Sullivan awaits Academy in Richardson Cup.

The Banbridge Academy Boys’ Hockey Under 15 side, backed for the second year by DMF Constructions, will be hard at it over the exam period preparing for what many feel really could be the final in the first round of this year’s Ulster Schools’ Richardson Cup. The squad has a great depth in talent and with so many gaining valuable senior experience this season they will, under the close guidance of Mr Miskelly be attempting to right the wrongs away to Sullivan Upper.

The school has an unparalleled history in this competition stemming right back to its origins in 1949 – and more recently winning 10 back to back titles since 2001. This is always a strong indicator of attitude and ability and Captain Chris Curry will be hoping to avoid last season’s capitulation when 4 goals against in as many minutes meant that the Hollywood boys ran out easy winners.  The defensive abilities will be crucial and keeper Elliot Haw will need to be at his best if he is to keep out a fiery attacking Sullivan midfield boasting no less than three Ulster 16 players and a potent Jonny Rose who will have enough in the armour to pounce on any lack-lustre passes.  Indeed it may well be a midfield tussle between the Sullivan Rose and Banbridge Rowe!

The defence have been excellent in recent games keeping goals against to a trickle, with the squad enjoying wins over Regent House 8-1, Bangor 8-1 and again on Saturday with a 4-1 victory over the BRA 1^st X1 side at Roughfort.  The likes of McArdle, Fee and Gibson will be rising to the challenge presented and with focus now fully on the ability to defend and cash in on set plays.  Edward Rowe will be a marked man so will depend upon Groves, Cowan and Curry to get him away with more time and space than he enjoyed in September when both sides met at Havelock and Sullivan dominated.  The senior experience gained by Mark Cowan to date will stand him in good stead as his style of passing and closing down should bring significant rewards.

Preparations are however extremely positive and last week’s demolition of Regent House saw skipper Curry grab a double hat trick of six and Ed Rowe a brace of two to hit the coastal side for eight. With a further fixture away to RBAI, the squad will finely tune the patterns before the battle at Havelock Park.  The game starts at 2:45pm on Tuesday 30^th January and the squad would be delighted to see a hearty supportive crowd to push on the DMF Contracts sponsored Academy Richardson Cup squad.

Squad to be selected from:

Elliott Haw, Josh Gibson, Christian Fee, Jamie McArdle, Evan Calvert, Edward Rowe, Mark Cowan, Lewis Groves, Charlie Rowe, Matthew McClimonds, Josh Priestly, Chris Curry, Louis Rowe, Ben Ingram, Thomas Acton, Fraser Rodgers, Cody Large, Conor Lyness

Under 14 Ferris Cup Squad host Raphoe in opener.

The KeyCare Ireland sponsored Banbridge Academy Under 14s will be hoping to get their Ferris Cup campaign off to a slick start as they host Royal & Prior School Donegal in the first round of the Ulster Schools’ Ferris Cup. The side, coached this year by Mr David Agnew, has made some pleasing progress in many departments and will be hoping to at least repeat the 2-0 victory over the Raphoe juniors that led to a solid cup run last season.

The boys will need to be at their best at the back with Kian Bingham, Charlie Keery and Jack McFarland being ably instructed by the Academy U14 Goalkeeping ace James Finlay. Indeed Finlay will be key to the team’s progress and his mentoring under Irish U16 International Scott Dale has brought real tangible improvement with performances beyond his years.

The midfield will need to create the type of slick disciplined hockey that Agnew is renowned for and Luke Watt will be closing down space and hoping to get Charlie Rowe and Cameron McComb into the action. Up front the skills and power of Captain Cody Large is quickly earning him a growing reputation as one to watch as his partnership with Louis Rowe has developed into a romance of goal-scoring at will.  The drag flick will not be the only set-play on show but fast breaking hockey will no doubt be served both by Banbridge and their opponents as Raphoe have plenty of talent amongst their ranks too and should not be under-estimated.

The game will be staged at the Academy’s school astro hockey pitch at 12:30 on Thursday 8^th February and all support is very much welcome and appreciated.  The squad would like to sincerely thank Mr Urwin and KeyCare Ireland for their kind support over the past two seasons.

Squad to be selected from:

James Finlay, Luke Watt, Jack McFarland, Charlie Keery, Kian Bingham, Charlie Rowe, Louis Rowe, Cameron McComb, Thomas Urwin, Cody Large, Seb Best, Jordan Nummy, Nathan Reid, Josh Holden, Jason Ferguson, Ethan Halliday

Bannister begins on the road to Campbell College.

The Banbridge Academy Boys’ Hockey Under 13A side have to date been fully committed and improving on a weekly basis under old head Mark Cordner. Their style of play emulates the gutsy pace hockey that the school have been famous for over a century and they have knuckled down to a fine season enjoying a tremendous vein of form since mid September.

Indeed they inflicted RBAI’s first defeat in two years at Shaw’s Bridge before Halloween but know that the likes of Inst, Cookstown and indeed Sullivan will bring a tide of feisty hockey. The locals though have prepared well for the Ulster Schools’ Bannister Bowl with Cordner being ably assisted by the expertise of Bruce McCandless and Matthew Bell in recent times.

The level of physical fitness has been well addressed and the set plays are developing well with Ben Pollock, Morgan Murphy and Jake Rainer cashing in on a regular basis. In Matthew McKee the Banbridge juniors have pace and talent and pulling the midfield string the skill and intelligence of captain Lewis Cousins with Simon Ferris and Ben Farson means that the Academy should hold the upper hand away to CCB. There will be nothing taken for granted though and Joshua Moles, Thomas Cunningham, Thomas Hamilton and Murray Corkin will be unequivocal in their application with the ball. The input will rise further with Mathew Stevenson, Ben Walker, Josh Brownlee and recent addition Matthew Spence adding a depth of talent rarely seen at schools level.

Their game will start at CCB on Thursday 25^th January at 2pm – all parents very welcome to come and support this important starting block.  The boys to date have beaten RBAI 3-0, Regent 4-0, Bangor 7-0, Wallace 3-0, Portadown HC 4-2 and Killicomaine JHS 3-2.  The school would like to formally thank the large swell of parents that consistently turn up to support the boys.

Squad to be selected from:

Part, Golbey, Jones, J Moles, Corkin, Hamilton, Ferris, Murphy, Cousins, Farson, Rainer, McKee, Pollock, Walker, Stevenson, Brownlee, Cunningham, Spence, Doyle, McHugh, McCullough, Simpson, Trimble, Clarke, L Moles, Cash, J Lutton, N Lutton, Baxter, McNally, McCrum, Reid, T Brown, K Brown, Clydesdale, Bradshaw, Emerson

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