Match Preview: Campbell College vs Bangor Grammar School - 23/10/2018
Campbell College vs Bangor Grammar
One week later than originally billed, Bangor Grammar School will tomorrow face their toughest test of the season so far, as they travel to Belfast to take on reigning Schools' Cup champions Campbell College.
Match Preview
On St. Patrick's day, Campbell College faced Royal School Armagh in the Schools' Cup final, coming out 19-13 winners.
Since the start of this season, CCB have beaten St Gerard's of Bray, Ballyclare High School, Regent House and Coleraine Grammar School, but suffered losses against Wallace High School and Blackrock College
Last weekend the Northern Irish 'All Blacks' participated in the Methodist College 150th Anniversary tournament, where they were classified in 10th place behind Methody, RBAI and Wallace. Incidentally the winners were St. Michael's College of Dublin. Early results would suggest that Campbell aren't having the best season, although we were also saying that half way through last year, before they went on to win the Schools' Cup. One thing that's for certain is that Campbell can have plenty of experience and pedigree to count upon if a match isn't falling their way.
Bangor Grammar's up-and-down season continued two Saturdays ago, as they recorded a great win over Ballyclare High School. The match was won by a brace of first half tries from Ben McCrossan. During this match, ill discipline from Bangor saw one player sent off and another sent to the sin bin. With a 2 man defecit and in challenging conditions, Bangor were very much on par with Ballyclare. .
On paper, Campbell look the favourites, but history tells us that the unbelievable is possible in this fixture.
Last Time
This time last year, Campbell College scored 20 points without reply to win comfortably in a largely unmemorable match at Gransha.
Of course, it would be remiss of us not to mention one of our greatest days at this point. In 2013, Bangor Grammar School's 1st XV recorded a stunning 12-5 win over the then Schools' Cup champions. A magical Ross McCloskey kick and Campbell players in tears post match were the abiding memories.
Even though that was five years ago, those memories still bring goosebumps.
Team News
Aaron Sexton is in line to become the first ever senior Ulster capped player to line up for Bangor Grammar School (normally it happens the other way around!) Since featuring for Ulster in Chris Henry's testimonial match in August, Aaron has starred for the Ulster A team in the Celtic Cup. Aaron scored 7 times in 6 matches for the Ulster As, and even recorded the fastest ever speed for any player representing Ulster since records began in 2012... not bad for the fastest schoolboy in Irish athletics history!
Aaron has been known to play anywhere in the back line for Bangor Grammar, but the coaches have listed him to start at full-back where he played the first half of last season before moving to out-half. Michael McCreary is the player to make way, and Harry McCracken moves from full back to the wing.
Gareth Wells is in India over half term, so Patrick Dobie returns to the second row.
The only other change is at scrum-half where Oliver Hamilton comes in to replace Angus Christie.
As the 2nd XV have already played Campbell (last Saturday), there will be a full compliment of substitutes. These were unconfirmed at the time of writing.
Match Details
Venue: Foxes' Field (Campbell College 1st XV Pitch), Belmont Road, Belfast
Kick off time: 3.00 pm
Last Encounter: BGS 0-20 CCB
BGS 2018-19 Form: P6 / W3 / D0 /L3 (Points for: 168 / Points against: 112)
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 the whole B.G.S. 1st XV squad.
