Craigavon Senior High win Pollock Cup

U16 Pollock Cup

Craigavon Senior High School were victorious in the U16 Pollock Cup on Wednesday 11th January beating rivals Ballyclare Secondary School 43-0 in the final at Meadowbank Sports Arena. This was a game that the “Senior High” were definitely up for beginning the game with an outstanding opening try. A well worked line-out maul brought play into the Ballyclare half setting up a wonderful attacking platform for the backs to cut through the defense allowing Dylan Adamson to touch down under the posts. From the kickoff it was influential Fullback Adamsons individual brilliance that resulted in the second. After a few phases Adamson found himself in some space and weaved his way through a few defenders before side-stepping two covering defenders to again dot down for another converted score. 

Ballyclare, rocked by the opening few minutes settled themselves into the game but soon found themselves under their own posts again as Samuel Ruddell capitalized upon a mistake, kicked through and dotted the ball down for a third score. Dylan Adamson added the difficult conversion. Two more tries followed in the first half with Matthew Givan scoring an excellent individual effort from the halfway line and Ethan Brookes finishing off a Forwards try after a great maul by the forwards and some strong carries. The score at the Half was 33-0. 

Eager to start the second half better than the first, Ballyclare kept the ball for long periods of the second half but could not break through the “Red Wall” of defenders. Resolute defense, strong tackling and some excellent turnovers from back-rowers of Alfie Thornton and Lewis Smyth kept the Ballyclare team from entering their opponents 22 meter area. Craigavon’s substitutes played an important role in finishing off the game. A strong carry by CJ Shannon allowed field position for Afonso Dos Santos to cut a wonderful line to barge his way through a number of defenders to score. Soon after, it was Captain Ted McQuitty who scored an excellent individual effort that rounded off the final proceedings. 

Ulster Rugby Development Manager, Budge Pountney, presented Ted McQuitty and the victorious team with the Pollock Cup and their medals post game. This was Craigavon’s first win of the Pollock Cup since 2019. 

All eyes will now turn to the U16 High Schools Trophy with Strangford College being Craigavon’s last 16 opponents on the 24th of January, Kick Off 12:30pm.    

 

Medallion Trophy 
Craigavon Senior High School hosted Wellington College Belfast on the 5th of January in the Last 16 of the Medallion Trophy at Portadown RFC. The home side dominated the game and scored some excellent team and individual tries. The “Senior High” scored 43 unanswered points in 45 minutes. With the onset of some torrential rainfall the game was called early as the result was no longer in question. The Try Scorers on the day for the “Senior High” were Alfie McFarland, Alfie Thornton, Lewis Smyth, Jacob Farr, Dylan Adamson, Bailey Lappin and Ben Robinson. Dylan Adamson added 3 conversions with Ben Robinson adding another. Craigavon Senior High now have a tough Quarter Final draw away to Grosvenor Grammar School on Tuesday 17th January with a kickoff time of 2:45pm.