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Schools Cup round-up: Big boys drawn into Ulster as Leinster opener falls foul of weather

St Michael’s v Terenure was called off today, but there was plenty of action in the northern province.

THREE SCHOOLS RUGBY Senior Cup games fell foul of the weather this weekend, but six games in Ulster ploughed on regardless yesterday.

Today’s much-anticipated Leinster Senior Cup meeting between St Michael’s and Terenure College is the highest profile postponement, a waterlogged pitch meaning Donnybrook will have to wait until 3pm on Friday to host that one.

In Ulster, pitches were unplayable for Belfast v Omagh Academy and Rainey v Belfast Royal Academy, but six Senior Cup games did go ahead on a soggy Saturday.

There was a dramatic finish in Grosvenor Grammar School where Bangor were the visitors.

The hosts took a lead with an unconverted 25th minute try, but were pegged back by Matthew Coffey’s try which was converted by Ross McCloskey.

The lead switched hands in the final quarter as the hosts slotted a penalty to go 8 – 7 ahead only for the visitors again to reply and McCloskey’s late penalty secured an 8 – 10 win and progress for Bangor.

In freezing and wet conditions, Coleraine’s pack made their journey to Banbridge worthwhile as they forced the hosts into errors that would yield bring them a 7- 0 half-time advantage which they extended to 7 – 15 before Banbridge closed the gap to 10 – 15 before the finish.

With the big boys joining in the draw for the third round after these ties were completed there was an extra competitive edge about some of the ties. Regent House defeated Portora RS 12 – 7 and Limavady’s reward for a convincing 15 – 6 win over Foyle College is meeting with reigning champions, Methody.

Elsewhere, Dalriada put 26 unanswered points past Portadown before being drawn against last year’s beaten finalists, RBAI, in round three. Down High School also kept a clean sheet with a 30 – 0 victory to knock out Lurgan.

Ulster Schools Cup results at a glance

Regent House 12 Portora RS 7

Limavady GS 15 Foyle College 6

Grosvenor GS 8 Bangor GS 10

Banbridge Academy 10 Coleraine AI 15

Dalriada School 26 Portadown College 0

Down HS 30 Lurgan College 0

Round three draw, ties to be played on February 8.

Rainey Endowed or Belfast Royal Academy v Down HS

Methodist College v Limavady GS

Coleraine AI v Regent House

Belfast HS or Omagh Academy v Wallace HS

Ballyclare HS v Ballymena Academy

Dalriada School v RBAI

Campbell College v RS Armagh

Bangor GS v Sullivan Upper

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