Schools' Cup final LIVE: RBAI 21-14 Ballymena Academy at Ravenhill in Ulster schools' rugby final

When the chips are down, it’s hard to bet against RBAI, and so it proved once again at Ravenhill in yet another captivating Schools’ Cup Final.

After being treated to a barn-burner in last year’s decider against Campbell College, this year’s triumph over Ballymena Academy was just as thrilling, an edge of your seat first half followed by a nerve-jangling second that was decided by two key moments from Ross Dillon.

Camped on their own line and defending waves of pressure, RBAI’s replacement hooker came up with a crucial turnover and just five minutes later was diving over for the game-winning try that sealed not only back-to-back titles for the Belfast school, but back-to-back Schools’ Cup-Medallion Shield doubles.

But they were made to work hard for the 35th win in the school’s history by a Ballymena side who, had they taken their chances, could have been the ones climbing the steps to the President’s Suite to collect the trophy on another day.

They were left to rue a huge missed opportunity for captain Michael McLean early in the second half and their inability to cross the line when Dillon came up with the crucial turnover, while they also couldn’t grab a score in the dying stages after Blake McClean was sin-binned to at least share the title.

Instead, RBAI are the ones celebrating again and, with the raft of talent coming into the senior set-up next year from another promising Medallion crop, there is every chance that Jamie Kirk’s boys could be the latest to claim three-in-a-row, following the footsteps of Dan Soper, the now Ulster assistant coach whose son Callum played at scrum-half.

Indeed, it looked like the luck would fall exclusively in RBAI’s favour when, despite an impressive early defensive set from Ballymena, accompanied by a sustained period of pressure outside the RBAI 22, the opening try was wholly against the run of play.

With Ballymena trying some enterprising rugby along their back line, it was winger James Kerr who spotted the opportunity and capitalised, nipping in to pick off Alexander Carson’s pass and return it under the posts from his own 10m line.

They could have been further ahead as a skewed lineout throw from five metres out and Alex Place, who converted Kerr’s score, pulled a penalty wide from in front of the posts cost them chances, and they would pay as Ballymena’s midfield drew them level midway through the half. Carson made amends for his intercept with a barnstorming run out of his own 22 to relieve the pressure, holding off three would-be tacklers to earn the penalty on the floor after taking contact, and it was Daniel Vercoe-Rogers who got the score, taking a sumptuous flat pass at the line from James McIlroy to burst a tackle and cross.

Riding the momentum, it would take just eight minutes for Ballymena to forge ahead as this time the forwards took over.

Their primary weapon in their Semi-Final win over Sullivan Upper, the pack would deliver again on this occasion as McIlroy tapped a penalty quickly to take them within touching distance of the line and prop Deon Fleming finished the job.

But just as soon as they fell behind, RBAI displayed their champion pedigree, Lorcan Donnelly and Milo Carter with a pair of beautiful offloads to send Place down the touchline, and from there No.8 Adam Boyd was not to be denied to leave it level at the break.

For all the excitement of the first half, it took 15 minutes for the second half to spring to life. But when it did, it really did.

How Ballymena did not retake the lead is anybody’s guess, a loose pass from RBAI just outside the Braid 22 hacked away by Vercoe-Rogers and then on further by McLean who won the foot race with Place to the ball at the line, but the Ballymena skipper couldn’t apply the grounding.

That would be costly. Dillon would turn the ball over just when RBAI needed it on his own line and two further penalties allowed the yellow-and-black hoops to work their way up the pitch and after a couple of excellent surges from flanker James Clark, Dillon was able to worm his way over for the crucial score.

Place’s touchline conversion all but ensured that, at worst, RBAI would be sharing the trophy, but their hopes of winning it outright took a blow when prop Blake McClean was sin-binned for a high tackle with three minutes to go, breathing life into Ballymena’s charge.

But it would be in vain.

Loughlin Sweeney’s superb line-out steal in the dying stages allowed the defending champions to close it out in comfort, and take all the plaudits once again.

BALLYMENA ACADEMY: (15-9) S McKay; B Neely, D Vercoe-Rogers, A Carson (R Allen 55), M McLean; R Coleman, J McIlroy (C Irvine 62); (1-8) M Wright (J Harvey 64), C Mustoe (B Millar 55), D Fleming (H Casson 39); C Scullion (D Hayburn 65), J Gallagher (M Glenn 66); H Lamont (M Cahoon 58), R Williamson, C Hargy.

RBAI: (15-9) J Gibson; A Place, F Cunningham, C O'Connor (R O'Connor 68), J Kerr; C Gray, C Soper (L Gibson 61); (1-8) Z Molyneaux, E Paterson (R Dillon 39), B McClean; L Sweeney, M Carter; L Donnelly (S McElhinney 66), J Clark, A Boyd.

Subs not used: R Lath Amou, P McEvoy, B McCausland, C Patton.

Referee: C Busby.

Relive the action on our LIVE blog below.

Potentially massive moment in this game as tighthead Blake McClean is sin binned for a high tackle and RBAI will finish this game a man down...

If they will strike, it won't be this time as Ballymena win the turnover penalty and clear to just shy of halfway!

Big chance for RBAI to kill this game off as Ballymena try to pick and go from a scrum in their own 22 and it's knocked on, giving the defending champions a scrum in a very dangerous position.

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The patience pays off for RBAI and they get what could be a crucial try in this game as two big carries from openside flanker James Clark opens up the space for Ross Dillon and he crosses for the try from close range!

Another penalty as Ballymena collapse the maul illegally. We'll see what they do after a brief injury break.

Two strokes of luck for RBAI as firstly a loose pass on their end results in a penalty for a high tackle, and then Charlie Gray's kick to the corner looks to be staying infield but is spilled into touch by Michael McLean. They have the lineout in the Ballymena 22...

Huge turnover penalty from Lorcan Donnelly as he gets in over the ball right at the line to win the kick!

But now Ballymena with the chance to attack as RBAI knock on off the scrum!

So close to a breakaway Ballymena try!

The ball goes loose, Daniel Vercoe-Rogers hacks it on and then Michael McLean hacks it on even further to get in a foot race with Alex Place for the line! It looks like McLean pushes Place over, but it doesn't matter because the Ballymena winger can't gather it as both he and Vercoe-Rogers go for the ball and it's a knock-on!

The tepid second half continues as Ballymena go back to their resolute defence to hold RBAI at the edge of the 22, but when the ball goes loose two players dive for it and it's a Ballymena hand that knocks it on, so RBAI get the scrum just outside the red zone.

And another one in quick succession as Ballymena go off their feet to contest a ball on the floor, which allows Charlie Gray to kick play just shy of the Ballymena 22.

Some prolonged pressure just outside the RBAI 22 for Ballymena but it's yielding nothing as the yellow-and-black jerseys hold firm, and then Lorcan Donnelly gets in over the ball and wins the turnover penalty.

Hasn't exactly been a barnstormer to start the second half.

An aerial challenge gone wrong as two men go for the ball and the Ballymena man comes in under the RBAI man. Just a penalty that's kicked to halfway.

Some impressive carries from the Braid school takes them into the 22 and the penalty comes for RBAI going offside. It's inside the RBAI 22 but it's down by the touchline so Robbie Coleman kicks for touch.