Academy Schools’ Cup dream ends at first hurdle

Despite a committed performance from the Galgorm Road side, it was their Lisburn opponents who moved into the last eight with a convincing and deserved victory.

The first 10 minutes of the game were tentative and closely contested with Ballymena coming closest to scoring only to knock-on just metres from the Wallace line.

Wallace then enjoyed a sustained period of possession deep in the Ballymena territory and were rewarded for their excellent ball retention when their prop powered over from close range to score below the posts. The successful conversion took the score to 7–0.

Ballymena responded immediately when Andrew Magrath slotted a penalty and the deficit was reduced to one point when Magrath added his second penalty of the morning.

Immediately from the restart, with only one minute until half time, Ballymena made a careless error under their posts. An attempted off-load didn’t go to hand and Wallace pounced on the loose ball and moved it wide for a try in the corner.

Just before the half time whistle sounded, the excellent touchline conversion saw the score increase to 14–6.

The opening exchanges of the second half were always going to prove crucial and it was Wallace who capitalised on several Ballymena mistakes to move the ball wide for their full back to finish in the corner. Another successful conversion from the touchline saw Wallace move into a comfortable 21–6 lead.

Ballymena Academy rallied and enjoyed a sustained period of pressure deep in the Wallace half.

This culminated with Josh McIlroy bursting over the line following a well-rehearsed line-out move. Magrath’s successful conversion reduced the arrears to 21–13.

With ten minutes left, the game opened up and both teams looked to keep the ball alive.

It was the away team who got the crucial fourth try when their back-line created space and moved the ball to their impressive full-back who finished well.

Another successful kick saw the score move to 28–13 and the final whistle sounded with Wallace High deservedly moving on to an exciting Quarter Final where they will face Methodist College.

Ballymena Academy: Gaston, Kosch, Magrath, Blackwell, Rosborough, Mulholland, Simpson; Gillan, Spence, Kirk, Jolly, Barkley, Fowler, Maguire, McIlroy. Subs; Reynolds, Stevenson, Thompson .

* Ballymena Academy have been drawn at home to Campbell College in the quarter-final of the Subsidiary Shield.