DANSKE BANK SCHOOLS’ CUP
REGENT HOUSE 14
BALLYCLARE HIGH 12
Regent House will face Schools’ Cup heavyweights Campbell College away from home in the tournament’s quarter-finals after overcoming Ballyclare High in Newtownards on Saturday morning.
In blustery conditions at The Beach, two tries from Regent captain and Irish U19 centre Tom Bell were both converted by Zach McMinn to edge the locals past familiar foes Ballyclare High and into the last eight for the third year in a row.
After a tense start from both sides, Ballyclare had the first chance to break the deadlock. A penalty from 40 metres out, with the wind behind, drifted wide – a warning shot fired.
Regent began to settle and enjoyed a spell of possession. This culminated in skipper Bell taking a direct route from five metres out to crash over under the posts. Zach McMinn’s extras gave the Regent men a 7-0 lead.
Ballyclare did not take long to respond. Their backline looked well oiled and made gains each time they spread the ball wide. Their opening try was probably deserved, and the conversion from wide left to level things up was impressive.
A 50-metre run from Matthew Callaghan, which saw him dispatch what felt like the entire Ballyclare team, almost gave Regent the lead at half-time. However, the hosts wasted a couple of pivotal chances in Ballyclare territory.
The whistle at the midway point was a relief to both teams, who were leaving nothing on the pitch.
Early in the second half, Bell got his second try of the day after steady gains from the pack, with strong carries from Treshon James, Lewis Robinson and Harry Spence. Another McMinn conversion put Regent seven points to the good, and they were certainly good value for it.
Regent lost flanker Joey Carson to a shoulder injury as Fintan McDonald ably stepped into the back row, but Ballyclare weren’t done yet, grabbing their second try in the right corner at the school end. The Ballyclare kicker was unable to add the extras as the wind continued to play its part, leaving Regent with just a slim lead at 14-12.
The final 10 minutes were tetchy. Regent could have gone five points clear with a difficult but certainly kickable penalty, taking account of McMinn’s current form.
Obstruction close to the line after winning their own lineout then gave Ballyclare a lifeline and one more chance with ball in hand.
Ballyclare found themselves with a lineout just inside the Regent half as the clock ticked into the final minute. Winning their own ball, they built their phases. After a handling error, the referee gave a long blast of his whistle and cheers erupted from the Regent side, knowing all they had to do was kick the ball dead.
Another steady scrum from a pack that had been dominant all morning followed, and Jed Pountney launched the ball out towards the hockey pitch to seal a third quarter-final spot in as many years for Regent.
This was the closest encounter between the two sides, who have now met three times in the Schools’ Cup in the space of 14 months, with Regent emerging victorious on each occasion – though the winning margin has decreased each time.
Best on the day for Regent were try scorer Tom Bell, number eight Lewis Robinson, second row Owen Black and outhalf McMinn, who was deservedly named player of the match. Two vital conversions and a safe pair of hands under the high ball were the difference on the day.
Regent’s best wishes go to Joey Carson, who faces a spell on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder.
The Ards school now make the short trip to Fox’s Field on Saturday, February 7 to face 24-time winners Campbell, who prevailed 17-5 against Belfast Royal Academy.
Round of 16 results: Ballymena Academy 40 Portadown College 0, Belfast Royal Academy 5 Campbell College 17, Friends’ School Lisburn 10 Methodist College Belfast 47, Regent House 14 Ballyclare High 12, Royal Belfast Academical Institution 45 Coleraine Grammar 10, Royal School Armagh 14 Wallace High 21, Royal School Dungannon 10 Rainey Endowed 12, Sullivan Upper 15 Down High 0.
Quarter Final draw: Campbell College v Regent House, Wallace High v Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Rainey Endowed v Methodist College Belfast, Sullivan Upper v Ballymena Academy.
