Wednesday 26th February 2020 saw Banbridge Academy travel to Jordanstown to take on Belfast High School in the semi final of the Ulster Schools Bowl, the winner advancing to take on Dromore in the final next week.

Report and picture credit – Davie Hayes Photography

A beautiful day but with some strong winds saw a large crowd of a few hundred show up for an eagerly awaited match that had been previously postponed. Banbridge started the game with the wind with them and also took an early lead with a try from Adam Hanna and comfortably converted by Harry Patterson.

A Banbridge mistake resulted in a player receiving a yellow card inside their own 22. Belfast High took advantage of the extra man and pushed on with a try on the 28th minute by E Gorral, which was quickly followed by Joshua Cruickshank crossing the whitewash. Aaron Douglas slotted his kick to take the High School out to a 12-7 lead.

It wasn’t long before Banbridge levelled up and then took the lead with a try by Dovydas Luitvenas, the conversion nudged over by Paterson to end the first half with Bandridge leading 14-12.

The second half started with Banbridge quickly extending their lead on the 38th minuted when Paterson converted a penally. Three minutes later Belfast High School cancelled it out with a penalty of their own converted by Douglas.

A big push came from Banbridge when Paterson extended the lead to 20-15 with another Penalty on the 45th minute. Paterson continued to impress with a try and conversion on the 53th minute, taking the score out to 27-15.

Belfast High School responded and fought back, but they only found the whitewash with the last play of the game to give a final score of Belfast High 20 Banbridge Academy 27. 

GALLERY BELOW