Wallace overcome Down bravehearts

Wallace overcome Down bravehearts

16 March 2016

DOWN High School lost out to Wallace High in the Danske Bank Subsidiary Shield final at the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, on Monday afternoon.

The Down High squad, with over 750 vibrant supporters from the school in tow, felt heartbreak for the second successive year after also losing out in last year’s showpiece.

Within two minutes of the kick off Down High had the first opportunity at getting points on the board when they were awarded a penalty just inside their opponents’ 10-metre line after Wallace were deemed to be offside. However, centre Charlie Power’s kick drifted wide.

A few minutes later Wallace got the scoreboard ticking when scrum half and captain Johnny Stewart bisected the uprights with a penalty kick that had been awarded for Down being offside.

Stewart had another penalty chance on the 15-minute mark, but it sailed wide of the posts.

Stewart scored again on the 25-minute mark, but this time by way of a try after a number of strong attacking phases by the Wallace pack deep in Down territory. Stewart converted his own try.

Down High should have had a try following their first sustained period of pressure in the Wallace 22.

The forwards rumbled close to the line for a few phases before Zac Ward, son of former European Cup winner and Ulster captain Andy Ward, barged over, but he was held up and from the resulting scrum Down conceded a penalty allowing the Lisburn school to clear their lines.

Wallace extended their lead in first half injury time with a second try. Winger Josh Cardosi made a break from his own half. He fed full back Kyle Hayes who carried deep into the Down 22 before cutting inside and offloading to centre Johnny Hunter to dot down to give Wallace a 15-0 advantage at the interval.

Stewart added a penalty for Wallace six minutes after the restart following a dangerous tackle in midfield. Wallace took advantage of more Down indiscipline as Stewart added another penalty on 49 minutes.

Down had another opportunity to get points on the board when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts after Wallace prop Matthew Miller was caught offside.

However, they kicked to the corner and from the line-out the forwards drove close to the line, but the ball was ripped in contact and Wallace cleared.

Down eventually opened their account 21 minutes into the second half.

After kicking a penalty to the corner, the forwards made the hard metres before prop Harry McCormick charged through a gap and dived over the line. Charlie Power struck the upright with the conversion.

That was to be the final score of the encounter, leaving Wallace clear winners of the Subsidiary Shield.

Down High: William Annett, Marcus Graham, Paddy Browne, Charlie Power, Harry Hitchens, Jack Carlisle, Lewis Finlay, Aaron Chambers, Claytan Milligan, Harry McCormick, Christopher Beattie, Thomas Martin, Matthew Porter, William Martin (Capt), Zac Ward. Replacements: Aaron Haslett, Chris Scurfield, Michael Harper, Callum Dunn, Lewis Canning, Daniel Peters, Robin Wilson, Jonny McCoubrey.

Down High School 5

Wallace High School 21

DANSKE BANK SUBSIDIARY SHIELD FINAL