Though it was mild, a strong blustery wind, which blew straight down the pitch, was the main influencing factor in Saturday’s Medallion Shield tie, between Sullivan Upper School and Methodist College, played in Hollywood.

Report and pictures Bob Given Photography

Playing into the wind Methody secured possession and, with a series of short forward bursts, camped in the Sullivan ’22’ for the first 10 minutes.

It was somewhat against the run of play when Sullivan took the lead through a short range Max Shannon penalty goal after 11 minutes in their first foray into Methody territory.

Methody continued to play the short game and dominated territory and possession, until on 22 minutes Sullivan left wing, Harry McKeown, took the ball deep in his own ’22’, sprinted clear to halfway, kicked through the Methody defence and won the chase for the touchdown midway out. Shannon added the points to give Sullivan a 10 – 0 lead.

Despite more Methody pressure Sullivan held on to the lead until half time.

The 2nd half was barely 6 minutes old when Methody engineered space on the right for Jacob Kelly to score an unconverted try in the right corner.

Sullivan found it difficult, playing into the wind, to break out into the Methody half. After a series of close range drives Methody scrum half David Armstrong wriggled over for a try, after 17 minutes, converted by Ben McFarlan to give Methody the lead 12 – 10.

Sullivan rallied and, in a rare excursion into the Methody half, Tom Muldrew scored beside the posts. Shannon converted to give Sullivan a 17 – 12 lead.

In a tense final 5 minutes Methody threw everything at a stubborn Sullivan defence, which held firm, to leave Sullivan looking forward to the next round.

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