Academy lads hoping to pass tough test in Belfast

OMAGH Academy’s rugby first XV have been handed a tough opening test in the Schools’ Cup with a trip to Grosvenor this coming Saturday.

However, having beaten a good Enniskillen Grammar side 22-17 and thumped Rainey Endowed 47-17 in their last two games, Ross Hunter’s side are certainly taking form into the clash.

So too are Grosvenor, though. The Belfast side entered the competition in the previous round, beating another Tyrone side, Strabane Academy 43-0 away from home.

And while he knows a trip to the big city isn’t going to be easy, Mr Hunter knows his side are more than capable of booking their place in the next round.

“It’s always tough enough when you have to go up to Belfast and I suppose that’s the big thing,” acknowledged PE teacher and coach, Mr Hunter.

“When you’re waiting on the Schools Cup draw, you’re always hoping for a home draw. Unfortunately we’re away but if we play like we did against Enniskillen and like we did against Rainey then I’m sure it can go well for us.

“Things have been going OK this year, we’ve had some good wins, some good performances as well. Things have been progressing nicely in the run up to the Cup.

“Our last two games, beating Enniskillen and beating Rainey Endowed, those have been two highlight games.

“It’s good to be hitting a bit of form at the right time.”

Having missed out on the experience of playing in the Schools Cup last year due to Covid-19 induced lockdowns, the Academy lads won’t be lacking motivation in 2022.

They are relishing the chance to get their teeth into the competition again and with a healthy number of upper sixth’s in the side, Hunter believes his team have a good balance this year.

“We’re looking forward to it because it’s good to have rugby up and running again,” explained Mr Hunter.

“The squad is relatively experienced. There are a good number of upper sixth in it and only one fifth year, Harvey King, in the starting XV with two or three others on the bench.

“All be it they have missed a lot of rugby over the last two years, but having experience is important particularly when you’re going away in a cup game.

“But they have missed out on the experience of the cup last year, so that’s been a bit of a grind.

“The guys are really looking forward to getting a cup game and they certainly won’t need any motivation.”

ACADEMY SQUAD

Conrad Hale, Jamie Matthews, Robbie Mitchell, Alister Crawford, Daniel Armstrong, Theo Latimer, Kenny McCormack, Reece Braden (cpt), Alex Colhoun, Andrew Johnston, Harvey King, Joshua Kyle, Ben Henry, Joshua Robinson, Tyan Reid, Joshua Keys, Henry Dunbar, Bailey Smyth, Darragh Logan, Ben Robson, Sam Beattie, Isaac Rainey, Peter Clements, Kimi Chambers.