Wallace HS 22 Methodist College 17

Wallace High School will face Royal School Armagh in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final on 17th March, after defeating Methodist College Belfast 22-17 in a thrilling encounter at Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

A ferocious Wallace side started the game with intent, asking questions of Methody’s defence. Centre Ben Carson thought he was in to score save for a fantastic try-saving tackle by Callum Davidson.

Wallace soon drew first blood through a well-taken Nathan Doak penalty on 3 minutes after Methody were pinged for offside.

Methodist College enjoyed a spell of pressure with a penalty and ensuing lineout in a promising area of the field, but a loose ball allowed Nathan Doak to put boot to ball for an enormous clearing kick.

The Belfast side had opportunities to come back into the game in the opening quarter, but Wallace’s excellent counter-rucking led to a number of turnovers to gain back possession.

After a prolonged attack from Methody, centre Callum Davidson spotted an opportunity during a period of advantage to make a fantastic cross-field kick to Callum Doherty on the right wing who went over for their first try. Davidson’s conversion attempt drifted just to the right of the posts.

The team from Lisburn soon responded, when Wallace centre Jack Dillon weaved his way through the Methody defence to score under the posts.

Just a minute later, Dillon’s centre partner Ben Carson created a mirror-version try, his strong running making it impossible for Methodist College’s defence to stop. Doak duly fired over the conversion.

Half-time score: Wallace High School 17 Methodist College Belfast 5

Methody came out firing after the break, knowing they had a lot to do to get back into the game. However, Wallace’s watertight defence and the boot of Nathan Doak meant the Belfast side couldn’t turn pressure into points. 

Methodist College showed real patience when camped on the Wallace line, but a thundering tackle by Jamie McNeight caused his opposite number to knock-on, once again giving the Lisburn side breathing space.

Wallace scored their third try through the influential McNeight, going in at the corner after a fantastic team move out to the full-back. Doak’s touchline conversion attempt was agonisingly off-target.

Methody scored their second try, capitalising on a yellow card for Wallace’s Charlie Irvine, and full-back Conor Spence scored in the corner for the Belfast side. Callum Davidson’s difficult kick fell just short of the posts.

A resilient late attack and close-range strike by Methody hooker Harry McCartney and conversion from Callum Davidson weren’t enough to snatch the lead from the Lisburn side.

Full-time score: Wallace High School 22 Methodist College Belfast 17

Teams

Wallace High School

15-9: Jamie McNeight, Harry Wallace, Jack Dillon, Ben Carson, Finn Rankin, Nathan Doak, Lewis Nelmes.

1-8: Cameron Doak, Joel Dundas, Scott Wilson, Thomas Brolly, Charlie Irvine, Peter Heasley, Harry McMeekin, Reuben Crothers (Capt.).

Replacements: Evan Gilliland, Robbie Davis, Nicholas Macklin-Copeland, Matthew Thompson, Philip Kennedy, Harvey Patterson, Carter McCluskey, Joel Wiseman.

Methodist College Belfast

15-9: Conor Spence, Callum Doherty, Peter O’Hagan, Callum Davidson, Andrew McMurray, Luke Graham, Luke Simms.

1-8: Jack Watson, Harry McCartney, Dan Dougan, Matthew Humphreys, Adam McNamee, Zack Porter, Adam Reid (Capt.), Michael Crothers.

Replacements: Johnny O’Kane, Callum White, Finn McAdam, Patrick Fullerton-Healy, Louis Montgomery, Alex Armstrong, Ethan Bryce, Lorcan Hanratty.

Watch it again here

Danske Bank Schools’ Cup Final Tickets

Tickets for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final between Royal School Armagh and Wallace High School are available to purchase at ulsterrugby.com/buytickets.

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