Schools' Cup: RBAI hold off Ballymena Academy to retain trophy

RBAI have retained the Schools' Cup after holding off the challenge of Ballymena Academy with a 21-14 win at Kingspan Stadium.

In a pulsating first half, James Kerr and Adam Boyd touched down for RBAI.

Daniel Vercoe-Rogers and Deon Fleming scored for Ballymena as the first half ended level at 14-14.

Replacement Ross Dillon squeezed over with 14 minutes to play for the decisive try as Inst retained the trophy.

The victory is RBAI's 34th outright victory in the annual final as they close in on Methodist College's record of 37.

Ballymena piled on early pressure but RBAI took the lead in the sixth minute as wing Kerr intercepted the ball on halfway and raced clear to touch down under the posts.

Alex Place converted, but the wing missed a penalty minutes later as he looked to extend Inst's advantage.

Ballymena, in their first final in 14 years, capitalised when Vercoe-Rogers burst through two Inst tackles to sprint clear under the posts and Robbie Coleman converted to level the contest.

Academy took a deserved lead when, after a quickly-taken tap penalty, the forwards chipped towards the Inst line and prop Fleming managed to stretch to get the score, with Coleman again converting.

That try sparked the Belfast school into life and they went through their best phases of the half with Fraser Cunningham, Milo Carter and Joshua Gibson all involved, before Boyd showed good strength to touch down and Place brought the sides level once more.

The number eight's try came a year after older brother Jacob scored the decisive score in the 2023 final.

Defences were on top at the start of the second half as the rain and wind picked up in Belfast.

But the game burst into life again when a loose ball was hacked forward the length of the pitch by Ballymena and although captain Michael McClean won the foot race with Place, the ball was knocked on as he looked to touch the ball down with team-mate Vercoe-Rogers.

At the other end, replacement hooker Dillon landed on the line to notch the first and only score of the second half in the 56th minute with Place converting to give Inst a buffer.

Ballymena were handed one final opportunity with four minutes to play when Blake McClean was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and Coleman kicked deep into the 22.

However, Inst stole the line-out and they managed the remaining phases to spark wild celebrations at the final whistle.

"It's difficult to put into words," said coach Jamie Kirk.

"It hasn't really sunk in. I'm immensely proud of the boys and the effort was immense.

"There was massive heart from them. Credit to Ballymena, they made it hard."

RBAI: Joshua Gibson; Alex Place; Fraser Cunningham (capt), Charlie O'Connor; James Kerr; Charlie Gray, Callum Soper; Zak Molyneaux, Euan Paterson, Blake McClean; Loughlin Sweeney, Milo Carter; Lorcan Donnelly, James Clark, Adam Boyd.

Replacements: Ross Dillon, Reagan Lath Amou, Rory O'Connor, Scott McElhinney, Patrick McEvoy, Luke Gibson, Ben McCausland, Connor Patton.

Ballymena Academy: Sean McKay; Ben Neely; Daniel Vercoe-Rogers, Alexander Carson; Michael McClean (capt); Robbie Coleman, James McIlroy; Matthew Wright, Callum Mustoe, Deon Fleming; Conan Scullion, Joshua Gallagher; Harry Lamont, Reece Williamson, Charlie Hargy.

Replacements: Ben Millar, Joshua Harvey, Henry Casson, Daniel Hayburn, Matthew Cahoon, Ruben Allen, Mark Glenn, Callum Irvine.