Banbridge Academy Medallion XV shared the Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy with Enniskillen RGS after an epic 12-12 draw. The Academy team started their cup run back in November with a disappointing 13-0 defeat away to Foyle College. The squad had to pick themselves up and knew they had a good chance of success in the Trophy if they played to their potential. A determined Carrick GS side were first up in Round 1. Tries from Alex Andersson, Miles Mawson, Max Ireland, Arturs Jonuss and Captain Noah Haughey paved the way for a superb 31-5 win. Next up was a tricky away tie against Dalriada in the Quarter-Final. Having played most of the rugby, the away side had to settle for a 7-7 draw with the points coming from a try from Year 10 out half Sam Leslie and a Noah Haughey conversion. The replay at home was a little less nervy with the home side coming out on top 29-7, with tries from Arturs Jonuss, Warren Hooke, Sam Leslie, Noah Haughey and Miles Mawson. The Semi-Final was against Grosvenor GS at home. Having played each other earlier in the season, it was the Academy side who came out on top 10-3, so both teams were expecting another tight game. Grosvenor took an early 5-0 lead but were then blown away by a superb all-round performance, 41-5. Tries were scored by Miles Mawson (2), Nathan Young, Matthew Morrison, Arturs Jonuss, Sam Leslie and Alex Andersson. The final against Enniskillen RGS, played at the superb facilities at RS Armagh, did not disappoint the vast number of supporters from both schools. It was the Academy team who started stronger straight from the kick-off with hooker Nathan Young beating a number of would-be tacklers to take the play deep inside the ERGS half. Further carries from a number of forwards left an easy job for scrum half Jonny Neill to touch down from a few meters out, leaving the score 5-0 to the Academy. With Enniskillen RGS on the back foot once more a second score looked inevitable. Superb defending from ERGS left the Academy forwards frustrated and the score remained 5-0. Having weathered the early storm, it was the turn of the Enniskillen side to show their attacking prowess, with their fullback scoring out wide and their impressive inside centre nailing the tricky conversion. The halftime score was 7-5 in favour of ERGS. Both sides knew that the next score would be crucial. Having lost replacement scrumhalf Max Ireland to injury early in the second half, the Academy side had to make further changes which disrupted the flow of the game. The ERGS number 8 then showed his pace out wide to outstrip the cover defence and score in the corner. With the conversion missed, the Academy side trailed 12-5. A superb turnover by replacement winger Adrian Logins, left the Academy team with a line out 5 meters out. Strong carries from Noah Haughey, Caleb Cromie and Fynn Niblock ensured that second row Matthew Morrison had the space for the all-important score. With no recognised kicker on the pitch, flanker Miles Mawson stepped up to send the conversion straight between the posts from a difficult angle, tying the score 12-12. With little under 10 minutes left to play both sides looked for that all important score that would seal the victory outright. ERGS had a difficult kick to win it at the death, but the effort drifted wide leaving both sides to share the Trophy. The Academy coaching team of Mr O’Shaughnessy, Arthur Allen, Charlie Farrell and Jemma Farrell were delighted with their team’s response after going 12-5 down. Mr O’Shaughnessy commented, “At 12-5 down I thought we were dead and buried as Enniskillen had all the momentum. Credit to the boys for coming back and showing why they are such an excellent group to work with. The never-say-die attitude is something that can’t really be coached, so from that aspect we are extremely proud of them. Enniskillen showed why they are a superb side too. It was a great final that neither side deserved to lose.”

Squad: Alex Andersson, Nathan Young, Finlay Long, Matthew Morrison, Fynn Niblock, Miles Mawson, Caleb Cromie, Noah Haughey (C), Jonny Neill, Sam Leslie, Jamie Ramsey, Arturs Jonuss, Ethan Houston, Daniel Hampton, Matthew Grimes, Luke Wills, Leo O’Neill, Raz Zachs, Patrick McElroy, Max Ireland, Warren Hooke, Aaron Horwood-Barrett, Adrian Logins, Andrew Robertson, Conor Patton, Syd Moore, Conor Comiskey.