Match Preview: Ballymena Academy vs Bangor Grammar School - 22/09/2018

Ballymena Academy vs Bangor Grammar School

After back to back home matches to start the season, the Bangor Grammar School 1st XV take to the road this week in what should be a challenging tie at Ballymena Academy.

Match Preview

Ballymena Academy are three times Schools' Cup winners, with their most recent success coming in 2010. This school has a strong pedigree of producing and developing big stars in Ulster and Irish rugby: these include Willie John McBride, Luke Marshall and the Humphreys brothers. As if that wasn't impressive enough, current Northern Ireland football skipper Steven Davis was also educated there!

Three week's ago Ballymena beat Ballyclare High School by 2 tries, and one week later faced Wallace High School in Lisburn. In that match, Wallace won by three points.

Bangor Grammar School have won the Ulster Schools' Cup on five occasions; most recently in 1988. The school has an equally impressive alumni of rugby legends. Dick Milliken, Bryn Cunningham, Mark McCall and Stuart McCloskey are just some of the names to have played in Ulster and Ireland jerseys over the years.

Bangor's season form is the same as Ballymena's so far: one defeat (to Royal School Armagh), and one win (against Belfast Metropolitan College).

Last Time

In recent years, Ballymena have always had the upper hand in this fixture. Last season, Ballymena won by 34 points to 19. On that occasion, Riley Westwood, Gareth Wells, Daniel Young and Rhys Larmour were the names on the Bangor scoresheet.

Team News

Bangor Grammar are this week bolstered by the return of Ben McCrossan and Gareth Wells from Ulster Duty. Aaron Sexton remains unavailable for selection due to his continuing participation in the Celtic Cup for the Ulster As. Riley Westwood is also still unavailable.

Ben McCrossan comes in for Ben Cavan on the front row. Gareth Wells comes back into the squad to wear the number 8 shirt and Adam Pritchard moves to 6.

The backline is unchanged from last week.

On the injury side, Sam Gordon (shoulder) remains on the sidelines but is expecting to return to training very soon, and Angus Christie (also shoulder) has recovered sufficiently to start for the 3rd XV.

Match Details

Venue: Ballymena Academy 1st XV Pitch, Galgorm Road, Ballymena

Kick off time: 10.15 am

Last Encounter: BGS 19-34 BMA

BGS 2018-19 Form: P2 / W1 / D0 /L1 (Points for: 66 / Points against: 17)

Follow the match with live updates on the Gryphiti Twitter Account, plus more reaction and photographs on our Facebook page and here on the Gryphiti website. We'll be videoing the match and will have highlights later in the season. Best of luck to all B.G.S lads playing for the 1st XV, and all our other teams tomorrow.