Hooker David Nelson’s last-gasp try secured Campbell College a dramatic 26-22 success and Schools’ Cup glory over RBAI for St Patrick’s Day silverware.

It was a fitting end to a pulsating game as the hooker squeezed over from close range following a series of pick-and-goes to give Campbell their first title since 2018 and Ritchie McMaster’s first as head coach.

Campbell struck with less than 90 seconds on the clock as they moved the ball wide from midfield to Rus Lovo, the winger showed a great turn of pace to carry to RBAI’s 10-metre line before offloading inside to James Well. The scrum half held off a couple of last-ditch tackles to stretch out for the game’s opening try and Jack Best was off-target with the conversion.

RBAI’s reply was instantaneous as centre Adam Millar found space on the wing and sprinted over from long-range to go over in the corner then out half Charlie O’Connor failed to convert.

placeholder image — Captain Paul Henry lifts the Schools' Cup following Campbell College victory over RBAI. (Photo by Andrew McCarroll/Pacemaker Press)

Campbell restored their lead two minutes later when the east Belfast school kicked a penalty to corner, the forwards set up a driving maul and hooker Nelson went over for his first try of the afternoon, which Best converted.

RBAI were denied a try when O’Connor’s scoring pass to full back Jonah Power was adjudged forward.

However, the sides were level on 16 minutes. Inst were awarded a tap penalty five metres out, after a couple of pick-and-goes flanker Cian McClean barged over and O’Connor slotted the conversion.

RBAI took the lead for the first time on 25 minutes as from a ruck Sebastian Clarke fed centre Connor Patton he showed soft hands to put McClean through a gap and score under the posts for his second try of the game, which O’Connor converted.

Both sides spurned opportunities to score in the closing stages of the first half, so RBAI went into the interval with a 19-12 lead.

Campbell struck five minutes after the restart as, from a scrum on the Inst 22, player-of-the-match Lovo got the ball surged into space before feeding winger colleague Harry Wells to finish in the corner and Best landed the conversion.

O’Connor nudged RBAI ahead with a simple penalty from in front of the posts.

RBAI were able to defend their line until the final play as Campbell battered then, finally, Nelson exploited a gap to touch down before Best’s conversion.

A pre-match minute’s applause was held in memory of Campbell’s John McKinney.

CAMPBELL COLLEGE: 15-9 Leo Graham, Harry Wells, Paul Henry (captain) Isaac Hatch, Rus Lovo, Jack Best, James Wells; 1-8 Caellan Doy Dolan, David Nelson, Connor McKinney, Raanan Potter, Charlie Best, Harry Burrows, Ruairi Parks, Dante Noel Simmons

Replacements: Dylan Armstrong, Tom Alexander, Harry Burrows, Rory Adair Theo Scott, Fraser Campbell, Ollie Larkin, Zach Thompson

RBAI: Johan Power, Jack Coulter, Adam Millar, Connor Patton, Andrew Purcell, Charlie O’Connor, Sebastian Clark; 1-8 Ronan Hamilton, Ross Dillon (captain), Reuban McIlwarth, Connor Ballantine, Elliott Magowan, Cian McClean, Adam Boyd

Replacements: Ross Montgomery, Matthew Watkins, Reuben Edmonson, Zack Surphlis. Conor Davis, Rocco Steen, Dylan Gray, Benjamin McCarten