Grammar share Medallion Trophy

Larne Grammar get their hands on the Medallion Trophy. Photo: Martina O'Brien

The two sides played out a battling 3-3 draw at Carrick Grammar School on Saturday and Larne, roared on by a vocal support, will be the happier of the two sides. Why? Because the last time the teams met back in October, Rainey cruised to a comfortable 53-0 win.

Grammar skipper BJ McFaul says the final score shows the progress the squad has made during that time.

“This was a very good performance,” he siad. “Although we are dissapointed not to have won outright this result is a measure of how far we have come.”

Rainey dominated the early exchanges and within the first few minutes their number eight was almost over in the corner, only to be penalised for not releasing in the tackle as he made a second surge for the line.

The Grammar found their feet and began to take charge with their back line putting Rainey under pressure.

It all paid off midway through the first-half when Larne took the lead with Ethan Campbell slotting over from a penalty.

Rainey, with the wind at their backs in the second session, began to up the tempo but a strong Larne defence kept them at bay. That was until Rainey successfully kicked a late penalty of their own to restore parity.

Matt Le Roux, on as a replacement for the injured Campbell, almost won the game for Larne but he was denied by a last-ditch tackle.