Beyond doubt, this was a game of ‘what could have been’ for both teams.

Nervous early exchanges saw sloppy turnovers and none-too-accomplished handling galore, but it was Campbell College who managed to start the brighter, creating good sustained pressure within ten yards of the try-line. Belfast Inst’s defence managed to see off the five-point threat, but gave away a penalty in the process. The kick was missed and so play continued. RBAI also had a chance to score from an early penalty but were unable to do so.

Frustrations within each team with regard to their personal ability to put any decent play together saw players lash out at their opposite numbers, but thankfully the referee was on hand to stop any ‘handbags’, as he himself called it, from developing into something worse.

Approaching the end of the first half, it seemed that this would be the only action before the whistle, but a nothing-ball kicked deep into Inst territory created confusion whereby the defence failed to deal with the ball, thinking that it would roll harmlessly out of play. Cue the Campbell man, Moss Rogers, who was aware, to run in unchecked and ground the ball for an easy try.

The subsequent conversion attempt was missed, but CCB didn’t mind so much as they had picked up five easy points. In fact, they certainly didn’t mind soon after the restart as Belfast Inst, still debating the award of the try, failed to hold discipline in defence as they had done so well earlier, allowing the Campbell number 9,  Glenn Bailie, to touch down for their second try. This time Rory Scholes‘ kick was good and so, after another failed penalty attempt from RBAI, the first half ended with Campbell in the lead and in control.

HT: CCB 12-0 RBAI

Following a very poor performance by their standards in the first half, RBAI finally decided to start playing rugby come the second.

Early into the second half, Inst won a good series of rucks and put together and impressive set of mauls, one of which eventually led to Paddy Bell crossing the line for their first points of the game. The conversion was missed as with Campbell’s first try.

CCB did have a few moments when they advanced downfield, but nothing as identical to the effort they managed in the first half.

Inst on the other hand grew stronger as play went on, mimicking the pressure that Campbell had created in the opening exchanges of the match. However, Campbell held firm and it seemed that RBAI would be leaving without any reward for their efforts, even when CCB were reduced to fourteen men for a cynical offside from their number 6.

In the end it took Campbell to have a second man sent the sin-bin before Inst were finally able to move the ball from side to side, stretch the weakened defence and touch down for their second try; a much deserved try by Zac Welshman.

Time was now up and so, with the last kick of the game the opportunity was there for RBAI to snatch a draw. A fine kick under pressure by Matty McGuigan saw that this was the case and honours finished even at Fox’s field, a result that felt like the right outcome.

Campbell College will be very disappointed to have let this one slip away while Belfast Inst will probably feel that they could have done even more if the effort had been there in the first half. Both teams will certainly need to improve in the next couple of months if they wish to put together a serious Cup run and avoid an early exit.

FT: CCB 12-12 RBAI

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