Students banking on rugby cup win

The Roe Valley teenagers are favourites to book their place in the next round and although coach Stephen Barr is confident in the strength of his players, he is wary of underdogs Banbridge.

"They have had the advantage of playing a game at the weekend. We haven't played since early December, so I am worried about ring rust," he said.

"The weather has meant we haven't had the preparation we would have liked."

Mr Barr believes the formbook will go out the window in a one off cup match. "We have had some really good results this year. We have an unbeaten run of games in double figures. They have not had the best of results this year. But all that will count for nothing in the cup. It is a one off game of rugby between two teams and anything can happen."

Worried about Banbridge, Mr Barr still thinks his side have the right players who have bonded well as a team.

"We have great strength in the team. We have two Ulster schools players, Robin Craig and Shay McIntosh. We have strength down the middle and plenty of pace on the wings. At half back we have Peter Wilson.

"We have some very good players, great backs with strength and some very active forwards. We are very together as a team."

Mr Barr puts the good results his team have been achieving this year down to the experience the players had touring South Africa.

"It was a phenomenal experience. All the boys had a really great time. The team bond we developed out there has put us in a great position so far this year. It was just a fantastic experience.

"It was really more valuable than just learning rugby. We had a safari trip and even the lads who were not that interested just seemed awe struck. That kind of an experience, all together as a team has been fundamental to our good form this year."