Malone advance to the McCrea Cup SF after a great win against Academy

Report compiled by George Millar

Gibson Park hosted two quarter finals in the McCrea Cup with Malone playing Academy and Grosvenor playing McCrea Cup holders Cooke. Spectators were not disappointed with eight tries scored in the Malone game and seven on the adjoining pitch with Cooke running out 30 - 21 winners. CIYMS 's opponents Belfast Harlequins had conceded their match with Queens Uni seconds receiving a bye.

In the Malone game Academy opened strongly with their centre Chris Cooper failing to convert an early penalty opportunity. The home side responded with full back Rory Campbell kicking a penalty to give his side an early lead. It wasn't long before Malone increased their lead with right winger Jack McMurtry sprinting in from 30 metres for an unconverted try. With prop Ben Halliday putting in several early carries it was a case of over elaboration by the home backs that failed to add to their dominance. Another strong carry by centre David Irvine opened up the Academy defence for McMurtry to score his second try with Campbell adding the conversion to give his side a 15 - 0 lead after 25 minutes.

The best try of the game came with the Malone backs once again moving the ball wide. It looked as if full back Rory Campbell was going to be driven into touch. He somehow managed a reverse pass for winger Chris Rowan to cross for his sides third try with Campbell adding the points to increase the Malone lead to 24 - 0.

Academy went on to have their best period of the game with the home side forced to concede three penalties after good work by Academy back row forward Stuart Martin at the breakdown. With Stuart Henderson held up over the line Academy 's third scrum in a row brought their reward with a well deserved try when the backs swiftly moving the ball out left for winger Gavin Braiden to touch down to leave Malone leading 24 - 5 at half time.

The Malone pack with the front row of Ben Halliday, Connor Kelly and Ricky Greenwood had been prominent in the loose and set piece with their backrow of Max Porter, Darryl Maxwell and Richard Millar doing the hard yards to get their team on the front foot.

Academy again opened strongly in the second half with centre Chris Cooper kicking an early penalty to reduce the Malone lead to 24 - 8. From a lineout forty metres out Malone worked a move with second row Tiernan Dillon taking an inside pass to out pace the Academy defence to score a fine individual try with Campbell again adding the points. The visitors were not done and after a period of sustained pressure Cooper scored a well deserved try, adding the points to reduce the Malone lead to 31 - 15.

The home side responded with replacement prop Gary Crawford making a barnstorming 25 metre break. As Academy attempted to clear their lines Malone's Tiernan Dillon charged down the kick to run 20 metres and touch down for his second try to increase his teams lead to 36 - 15. Academy kept coming back at Malone with the final try scored by the home side after a 22 metre lineout. The forwards rumbled towards the line with Max Porter claiming the try converted by Campbell to leave the final score 43 - 15 in favour of the home side.

Terrific game to watch with two sides totally committed. Malone had several players who impressed most notably prop Ben Halliday, winger Jack McMurtry, full back Rory Campbell and the back row of Max Porter, Darryl Maxwell and Richard Millar. My man of the match must go to the quiet man of the team Tiernan Dillon who deserved his two tries for a very industrious performance.

With several second xv matches coming up between now and the semi final on the 25th March the players have another opportunity to progress to the final after losing to Cooke last season.