ULSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP:METHODIST COLLEGE, undefeated against any other Ulster team, are again the favourites to win the Northern Bank Ulster Schools Cup.
They were expected to clinch the trophy last season but Campbell College eliminated them at the third attempt in the quarter-finals 8-3 after two 10-10 drawn games. Campbell went on to defeat Ballyclare High 42-8 in the semi-final and then RBAI 18-11 at Ravenhill.
Methody have only lost twice this year, against an Italian Representative team and at Rockwell College, 12-3.
They have already proved too strong for most of their main rivals in friendlies, but the cup is a completely different contest.
Their wins over Campbell College 19-5, RBAI 27-5, Ballymena Academy 18-6, Belfast Royal Academy 47-3, Regent House 31-0 and Coleraine Inst 52-0 have given them confidence. Against Dublin opposition they overcame St Mary’s 19-14 and Belvedere College 12-3.
They have Ulster Schools’ players James Harrison, Chris Gracey, Mark Gribben and captain Rory Winters in their squad, but their main strength is their ability to play as a team.
Most of the Campbell College team have represented Ulster in some form. Orran McMurray, Seb McBrien, Josh Cooke, Josh Fullerton, Rob Haldane have all played for the under-18s while Mark Best is an Irish International. Glenn Bailie and Moss Rogers are under-19 players while Josh Owen, Ben Sloan, Connor McIlmurray, Phil Wood and Scott Dowle are under-17 representatives. Mark McClelland and Tiarnan Dillon have turned out for Ulster Under-18 Clubs.
A formidable team with seven returning from that final, the Belmont Road side are a force to be reckoned with especially as they are renowned for their improvement as the season progresses.
RBAI are also in the top eight with a few Ulster players and Ireland’s Benjamin Alexander. Scrumhalf Matthew Keane, who made a big impact in last year’s final, is playing exceedingly well again and he is joined by fellow inter-pros Patrick Anderson, Nathan Brown and Jon McClure.
The other “seeded” teams to enter at the fourth round are Ballyclare High, Limavady Grammar, Armagh Royal, Ballymena Academy and Wallace High.
The second round was played at the weekend, and the teams added for the third-round draw are: Bangor Grammar, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine AI, Down High, Foyle College, Grosvenor Grammar, Portadown College, Regent House, Dungannon Royal and Sullivan Upper.
Campbell College, RBAI, Methodist College and Sullivan Upper are expected to go far in the Northern Bank Medallion Shield and they are joined in the top eight at the fourth-round stage by Armagh Royal, Coleraine AI, Wallace High and Ballymena Academy. Sullivan are the holders following their 17-0 victory over Limavady Grammar but the Co Derry side are not as strong as last season and enter at the second round.
The second-round draw is Grosvenor Grammar v Portora Royal, Carrick Grammar v Craigavon Sec, Limavady Grammar v Larne Grammar, Dalriada v Cambridge House, Lurgan College v Foyle College, Friends’ School v Omagh Academy, Bangor Grammar v Rainey Endowed and Wellington College v Banbridge Academy.
There are very few secondary schools in the competition so it is commendable that Dromore High have been given a bye into the third round.
They have been improving over the past few seasons mainly due to the coaching and encouragement of Malone’s Jacques Benade
Those entering at the third round are Ballyclare High, Belfast Royal Academy, Portadown College, Dungannon Royal, Down High Regent House and Dromore High.
RBAI, Campbell College, Sullivan Upper, Coleraine AI, Armagh Royal, Methodist College, Wallace High and Ballymena Academy are the top “seeds”.
