Match Preview: Royal Belfast Academical Institution vs Bangor Grammar School - 22/12/2018
Royal Belfast Academical Institution vs Bangor Grammar School
Christmas is just around the corner, and that means that we have reached the traditional festive fixture between R.B.A.I. and Bangor Grammar. This rivalry runs deep (perhaps less so in recent years), but will have an added dimension this year - more on that shortly.
Match Preview
Royal Belfast Academical Institution don't really need an introduction being the second most successful side in Ulster Schools' Rugby. With 32 Schools' Cup triumphs, they are 3 short of Methodist College at the top of the table.
This season, RBAI are led by coach Jason Morgan, who made the switch from BGS to take up the lucrative Director of Rugby position last held by Dan Soper, the current Ulster assistant coach.
But it seems that RBAI aren't having a great season by their lofty standards. Described as "out of form" by Front Row Union, Inst have played 6 Ulster school sides this season, losing 3 (Methody, Campbell and Armagh), drawing 1 (Wallace), and winning 2 (Ballyclare and Coleraine). The reason for the poor form could be explained by an unusually high injury rate. RBAI had 8 absentees for the fixtures against Campbell and Armagh - for tomorrow's match that number is down to 4. Even still, if ever there is a time for BGS to take it to RBAI, this is surely it.
Bangor Grammar School have this year faced more local teams, playing 14, winning 6 (Belfast Met, Belfast High, Ballyclare High x2, Friends Lisburn and Dromore High), and lost 8 (against Royal Armagh, Ballymena Academy, Sullivan, Campbell, Coleraine, BRA, Dalriada and Wallace).
In the last few seasons, Bangor Grammar have always struggled in this fixture, and haven't come close to winning in the 8 years or so that we've been attending matches.
That said, it would be remiss not to mention that the BGS medallions narrowly defeated RBAI in the quarter final of the Medallion Shield two seasons ago. Most of those players have now progressed to 1st XV level, so this could be seen as somewhat of a rematch.
The Front Row Union produce the best form of ranking system for local schools' rugby. RBAI currently sit 9th out of 33, whilst Bangor Grammar are ranked 18th. The system is geared up to take both results and quality of opposition into consideration.
https://thefrontrowunion.com/2018/12/ulster-schools-rugby-rankings-2018-19-week-6/
Last Time
One year ago, at Gransha Road, it was a disappointing morning as RBAI emerged 19-0 winners.
On that occasion, captain and talisman Zach Kerr was unavailable to play, and Ben McCrossan picked up concussion immediately after kickoff.
Highlights of that match can be found in the video below.
Team News
Aside from the return of Sam Murray (who was listed to start last week, but didn't), it is a completely unchanged starting lineup for Bangor Grammar.
As the 2nd XV match has been cancelled, there will be a full compliment of available replacements on the touchline.
Match Details
Venue: Royal Belfast Academical Institution 1st XV Pitch, Osborne Park, Belfast
Kick off time: 10.30 am
Last Encounter: BGS 00-19 RBAI
BGS 2018-19 Form: P14 / W6 / D0 /L8 (Points for: 364 / Points against: 314)
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 members of the B.G.S. 1st XV team, and all the other teams in action.
