RUGBY SCHOOLS' CUP: Belfast Royal Academy ease past Grosvenor to secure third round spot

Belfast Royal Academy were comfortable winners over Grosvenor Grammar after a strong second half display at Roughfort.

In spite of going 7-0 down in the first minute of the game BRA went on to build up a 21-7 lead by the break.

Grosvenor could not have got off to a better start when, from the first scrum of the game, Mark Courtney sliced through the home defence to put Daniel Martin in for a try in the corner. Adam Skelton added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

BRA then got some quality possession and began to pressurise the Grosvenor defence. Some strong running from the midfield eventually yielded three penalties for the BRA team, Michael Wilson converted all three for a 9-7 lead.

In spite of the best defensive efforts of Grosvenor’s Skelton, Thomas Quinn and Jos McConkey there was little they could do to prevent Jack Burton scoring a try, which Wilson converted, to increase the BRA lead to 16-7.

The BRA halfbacks made good use of the wind to pin the Grosvenor team back into their ‘22’. Eventually the pressure told and good work from Tom Gilpin put Francis Collins in for an unconverted try and a 21-7 lead at the break.

BRA pressure continued in the second half and a try from Jay McCrum, which was converted by Wilson, increased the lead to 28-7. Wilson then added another penalty to put the game beyond reach of the visitors

Grosvenor rallied and grabbed a consolation when Jack Mahon scored following a lineout and Skelton added the extras to complete the scoring at 31-14.

BRA will face a trip to Down High in the third round while in the Bowl quarter-finals, for second round losers, Grosvenor go to Portadown College.