VIDEO: Ballyclare High coach looking forward to Schools’ Cup test

The High School, then under the guidance of coach Dan Soper, reached the semi-final of last year’s competition, falling 18-9 to Royal Belfast Academical Institution at Ravenhill. They were also beaten finalists in 2012.

Now, with new Director of Rugby Mike McKeever steering the ship, it’s very much a new era for the school.

Academy are no pushovers and Saturday’s third-round tie will be anything but easy. When the two sides met in the first match of the season in September, it was the boys from the Braid Valley who emerged with a 25-18 victory in what was an entertaining match.

“We have a very young squad but they have grown with maturity throughout the season so far and they have certainly learnt how to adapt to situations and scenarios of opposition and how to play in different areas of the park,” said McKeever. “We have a very strong pack, we’ve a young back line and but they are also very enthuiastic and ambitious to play some rugby.”

Meanwhile, Belfast High School’s 1st XV may just be one to watch this year. Coaches Michael Rainey, David Scott, Richard Bleakley and James Rice have been at the heart of a rugby revival at 740 Shore Road.

Having accounted for Omagh Academy (13-5) in round two, they stand a good chance of progressing to the last eight of the competition. To do that, they will have to get past Wallace High School on Saturday (10:30 am). But, with home advantage for the second round running, and with the likes of Conor McDermott, captain Lewis Benson, Robbie Reid, Joel McBride (son of former Ulster and Ireland flanker, Denis) and Jordan Garford in the ranks, they have nothing to fear.