1St XV Report
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Banbridge Academy | School Review 2015-16 Rugby 1st XV Report B.Leslie Banbridge Academy 1st XV claimed the lineout lifting made them a formidable teammates for starting spots next year. Schools’ Trophy on a beautiful spring combination. Angus Corbett also played The centres were Tommy Russell and day at Roughfort, to transform what had numerous games in the 2nd Row and Ross Cartmill. Tommy was the power been a challenging and difficult season his game improved dramatically as 12 with his barrelling runs and his into one for the history books. For the the season progressed and only injury massive hits in defence and the perfect second time in four seasons they lifted prevented him from featuring more foil was Ross at outside centre with the Schools’ Trophy and brought home heavily in the Cup campaign. The back his deft touches and exquisite lines of one of the four main schools’ rugby row was Jack Macaulay at No 8 and running in attack. Ross won the Player prizes to the Lurgan Road. Jonny Campbell and Jonathan McIntosh of the Year award at the end of season on the flanks. Jack was another grafter awards ceremony. The wing berths were The early season form did not hint who always gave his all, his ball carrying Captain Michael McGaffin, Troy Pinion at this later success however and a improved as the season went on and with Jack Dolaghan, also playing most combination of a young team and his lineout work was invaluable. Jack of the season when another back was numerous injuries throughout the won the Clubman of the Year award at injured. Michael unfortunately had an season, meant we struggled for the end of season awards ceremony. injury-plagued season, but his pace victories. The season began in August Jonny Campbell loved nothing better and leadership were invaluable in the with our pre-season, which was once than a big carry and an even bigger hit, Cup run once he regained full fitness. again well attended. The first fixtures while Jonny McIntosh was all action in Troy has an excellent all-round game for the 1st XV were at the Grosvenor defence and on the ground. Toby Baxter and his pace and strength were a real tournament where we lost 0-5 to BRA, had an injury-plagued season but asset. Jack fitted well into the squad 0-19 to Wesley College from Dublin and fought back to play a number of games and proved his worth in both attack and drew 5-5 with Rainey Endowed. Our first in the Trophy campaign, and his work defence. Ben Russell, older brother of full game of the season was against at the breakdown and turnover count Tommy, played full back and was key Portadown College, where we lost 18- was a real boost in that campaign. Both throughout the year. He was a strong 5. Next up was Armagh Royal where James Moore and Alex Mitchell played runner and excellent in defence and his we lost 33-3, but we were competitive a number of times in the back-row reliability under the high ball was a real for 50 minutes and were starting to and both are talented players who will fillip to the team. Andrew Rutledge, a show promise. This was followed by a feature much more next season. talented outside back, also featured in similar 38-5 loss to Sullivan Upper. Next the back three but injury almost ended we played Wairoa College (a touring Losses to Portora Royal, Lurgan College, his season until a miraculous recovery team from New Zealand) and in an Bangor Grammar, CUS and Coleraine meant he was able to take his place entertaining game, after a ferocious Grammar were to follow before our first in the squad for the Trophy campaign. Hakka, we lost 5-27. victory of the season at 41-0 win against Jamie Ewing and Scott Thompson also Carrick Grammar. This was followed by a featured on many occasions and were The forwards were as follows: Props 7-0 loss to Belfast High School and then always reliable in defence and effective were John Wilson at loose head and a battling 12-7 win against Wellington in attack. Tom Lyttle at tight head. John lives life College. Defeats to Grosvenor and on the offside line but his enthusiasm Dungannon were followed by a Schools’ Cup is contagious and he is a thorn in the Christmas training game against Lurgan Our Cup camp was to be brief however, side of many an opposition backline. College, where we drew 0-0. Then in as we exited the Schools’ Cup in the Vice-Captain Tom is a strong carrying our final warm-up match, we lost 17-7 to cruellest of fashions when Antrim forward who excels in the scrum. Corin Rainey Endowed. Grammar landed a last ditch penalty to Boardman also played many games as snatch a 16-15 victory in a competitive prop, deputising ably for one of the The backs were as follows: The half- Schools’ Cup 1st round game. Banbridge others, and his consistency and hard backs were Jordan Mount at Scrum started the better and a driving maul work were always an asset. The hooker Half and Ben Thompson at Out Half. ended with Jack Macauley sneaking was Timmy Beattie. Timmy is a busy Jordan is a balanced runner with an over in the corner after 7 minutes. On robust character and he remarkably, eye for a break and Ben is a good 22 minutes Antrim reduced the arrears and much to the chagrin of the backs, playmaker who also likes to challenge with a penalty, before Academy Flanker finished the season as the team’s top the defence. Both players matured Jonny Campbell barged over to make scorer with 5 tries! He also won the Year as the season went on and both were the score 10-3 to Banbridge. The second 12 player of the year award. The 2nd playing their best rugby as the year half started well for the Academy with Row combination was Ethan Cromie and finished. Christopher Patterson and Tom Scrum Half Jordan Mount running in Peter Heaney. Both players were the Flanagan deputised for these players a great score to take Banbridge out epitome of hard work and effort. Ethan’s throughout the season and both of to 15-3 but Antrim responded almost relentless tackle count and rucking, these young players have talent galore immediately with a converted try. On allied with Peter’s ball carrying and and will put serious pressure on their 55 minutes, Antrim closed the gap to 2 126 Rugby points with a penalty from Sam Gordon. great ball retention. The Cambridge High team was to the fore in the very Then, in the final play of the game, just defence held firm however and it was early stages, as Banbridge struggled to as the Academy looked to have turned only on the stroke of halftime that settle and made a few early errors. Soon the ball over and won the match the Centre Ross Cartmill, the Academy’s however the Co. Down team settled into referee awarded a penalty to Antrim most threatening back, struck a their rhythm and after a couple of good for offside and they coolly slotted the beautiful line and crossed for the attacking phases they were awarded a kick and the final whistle blew. It was an unconverted try. A buoyant Academy penalty on 12 minutes. Unfortunately incredibly disappointing way to lose the team came out all guns blazing in the out half Ben Thompson was just wide match but the team should be proud of second half and with the wind at their with the attempt, but the Academy kept their efforts and they fought to the very back, we always looked the winning field position and just three minutes end. There was no denying however team. Persistent pressure led to the later a flowing backline move resulted that the disappointment ran deep and first score on 45 minutes when a driving in full back Ben Russell making a fine the players set their minds on winning maul marched over and Prop John line break and linking with wing Troy the Trophy competition, which they now Wilson emerged with the ball. Then Pinion, who crossed the line for the entered as a result of the loss. more pressure told on 50 minutes when opening score. Thompson was on target 2nd Row Ethan Cromie barged over with the conversion and put Banbridge The Trophy Campaign to stretch the lead and Out Half Ben out to a 7-0 lead. The rest of the half The 1st round saw a narrow 5-0 win Thompson converted. Again Bann piled was fairly even with both teams having over Wellington College. There was on the pressure and this time Hooker phases of possession but neither really early Bann pressure but it brought no Timmy Beattie burrowed over the line able to do any damage and the only reward and mistakes from both sides to claim another try and Thompson scoring opportunity was on 25 minutes, in the contact made for a disjointed once again converted. The final scoring when Belfast High hit the post with a game. The 2nd half was all Banbridge, act was a 65th minute penalty from long range penalty effort. The final few but again the Wellington defence was Thompson to take the Academy to 17 minutes of the half saw Belfast High excellent. Eventually on 60 minutes the points clear and deservedly secure their really pressurise the Academy line and Academy penetrated and full back Ben place in the final.