Haldane's try seals the issue

RUGBY/Campbell College 18 RBAI 11:AN EXCELLENT try in the last two minutes gave Campbell College a rather flattering seven-point victory in the Ulster Schools' Cup final at Ravenhill. Up until then the game could have gone either way with Inst having the better of the first-half exchanges and their opponents forcing the pace in the second half.

Inst went in front with a Matthew McGuigan penalty after two minutes and then Campbell, on their first attack, had Geoffrey Crooks yellow-carded.

More Inst pressure allowed McGuigan to add a 32-metre drop-goal but he missed a couple of difficult penalties. They were doing a lot of kicking with the slight breeze and Campbell were seldom out of their own half.

The Belmont were being outplayed and with the Inst forwards content to keep the ball tight, there should have been a greater margin between the teams at the interval.

Campbell gave away far too many penalties and fortunately for them, few were easy. As it was, Campbell reduced the arrears with the final kick of a 33-minute first half. Irish Schools’ fullback Rory Scholes had a straightforward task from 31 metres in front of the posts.

It was a different Campbell after the restart. They showed more determination and their backs started to show their superior strength. Inst found themselves being attacked right from the start. The Campbell backs began to move the ball and find half gaps in the defence. After five minutes a good move down the right nearly resulted in a try but they set up a ruck and the ball was passed along the three-quarters for the tall and strong centre Chris Farrell to go over for Scholes to convert.

Campbell backrow Chris Best had shown his skill throughout while Irish Schools’ John Creighton at outhalf was always in control. There was a number of Inst indiscretions at this stage which allowed their opponents to keep up the pressure.

Scholes had a second penalty to make it 13-6 but when Inst brought on replacement scrum-half Matthew Keane they began to come back into the game. He made all the difference with accurate kicking and an excellent service which set many constructive moves.

Eventually the scrumhalf helped bring play down to the Campbell line where they were rewarded when Patrick Anderson picked up and touched down.

McGuigan missed another penalty but with time running out Inst had to attack from their 22. Campbell outhalf John Creighton broke away, linked with Scholes, who sent Rob Haldane in to put the issue beyond doubt.

CAMPBELL COLLEGE: R Scholes, M Rogers, C Best, C Farrell, R Haldane, J Creighton (capt), G Baillie, S McBrien, K Adams, R Taylor, J Crooke, G Crooks, M Best, J-F Bester, C Gallagher. Replacements: E Vollands, C Jordan, R Greenwood, S Moffett, T Bill, C McGlade, B Sloan.

RBAI: M McGuigan, N Browne, N Dougan, K McLean, J McClure, G Lawlor, M Taylor, N Conor, M Mairs, A Browne, B Alexander, M Kilpatrick, P Bell (capt), Z Welshman, P Anderson. Replacements: D Clegg, R Keane, T Dowling, J Martin, A Roulston, M Keane, M Madill.

Referee. M Black.