Ulster Schools; RBAI 15 Wallace HS 0:Royal Belfast Academical Institution's coach Gavin Monteith hailed his side's rock-solid defence as the key to the school's 29th Ulster Schools' Senior Cup triumph at Ravenhill yesterday.

A second-half penalty and converted try by Inst left-wing Patrick Irwin clinched a comprehensive victory over a battling Wallace High School side whose hunt for a first title goes on.

The Belfast school, now just one behind fierce rivals Methodist College in the all-time winners list, had edged a competitive if error-ridden first half, chiselling out a 5-0 lead at the break thanks to a try by flanker Jamie Lusk.

And once Irwin had nudged Inst two scores in front with a penalty just after the restart, Wallace found themselves pounding against an unbreachable yellow and black defensive line.

"Our performances in the earlier rounds put us in good stead for the final and our defence held up for us again," said Monteith.

But the margin of victory did not tell the full story in that Wallace showed tremendous spirit throughout and, but for a lack of a cutting edge out wide, the Lisburn school could have made it a much tighter affair.

The early challenge came from Inst. Patrick Irwin made an incision to pile the pressure on Wallace, and soon after RBAI full-back Andrew Bryans was weaving his way through into the Wallace 22.

But their defence was sound, and with openside flanker Michael McClean causing havoc at the breakdown Wallace forced a number of important turnovers.

Wallace scrumhalf Martin Hanna was then able to lead a break-out, but another promising move was squandered when centre Nevin Spence was penalised for crossing.

But after the opening sparring had revealed few try-scoring opportunities, Inst struck with an impressive piece of opportunism.

A poor pass by Hanna from the base of a scrum was knocked on by Wallace outhalf Wayne Hughes and Inst flanker Jamie Lusk latched on to the loose ball, hacking it ahead twice and winning the race to the line for a 13th-minute touchdown.

When two successive high balls by Hanna where dropped by Fiyin Olayisade and Bryans, the Lisburn school found themselves within range. Their pack mauled a lineout to within a metre of the line, and Philip Wilson and Hughes then made half-breaks. But just when an overlap beckoned, Scott Hughes couldn't hold a wild pass by Crowe.

The second half began with Inst again on the charge, and in the 37th minute Irwin slotted over a penalty.

Wallace then blew a golden chance when, after the pack had mauled a lineout, Hughes couldn't hold a wide pass by Spence when a try looked on.

RBAI: A Bryans; F Olayisade, A McCarthy, R McCarthy, P Irwin; J Pentland, N Dempsey; R McNeely, L Linton, A Boyd (A Whitten 39 mins), M McDowell, M Browne, J Lusk, M Jones (capt), K Calladine (J Connan 68 mins).

WALLACE HIGH SCHOOL: P Wilson; S Hughes, N Spence, M Arneill, S Matthews; W Hughes (R Harte 60 mins), M Hanna; C Kidd, S Briggs, D Graham, D Gilkinson, P Clarke, S Knowles, M McClean, G Crowe (capt).

Referee: C Stanley (IRFU).