Dream final is still alive for Wallace and Friends

Wallace booked their place in the semi with a 6-0 win over Regent House on Tuesday, whilst Friends' have it all to do again in the quarter final, after securing a home replay after securing an 11-11 draw earlier this week at Ballymena Academy .

Wallace will now meet Belfast Royal Academy (BRA) at Ravenhill on Tuesday March 2, kick off 2.30pm, whilst Friends' will meet Methody at Ravenhill on Thursday March 4, kick off at 2.30pm should they overcome Ballymena in their replay at Magheralave Road tomorrow (Saturday).

The draw means that both schools could potentially meet each other in the big St Patrick's Day Final at Ravenhill - an outcome which both coaches would happily take.

"All sides are good sides, so it is going to be hard for us," said Neil Hinds, Wallace Coach after his team were drawn against BRA on Wednesday. "It will be a tough match but we are all looking forward to it.

"The kids are all very excited by it, everybody in the school from the top is looking forward to it, especially the younger pupils who have not experienced it before. They are really looking forward to it; there is a lot of excitement about.

"Right now we are just trying to get organised for Tuesday. Having played this Tuesday we haven't had as long to prepare as if the match had gone ahead on the Saturday.

"But we're looking forward to getting back to Ravenhill. BRA are a very strong unit all round the pitch so we will have our hands full and our performance level will have to improve again. I think they'll have been happy to have gotten us and we will be construed again as underdogs but that's a tag we'll happily take."

Speaking about the possibility of an all-Lisburn final, the Wallace coach said: "It would be fantastic for Lisburn, certainly. That is a long way down the road but it would be fantastic for the students and something we would think of positively."

Stephen Robinson, the Coach at Friends' School, spoke about his side, who face a replay with Ballymena tomorrow, having been drawn against Methody.

Mr Robinson commented: "This may be the more difficult of the draws but the boys are in good form. Obviously if we want to reach the final then we have to beat the best. We are focusing on Saturday's game first and foremost and once we get over that we can concentrate on the Methody match. Our primary aim at the moment is to win the quarter final, we are taking each game as it comes.

"At this stage we are in with the big boys. We are in with the top eight schools and it is great that we are competing at that level now, but we can't go into a match against anyone with fear. Methody are obviously a very good side, they are regarded as possibly the best school side in Ulster, but we have to focus on Saturday, otherwise that match will never take place."

The Friends' coach said that excitement is building throughout the school and admitted that the prospect of an all-Lisburn final would be a dream for both sides.

"It would definitely be great for Lisburn and great for the networking with Lisburn Rugby Club. This is a very prestigious competition which has a great tradition in Ulster rugby. It would be fantastic to meet Wallace in the final. It would be great for Friends' and Wallace to reach that stage - fantastic for everybody."