RUGBY SCHOOLS' CUP: Regent House scrape through against Portora Royal

REGENT HOUSE 14 PORTORA ROYAL 13
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jan 2016, 00:40 BST
Updated 24th Jan 2016, 01:04 BST
Regent House' Robbie Johnston and Portora Royal School's Andrew Crawford and Matthew Mc CabeRegent House' Robbie Johnston and Portora Royal School's Andrew Crawford and Matthew Mc Cabe
Regent House' Robbie Johnston and Portora Royal School's Andrew Crawford and Matthew Mc Cabe

In a keenly contested second round tie at Newtownards, Regent scored a late converted try to scrape past a gallant Portora side.

Regent dominated the opening exchanges in the game but it was Portora who took a 3-0 lead when Reece Smyton converted a penalty.

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Regent remained in control but could find any way through a resilient Enniskillen school defence in which Josh Kennedy, Dylan Crawford and Connor Keyes shone. The teams turned around at the break with just the three points on the board.

Portora increased their lead to 8-0 in the second half with an unconverted try through Crawford.

In response to that setback, Regent’s pack surged forward and skipper, Tom-Arthur Donnan, crossed the line to touch down for a try with most of his pack hanging on to him. A fine conversion kick from Adam Curry brought Regent to within one point at 8-7.

Portora were eager to build on their lead and Kennedy managed to score an unconverted try to increase it to take the lead to 13-7.

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With just minutes of the match remaining Regent forwards bombarded the Portora defence and tested their resolve.

Ryan McCarroll broke the Fermanagh boys’ hearts when he grounded the ball for a try, which Curry converted, to secure a 14-13 victory.

Regent will entertain Sullivan Upper in the third round while Portora have a home game against Antrim Grammar in the Bowl quarter-finals.