Methodist College16 RBAI0
METHODIST COLLEGE finished the season undefeated and defended the Northern Bank Schools’ Cup title with a deserved victory over Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI) at Ravenhill yesterday.
Methody were the better team for most of the game but were helped by their opponents who gave away too many penalties. RBAI fought doggedly but never came close to scoring a try.
Michael Allen was the outstanding player on the field and deserved his man-of-the-match award. His speed, determination and eye for a gap played havoc with the opposing defence. He scored two individual tries and following his second after the restart, RBAI never recovered.
Methody took the lead after 10 minutes when Paddy Robinson kicked a penalty after an RBAI player came in from the side, an offence they continued to repeat on numerous occasions in the first half.
Allen showed his talents early on when he kicked high into the opponent’s 22 and after a fumble Methody increased their advantage. Allen brushed aside the tackles, twisting and turning to go over close to touch. Robinson just failed with the difficult conversion but was on target after 20 minutes with a second penalty.
In the second-half RBAI came more into the tie but when hard work had brought them into Methody territory they threw away their chances with poor handling. At least they did manage to curtail their opponents’ dominance with spoiling tactics. The Malone Road team were unable to take full advantage of the wind as RBAI were holding their own up front and depriving them of quick ball.
Full credit to them for sticking to their task but their habit of going in at the side was finally punished when the referee yellow carded Zac Welshman.
They continued to force the pace and were attacking around the Methody 22 when Darryl Maxwell knocked on. The ball bounced luckily for Allen who sprinted away and no defender could catch him as he touched down beside the posts, although the conversion was missed.
Undaunted RBAI came back again but their task was too much. The tie finished with each team having a player yellow carded – Patrick McKee (Methody) and David McGovern (RBAI). Methody have now won the trophy 32 times in 60 finals, and this was their third success in four years.
METHODIST COLLEGE: B McIlroy; T Turkington- Thompson, M Allen; D Martin, C Gilroy, P Jackson, M Heaney; R Harrison, G Reilly, C Carey, R Gilmore, P McKee, M Edgar, S Leckey, P Robinson, N Annett (capt).
RBAI: P Irwin; M Wright, M McAuley; R McCurry, S McAllister, P Magee, N Andress; D Maxwell (capt), D McGovern, R Sheard, R Whitten, A Andress, P Vincent, Z Welshman, P Marks.
Referee: M Hermin.
