Academy warm up for Limavady cup encounter

John Andrews' side, who enter the competition at the fourth round stage as one of the seeded teams, will travel to the north west on February 6.

The Academy continued their build-up to the competition with two wins last week - 15-7 against Wallace under the Eaton Park floodlights in midweek and then 19-13 against Blacrock College in Dublin.

Against Wallace, Callum Patterson scored the only points of the first half with a 15th minute penalty.

In the 40th minute, following a well worked move at a line-out on the Wallace 22, John Andrew broke through to score the first try, which Patterson converted.

Soon after Patterson, made a good run down the right, kicking the ball over the Wallace defence, collecting it and heading for the try line. He was tackled just short of the line, but offloaded for Academy scrum half Banda to score.

Academy appeared to ease up after this score and Wallace scored a try in the 65th minute.

Academy: M McMurray, K Galloway, G Hargy, D Whann, M Rea, J Andrew, P Wallace, T Patton, P Banda, C Patterson, N Stirling, P Storey, C Delpy, M McBride, C Simpson, M Halliday, M Dick, D Geddis, J McClelland.

At the weekend, Academy produced one of their best performances of the season to win at the home of Leinster Senior Schools' cup kings.

Patterson and his Blackrock opposite number Godfrey exchanged early penalties but Patterson kicked three more penalties to give Academy a 12-3 lead at the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half Blackrock had a player yellow carded following a shoulder charge on Academy captain Charlie Simpson. Ballymena took advantage, and from a ball straight off the top of a line out, Academy number 8 Peter Wallace, ran a great line, to score under the posts. Patterson converted.

Blackrock dominated territory for the remainder of the game with Academy unable to break out of their own half. The Dubliners battered away at the Academy line and eventually broke through in the 59th minute with a try.

In the 79th minute, Blackrock appeared to knock on just short of the Academy line, with no whistle from the referee, Blackrock scrum half Walsh picked up the ball to score. The conversion was missed and the referee blew for full time.

Academy: S McNabney, K Galloway, G Hargy, D Whann, M Rea, T Patton, P Wallace, J Andrew, P Banda, C Patterson, N Stirling, C Delpy, C Morrison, M McBride, C Simpson, M Halliday, M McMurray, J Fleming, P Storey, J McClelland.