Taylor made for Wallace

WALLACE 24 OMAGH ACADEMY 0

CHRIS Taylor was the unlikely match-winner with two tries as Wallace High School safely secured a spot in the quarter-final at home to Regent House.

Although Wallace had been lacking in confidence in the run-up to their first appearance this was certainly not in evidence in the early stages as they realised they would need to compete up front with the Omagh side who had come through a replay with Dungannon Royal to secure their fourth round place.

But with Taylor in the middle of a strong front row with Ulster Schools Chris Spence and the Wallace captain Kyle McCall (Ulster and Irish Schools) alongside him it took the home side the opening ten minutes to get out of their own half and it was playmaker Matthew Godfrey, who almost caught the Omagh defence asleep.

The referee penalised the visitors and Godfrey kicked into the corner. Daniel Henry, brother of Ulster captain and former Schools Cup finalist Chris, took the lineout and the pack drove towards the Omagh line only for the ref to adjudge that the ball had not been grounded.

With Wallace winning two successful lineouts outhalf McCollum found Godfrey with Gilmore on his shoulder as they spread the ball right. Again the Omagh defence held firm before hooker Taylor put the home side ahead with Andrew Gilmore slotting over the conversion from just left of the posts.

The visitors had hardly any time to regain their composure when Wallace launched another onslaught on the Omagh line with outhalf Godfrey finding centre David Scott at pace on the edge of the 22 and no-one was going to prevent him from extending the home lead, giving Gilmore the easiest of conversions for a 14-0 advantage after just 20 minutes.

If spectators thought they were in for a rampant Wallace victory they were however to be somewhat disappointed and Omagh really should have reduced the arrears with a simple penalty.

Outhalf Gilmore had an exquisite chip over his opposite number to almost bring him his first score of the afternoon but despite Wallace continuing to dominate the lineouts and enjoying the lions share of both possession and territory, the halftime whistle arrived without further change to the score and Wallace could have been left to rue the missed opportunity of a score in the final minute of the half.

They were also going to be forced to play the opening part of the second half without Stewart Evans who was sent to the sin bin.

Nevertheless Wallace began the second period intent on upping the tempo and Godfrey came close to putting Heatley in for a try but when the referee penalised Omagh on 47 minutes the tried and trusted lineout success saw Chris Taylor add a second try from all of a couple of yards.

With just ten minutes gone – and Evans having duly returned – Wallace secured the victory following Henry winning lineout ball, and McCollum releasing inside to Heatley to race in for the score.

The rest of the game was a non event as Wallace continued to be well in the ascendancy but unable to add to their advantage while Omagh simply did not have the firepower in the pack or their backline to worry the home defence.

More than an interested spectator at the game was Ulster captain Chris Henry, revelling on returning to his old alma mater and seeing their current crop of players – not to mention of course his younger brother David playing in the pack – beginning their challenge for that coveted Schools Cup title which has so far illuded them.

It is quite amazing to realise that it is only seven years ago Chris was a part of the Wallace side who reached the 2003 final losing out to a strong RBAI side and in a roller coaster year for the young former Wallace No8 Chris has been really enjoying his season at Ulster under the guidance of former Wallace coach Brian McLaughlin and which has seen Henry lead the Ulster side and to captain the Irish Wolfhounds.