Ballyclare High cruise into fourth round of Schools' Cup

BALLYCLARE High School set up a fourth round clash with Portora Royal after they cruised to a comprehensive win over Rainey Endowed in the Schools' Cup on Saturday.

Despite posting several recent good results, the Rainey Endowed 1st XV were out-gunned by five tries to nil, and finished on the wrong end of a 36-3 scoreline.

The home pack, expertly led by skipper David Clarke at number eight, held most of the aces, and after turning round only two points ahead, the Ballyclare boys put their foot on the gas after the interval to romp home clear winners.

Scrum-half Chris Millar, gave the home fans something to cheer about when he opened the scoring with a try that full back Chris Harvey was unable to convert from a wide angle.

With prop Grant Bartley conspicuous in the loose, Ballyclare looked capable of increasing the lead, but the Magherafelt lads reduced the deficit when Martin Connolly slotted over a penalty.

Approaching the interval the locals were camped deep in opposition territory, where a thrust by fly-half Jonny Holmes led to a short penalty from which Clarke was almost over.

By this stage Rainey were well on the back foot, and only a courageous tackle prevented Clarke from getting his name on the scorecard just before the break.

The locals started the second session where they had ended the first - in the Rainey twenty-two.

A concerted attack near the line resulted in referee John Adams awarding a penalty try, when the County Londonderry lads were penalised for pulling down a ruck, and when Harvey added the conversion from straight in front, and followed with a penalty, the writing was on the wall with the score 15-3.

Thereafter it was one-way traffic with centre Chris Anderson, winger Jonny Douglas and lock Trevor McClintock adding further scores, all of which were goaled by Harvey to take his personal tally to an impressive eleven points.

Ballyclare High School: C Harvey; J Douglas, M Lok, C Anderson, L Baillie; J Holmes, C Millar; D Wilson, M Logan, T Kennedy, T McClintock, G Bartley, T McMechan, F Bester, D Clarke (Capt.)