Schools’ Cup holders RBAI progressed to the St Patrick’s Day final after a 19 – 27 win over Ballymena Academy at Ravenhill on Monday afternoon. 

[su_note note_color=”#eee” text_color=”#000″]Ballymena Academy (7) 19
TRY: David Forsythe, Mark Thompson, Christopher McLeister. CON: Bruce Houston (2).
Royal Belfast Academical Institution (19) 27
TRY: David Whitten, Conor Field, Michael Lowry, Mark Keane. CON: James Hume (3). PEN: James Hume[/su_note]

Ballymena enjoyed the best of the opening quarter but their efforts received scant reward until David Forsythe crashed over for the opening try, converted by Bruce Houston.

However, an intercept try by Inst’s David Whitten sparked something of a revival and within minutes Conor Field and Michael Lowry also crossed in a second quarter purple patch for the Belfast side. James Hume converted two to give RBAI a 19 – 7 lead at the break. 

The game looked over when Mark Keane crossed for their fourth early in the second half but tries from Ballymena’s Mark Thompson and Christopher McLeister led to an exciting finish with the Braid-men coming up just short. 

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