Patterson stars as Ballymena secure Ulster crown

CHUNKY fly-half Callum Patterson was the hero for Ballymena Academy as they lifted the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup for the first time in 29 years at Ravenhill yesterday.

BRA went in as favourites to collect only their second success in the competition but the big siege-gun boot of Patterson did the needful with a touchline conversion to a try in which he was heavily involved, and a second-half winning drop goal.

The Belfast boys had dominated the early possession, but Ballymena showed that they can soak up the pressure and counter-attack with flair, with full-back Charlie Simpson and winger Caleb Morrison particularly dangerous.

As in his side’s semi-final victory, BRA scrum-half and skipper Conor Spence was having a big influence on the game with his all-round awareness. It was his clever blindside kick from a ruck in the 20th minute that allowed full-back Jordan Buchanan to chase and collect the bouncing ball and run around under the posts for David Cartmill to add the extras.

Unperturbed by the set-back, Ballymena spent the remainder of the half encamped in the BRA red zone with number eight Peter Wallace and the ever-present Patterson causing problems with half-breaks which failed to find an end product.

However, it was Patterson who finally got Ballymena back in the game a minute from the break. Simpson set up the original platform with a booming kick and when the ball was fed wide left, Patterson looped around before off-loading superbly for Caleb Morrison to skate home. Patterson levelled the game with that wide-angled conversion.

Patterson then took centre stage again, with his hefty right boot.

First he launched his side out of trouble with a great touch-finder, then in the 42nd minute flashed over a beautifully struck dropped goal that would eventually prove the winning score.

Patterson did conjure up another chance with a delicate chip to the in-goal area but BRA winger Eoin Devlin raced back to avert a certain try.

The fly-half could have killed the game in the 58th minute when he saw a 35-metre penalty rebound to safety off an upright, but he had already done the business as Ballymena Academy lifted the cup for only the third time in their history.

BALLYMENA ACADEMY: C Simpson; J McClelland, C Delpy, P Storey, C Morrison; C Patterson, P Banda; S McNabney, J Andrew, C Galloway, M Rea, D Whann, T Patton, G Dennison, P Wallace.

Replacements: G Hargy for Rea (58). Not used: J Gregg, S Goodrich, M Dick, N Stirling, J Fleming, M McBride.

BELFAST ROYAL ACADEMY: J Buchanan; E Devlin, D Cartmill, M Glover, M Robinson; S Olding, C Spence; D McCallun, N Sinclair, A Martin, N O’Neill, C Leckey, T Vincent, R Clarke, I Henderson.

Replacements: Jamison for Buchanan (59), G Redmond for O’Neill (51). Not used: A McCormick, J Thompson, J Simpson, M Nicholl, R A McClements.

Referee: D Wilkinson (USRFR).