kicking to touch to afford them some breathing space.
In the dying minutes, Armagh finished the game with a break inside their own half, and a scorching run by Ethan McAtarsney who went in at the corner. The try went unconverted, but it was enough to give Royal School Armagh the victory, and a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final on 17th March.
Full-time score: Royal School Armagh 29 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 22
Wallace High School and Methodist College will meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday afternoon, and the game will once again be streamed live on the Ulster Rugby Facebook page.
Teams
Royal School Armagh
15-9: Ethan McAtarsney, Sam Cunningham, Peter Taylor, Ross Taylor, Chris Whiteside,Romain Morrow, Charlie Worth.
1-8: Niall Carville, Sam Rainey (Capt.), Jude Roberts, Jayson Denley, Nicholas Bothwell, James Agnew, Josh King, Ryan Finlay.
Replacements: Josh Cunningham, Dylan Poyntz, James McBride, Kyle George, Andrew McSorley, James Hazelton, James Allen, Sam Harrison.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
15-9: Ronan Boyle, Oliver Metcalfe, Jude Postlethwaite, Oscar Lowe, Jack Dickson, Hugo Ellerby, Josh Patterson.
1-8: Adam Byrne, Rory Adair (Capt.), Stuart McAuley, Alex Weir, Sam McLarnon, Paddy Eames, Jonny Eagleson, Ben Cooke.
Replacements: Josh Cuthbert, Liam Greene, Sam Collins, Tyrone Simms, Adam Cooke, Ben Beattie, Ryan Stewart, Jack Leathem.
Watch it again here
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