Portora RS 17 Armagh RS 14

 

Portora Royal School progressed through to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Final with a tightly contested 17-14 win over Armagh Royal School on Saturday morning.
And they will now meet Grosvenor Grammar School on Wednesday March 9 in the final at Royal School Dungannon.
The semi-final was played on a wet and muddy Castle Lane pitch in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters. The Armagh team started well and asked questions of the Portora defence. However, Portora were resolute in defence and were dominant at the breakdown. This dominance led to them getting a penalty which Connor Keys dispatched to give them a 3-0 lead. 
Jack Rutledge then broke away from the restart and was stopped just short of the Armagh line. The ball was quickly recycled and Robert Baloucoune finished the move off with a flourish. Keyes added the conversion to see Portora into a 19-0 lead. 
Armagh came back strongly and with the final play of the first half Christopher Jennings touched down for a try. William Hazelton added the conversion to leave Portora with a 10-7 lead at the break. 
The third quarter of the game saw Armagh in control of possession. However, the Portora defence, with Keyes and Baloucoune in control, kept the attacks at bay. 
They turned Armagh possession over and Josh Kennedy, Andrew Crawford and Jack Rutledge combined to send Dylan Crawford in for a try. Keyes added the extras to see Portora into a 17-7 lead. 
With the final play of the game William Hazelton scored a try, which he converted, for Armagh but it was Portora who were celebrating at the end as they finished up 17-14 victors.