Irish Schools: Methodist College 22 Blackrock College 19

Methodist College, Belfast welcomed Blackrock College, Dublin to Pirrie Park on Saturday morning for an entertaining game in difficult conditions.

The visitors from Dublin dominated most of the first half as their backs made light of the conditions. A first minute penalty was missed but Rock took the lead in the first ten minutes when their out half finished off a break form the scrum half, the ball moving through six pairs of hands at close quarters to create space near the Methody line.

Rock’s out half finished off a classic opening try.

The out half added the conversion and minutes later the same player scythed through the Methody midfield to send their wing forward over for a second converted try.

It looked like it was going to be a long morning for the Methody players when Rock’s left wing and fullback combined to send over their second row for an unconverted try to give the visitors a 0 – 19 lead on the half hour mark. However, the home side regrouped, looked to their forwards and ground out a try just before the break, bagging the score after a bit of misdirection at a lineout.

Methody celebrate a late first half score.

Having found the recipe for success Methody tightened things up in the second half and looked to control possession and territory. Their change in tactics certainly worked and it was helped by early tries from and to take the score to 15 – 19.

Methody’s centre goes over for a crucial second half try. 

Starved of possession the visitors weren’t able to recapture the free-flowing rugby of the first half and the the game descended into a midfield arm wrestle for much of the remainder. However, it was a battle that suited the hosts and one last effort saw their maul brought down as it raced towards the line for referee to award a penalty try with the last play of the game.

Final score: Methodist College 22 Blackrock College 19

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