Academy Schools’ Cup dream comes to an end

John Andrews’ side were beaten 15-12 by cup holders Campbell College in a thrilling tussle at the Galgorm Road school.

The Ballymena team dominated territory and possession in the opening exchanges with strong play from the home pack and clever use of the ball by the backs asking questions of the Campbell College defence.

However, the well organised Campbell rearguard was giving nothing away and the visitors started to come into the game making good use of quality possession acquired from their pack at lineout time.

Five minutes before the interval the Campbell College attack was turned over and Nicholas Stirling took play deep into the Campbell half.

The Ballymena Academy pack was on hand to produce quality ruck ball possession which allowed Darren Geddis to produce a moment of magic and touch down for a try under the posts.

The same player added the conversion to give his team a 7-0 half-time lead.

The start of the second half saw Campbell dominate territory and possession. They built up a series of phase plays when they didn’t force their passing game. They were rewarded for their endeavours when Harry Howard crossed the Ballymena Academy line to touch down for an unconverted try and reduce the arrears to 7-5.

Campbell College continued to dominate the game until a speculative wide pass was intercepted by the Academy. This enabled the home side to gain ground with effective use of their close driving game and they eventually scored an unconverted try through George Hargy to give the Ballymena Academy team a 12-5 lead.

Campbell responded immediately with their forwards and backs working together to vary their play. Following the acquisition of quick ruck ball on the on the right hand side of the pitch the Campbell College backs displayed deft handling skills to send Ben Sloan in for a try on the left hand side. Rob Haldane hit a superb touchline conversion to draw the teams level at 12-12.

Just as the game seemed to be heading for a replay, it was Haldane that displayed a touch of magic with a drop goal three minutes from time to see Campbell through to the last four - a cruel end to Ballymena Academy’s cup dream.

Ballymena Academy: McClelland, Foster, Stirling, Storey, Gaston, Geddis, Fleming, Rea, Millar, Kernoghan, Hargy, Maguire, McMurray, Kerr, McNabney. Subs: Caithness, Kirk, Barkley, Knowles, McKerr, Shaw, Fowler, Mulholland.

See this week’s Ballymena Times for more top photographic coverage of the match.