RUGBY: Methody produce comeback win to lift 37th Danske Bank Schools Cup title
Methody 20 Campbell College 17
Last updated 17th Mar 2022
A stunning comeback saw Methody edge out Belfast rivals Campbell College to win the Danske Bank Schools Cup for the 37th time in their illustrious history.
Ben McFarlane was the hero for his school with the winning penalty from just inside the Campbell half with only two minutes left on the clock.
A bumper crowd of over 7,000 supporters provided a crackling atmosphere at the home of Ulster Rugby and both sets of players delivered a pulsating encounter than was befitting of the occasion.
When Campbell scored their second try of the game just two minutes into the second half to go 17-7 in front - adding to their opening maximum shortly before the break - they looked in command.
But that only preceded a period of domination from the eventual winners, whose forward drove them up the pitch as they camped themselves in the Campbell 22 for long spells.
And when Harry Palmer forced his over the try line to reduce the deficit to 17-14, there only seemed to be winner on the horizon. But, they still needed two supremely accurate kicks from McFarlane - included that late monster effort - to secure the trophy.
It was Campbell who struck first as Caves slotted over a second-minute penalty, but Methody replied almost instantly as Lorcan Hanratty barged his way over and McFarlane notched the conversion.
That made it 7-3 following a lively opening, but the remainder of the first half was something of a war of attrition. Campbell gradually began to impose themselves on the game and after being held up just short of the line with just over ten minutes of the half remaining, they crossed it shortly after.
A superb break from Joe Hopes saw him stopped a few metres out, but Campbell co-captain Zac Solomon scooped up the loose ball to finish it off.
Their 10-3 interval lead was extended by another seven point just a few minutes after the restart. This time is was Oliver Topping barrelling his way through, with Caves notching the conversion.
That only served to spur Methody into life as they piled on the pressure and thought they had closed the gap soon after.
Chris Bradley was in acres of space on the right flank and looked odds-on to score, only for Campbell's Lukas Kenny to produce a perfectly-time tackle to stop him in the corner.
But the incessant Methody pressure soon told as their forward line showed their worth.
Palmer finished off a sustained period of attacking play as McFarlane added the two extra points to make it 17-14. the impetus was all with Methody, but they needed McFarlane to be accurate from 35 metres out to level matters on 63 minutes.
He went even better by adding what proved to be the winning penalty from around 20 metres further out and the wry grin on his face told you that he knew his side had one hand on the cup.
To their credit, Campbell did produce a couple of breaks in the latter stages and almost got in down both flanks. But both times, the Methody defence stood firm and managed to force Campbell out of play seconds after the 70 minutes had elapsed to end the game - and seal victory.
METHODY: Callum White, Johnny O'Kane, Finn McAdam, Ryan Kidd, Harry Palmer, Patrick Fullarton Healy, Josh Stevens, Michael Crothers, David Armstrong, Ryan Lindsay, Joe Dickson, Lorcan Hanratty, Peter O'Hagan (C), Chris Bradley, Ben McFarlane
Replacements: Ben Wilson, Matteo McLaughlin, Harry Pratt, Josh McAdam, Ben Neill, Liam Black, Jacob Kelly, Lewis Doherty
Tries: Lorcan Hanratty, Harry Palmer
Conversions: Ben McFarlane (2)
Penalties: Ben McFarlane (2)
CAMPBELL COLLEGE: Cameron Hillis, Zac Solomon, Darragh Hanlon, Alexander Brennan, Joe Hopes, Oliver McCauley, Luke Johnston, Flynn Longstaff, Johnny McCracken, Tom Crowther (C), Peter Caves, Cal Florence, Matthew Booth, Oliver Topping, Lukas Kenny
Replacements: Chris Massey, Lucas Perez De Leza, Matthew Murphy, Reece Bell, Cameron Faith, Henry Johnston, Matthew Rea, Stuart Johnston
Tries: Zac Solomon, Oliver Topping
Conversions: Peter Caves (2)
Penalty: Peter Caves