As the summer database maintenance and image migration continue, we take a look back at the conclusion of the 2009–10 rugby season.
The 2010 Schools Cup, eventually won by Ballymena Academy, is still one of the best series of matches in this competition with a highly competitive Friends School Lisburn playing a huge part.
We have a look at the four Friends’ games we covered.
1. Larne Grammar 0 Friends School 17
Date: 23 January 2010
This third-round Schools Cup tie away to Larne Grammar was contested in bright sunlight. Larne started with great determination, putting the Lisburn side under pressure during the opening quarter with probing runs from Tom Saunderson and Stuart McIlwaine.,
However, Friends organised their drift defence effectively to handle the pressure. Breaking downfield after a series of rucks, center Andrew Vance forced his way under the posts for the opening try, which was converted by Craig Lewsley. Larne continued to deliver a gritty pack performance, holding an advantage in the scrums and line-outs to create late half-chances. Ultimately, the tactical orchestration of Friends out-half McIvor wore down the home side, allowing David McGuigan to power over mid-way through the half to secure a 17 – 0 victory.
2. Friends School 17 Sullivan Upper 15
Date: 6 February 2010
This fourth-round encounter at Lisburn proved to be a closely contested match. For large periods of the game, a disciplined Sullivan Upper squad looked in control, establishing a 10 – 0 lead following a Jamie Carr penalty and an interception try by center Rory McCandless. A Craig Lewsley penalty kept Friends in contention, but when Sullivan flanker Michael Scott scored in the corner to make it 15 – 3 at the interval, the Holywood side appeared comfortable.
The second half began as a tight midfield stalemate before the home side found their rhythm. David McGuigan began to win clean possession in the line-outs, and out-half Rory McIvor took control of proceedings, bringing Andrew Vance into the game. With ten minutes remaining, Vance scored a try, converted by Lewsley, to bring the score to 10 – 15. Driven by the home crowd, Friends launched a final attack, sending center Cochrane through a gap under the posts. Lewsley’s conversion handed Friends a two-point lead, which they defended inside their own 22 during the final minutes to secure a 17 – 15 win.
3. Ballymena Academy vs Friends School (Quarter-Final and Replay)
Dates: 23 & 27 February 2010
Friends’ reward for their previous victory was a challenging quarter-final draw against Ballymena Academy.
The First Match (Ballymena 11 Friends 11): Played at Ballymena Rugby Club, this was a tense affair. Friends took an 8 – 3 lead early in the second half when scrum-half Ben Semple dummied and scored from a close-range lineout drive. Lewsley added a subsequent penalty to extend the lead to 11 – 3. However, a ten-minute yellow card given to Friends’ key player David McGuigan altered the momentum. Ballymena capitalised on the numerical advantage, sending their No. 6 over from a lineout drive to draw level. A late conversion attempt by Callum Patterson hit the underside of the crossbar, leaving the teams tied at 11 – 11.
The Replay (Friends 10 Ballymena 11): The replay on 27 February ended in frustration for the Lisburn side on a heavy pitch. Ballymena took a 6 – 0 lead through two Patterson penalties, but Friends gradually worked their way back into the match. A Lewsley penalty opened their account before George Pringle scored in the corner following a powerful line-break from McGuigan. Leading 10 – 6 with 15 minutes left, and with Ballymena’s full-back yellow-carded, Friends looked in a strong position. However, Ballymena responded late in the game. With the final play of the match, Patterson wrong-footed the defence, and though brought down short, set up John Andrew to score the match-winning try, securing an 11 – 10 victory for the visitors.
