This match was billed as the top game in Ulster Schools Rugby as Methody (Ranked 2nd) met Wallace (Ranked 1st) at Pirrie Park, on Saturday morning.

The ‘navy blue machine’ clicked!

Methody’s lineout functioned perfectly, they were powerful in the scrums and they dominated loose play. It took only 10 minutes for Tom Millar to score an unconverted try, following a series of mauls close to the Wallace line. An attack from deep left Ethan McIlroy to run in for an unconverted try out wide.

Wallace responded with a close range penalty from Nathan Doak, but shortly before half time Tommy Armstrong scored a try following more sustained Methody pressure. It was converted by McIlroy to leave the half time score 17 – 3 in Methody’s favour.

The 2nd half was minutes old when Armstrong added his 2nd try, close to the posts, McIlroy converted.

Wallace never gave up and mounted a series of forays into the Methody ‘22′, but were repulsed by a sound defence.

More pressure from the home side led to a try by David Boden, again converted by McIlroy.

Almost immediately Methody relaxed and allowed Wallace to run in a Jack Dillon try from long range. The conversion failed.

There was time for one more Methody attack and when a rolling maul was pulled down close to the line, a penalty try was awarded to complete the scoring to leave Methodist College 38 – 8 victors.

GALLERY BELOW

Report and pictures Bob Given Photography