Sport

Powerful Armagh play to their strengths

Rugby Ulster Schools Senior Cup final: Royal School, Armagh - 14 Campbell College - 5 Royal School Armagh lifted the Renault…

Thu Mar 18 2004 - 00:00

Rugby Ulster Schools Senior Cup final: Royal School, Armagh - 14 Campbell College - 5 Royal School Armagh lifted the Renault Ulster Schools' Senior Cup for the first time since 1977 with their outstanding pack laying the foundation for a memorable victory at Ravenhill yesterday.

The Armagh forwards controlled territory and possession for long periods of the match with second row Jamie Cornett dominating the lineouts while in the back row their skipper John McCall and openside Willie Faloon made the hard yards.

However, it was Armagh's scrum-half Adam Bartholomew who deserved the man-of-the match award for a superb all-round display. He kicked intelligently, snipped around the fringes to good effect and kept his powerful pack going forward while invariably choosing the right option.

Bartholomew worked the ball off to his forwards, who cut through the opposition cover in the opening stages, and from broken play Armagh opened the scoring after 13 minutes. Jonathan Gillespie picked the ball up and released winger Lee Ruddock who stepped inside two tacklers before racing in for a try, converted by Gillespie.

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Armagh's momentum was building with their pack getting over the advantage line at every opportunity. Bartholomew directed operations as they swept into the Campbell 22 before Gillespie linked up with Ethan Allen, who displayed lovely footwork to side-step the cover and crash over for their second try, with Gillespie adding the points.

The game opened up in the second half and Campbell capitalised with quick ruck ball being spun out wide. Richard Dunlop released their hard running winger Blair Clements, who set off on an arcing run, to reduce the defcit with a fine try but Royal School held out comfortably for a well earned victory.

ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH: S Shephard; P McAllister, E Allen, M Hooks, L Ruddock; J Gillespie, A Bartholomew; K Stinson, R Morton, R Carleton, J Cornett, J graham, J McCall (capt), W Faloon, E Orr. Replacements: S Rhoda for Bartholomew (69); R Moffett for Gillespie (70).

CAMPBELL COLLEGE: R Boyd; M Horner, R Dunlop, A McCord, B Clements; G Winnington, D Creighton; L Barker, M Bradford, A Lowry, P Noble, C Marshall, D McIlveen, P Creed, D Cobain (capt). Replacements: I Hanvey for Noble (42); H Wing Yeung for Barker (56); R Caithness for Creed (56)

Referee: A McDowell (Coleraine).