Match Preview: Subsidiary Shield Quarter Final Down High School vs Bangor Grammar School - 21/02/20

Down High School vs Bangor Grammar School

After disappointment for both Bangor Grammar School and Down High School in the Schools' Cup Third Round, now comes a chance for redemption in the Subsidiary Shield Quarter Final.

Match Preview

Bangor Grammar School put on a spirited fight in the Schools' Cup Third Round against a talented Ballyclare side, but fell short by a couple of tries worth of points. The game was remembered more though, for a nasty injury to Evan Wellard-McMillan, who is now recovering.

As disappointing as the defeat was, there were many encouraging signs: most notably the spirit the Bangor team showed when with five minutes remaining they scored, launching a constant barrage of attacks over the dying minutes. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late.

Down High School will also be disappointed with defeat last time out. One year ago, the Downpatrick side made the Schools' Cup quarter final.

However for any Ulster Schools' team, the main goal is to play at Ravenhill, and there is still a chance that may happen if either progresses to the Subsidiary Shield final.

These two teams have faced each other many times over the last 12 months, the most recent of which was a slender victory on home turf for DHS. But let it be known, Bangor will be much more determined with competition and a larger away support spurring them on.

Team News

Unfortunately, the Bangor coaches have been forced into making a number of changes to their side from the Ballyclare match two weeks ago. All three starting changes come through injury to key players: Hooker Zack Slevin (back) has been an ever present member of the team through the season, but replacement Thomas Boyd is more than capable; Evan Wellard-McMillan (hip) was known to be unable to start this match the moment he was carefully loaded into the back of an ambulance in Ballyclare, Robbie Thompson (as he did two weeks ago) will take up his place in the front row. The final change is Chris Goldthorpe (wrist) being replaced by Connor McKee who, after reportedly being fit enough to start the last two matches, but only featuring as a substitute, will finally get a chance to start a competitive match.

There are a few more changes amongst substitutes too: Finn Garbutt, Thomas Stallard and Adam Brown come into the side to replace the aforementioned players, whilst Aaron Corbett makes his first appearance of 2015 to slot into the 22 jersey vacated by Adam Norman (unavailable).

The Bangor Grammar School squad reads as follows:

1. R Thompson

2. T Boyd

3. P Eves

4. A Brennan

5. B Crawford

6. R Maxwell

7. M Agnew

8. C McKee

9. S Fair

10. L Bret

11. J Baxter

12. C Blair

13. R Gamble

14. W Logan

15. J Fulton

16. F Garbutt

17. T Stallard

18. J Wright

19. A Brown

20. J McLarnon

21. C Webb

22. A Corbett

23. A Stephenson

The Down High School squad reads as follows:

1. N Gibson

2. C Milligan

3. A Chambers

4. M Hanna

5. D Ross

6. E Evans

7. P Preston

8. Z Ward

9. T Forson

10. R Carlisle

11. M Graham

12. C Power

13. R Kerr

14. L Sandford

15. J Bingham

16. H McCormick

17. R Horder

18. S Cochrane

19. J Martin

20. C Beattie

21. P Browne

22. J McCoubrey

23. H Hitchens

Match Details

Venue: Down High School 1st XV Pitch, Mount Crescent, Downpatrick

Kick off time: 10.30 am

Last Encounter: DHS 18 - 8 BGS

BGS 2014-15 Form: P12 / W4 / D0 /L9

Follow the match with live updates on the Gryphiti Twitter Account, Facebook page and here on the Gryphiti website. We'll have video highlights online later in the week. Best of luck to all B.G.S lads playing for the 1st XV tomorrow.