We caught up with the Ulster Schools Cup Qualifying match between Lurgan College and Strabane Academy on Saturday morning at Lough Road.
Lurgan were quick out of the blocks with a try from winger Sam McCullough to take the score to 5 – 0 after 6 minutes.
In a tight game Strabane hit back pretty quickly with Nathan Russell going over seven minutes later to tie the game 5 – 5.
The game was a bit of a tussle for the next 20 minutes but Lurgan got on the scoreboard again before half time with a late try from hooker Daniel Wilson, converted by Ben Maxwell gave the home side a 12 – 5 lead at the break.
Strabane’s Russell pulled it back to 12 – 10 with his second try about 10 minutes in to the second half but Lurgan pushed it out to a nine point lead, four minutes later, with a try from scrum half Tom Stevenson, and a Maxwell conversion, pushing the score out to 19 – 10.
As things got heated in the full on contest a player from each side saw red cards with 10 minutes remaining.
Strabane’s Russell bundled over for this hat trick try, this one converted, to take the score to 19 – 17 with minutes to go to set up a nail biting finish.
However, Lurgan dug deep and held on for the win and progress to the group stages of the Schools Cup later in the month.
Match Gallery
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