We caught up with the Goldsborough Trophy, the oldest U21 Club Rugby competition in Ireland, for our fourth sucessive year at Instonians RFC on Easter Monday. This years competition featured six teams who played round robin matches in two pools of three, the top two teams from each pool progressing to the knockout semi finals. Pool Standings Pool A

On Easter Monday afternoon, Ravenhill hosted a double header. Second up was the Towns Cup Final clash between Co Down near neighbours and rivals Ballynahinch 2XV and Dromore. An early Harry McKeown penalty goal after 12 minutes gave Ballynahinch a 3-0 lead. Harry McCormick runs around behind the posts for Ballynahinch's 1st try They consolidated their lead with a try by Harry McCormick, beside the posts on 23 minutes.

On Easter Monday afternoon, Ravenhill hosted a double header. First up was the McCrea Cup Final clash between Ballymoney and Carrickfergus. An early Paddy Carson penalty goal for Ballymoney was countered by a Dan Curley penalty strike for Carrick to leave the score tied at 3-3 in a tense opening quarter. Maaty Hadden, 6, storms over for Carrick's try A clever reverse pass by scrum half, Shane Kelly, created a gap for Matty Hadden to storm over, under the posts.

We caught up with the Crawford Cup Final between City of Armagh 3nd XV and Ballymoney 2nd XV at Ravenhill on Saturday evening. In a tight game Armagh were first on the scorebard with a penalty from William Hazelton just past the half hour mark. A penalty from Andrew Young was Ballymoney's only score in the first half. Ballymoney responded two minutes later with a penalty from Andrew Young but Aramgh took a 6 - 3 lead into half time after Hazelton landed a second penalty just before the break.

We caught up with the Forster Cup Final between CIYMS 2nd XV and Ballynahinch 4th XV at Ravenhill on Saturda afternoon. Ballynahinch were first on the scoreboard with a penalty from Justin Rea for a 0 - 3 lead. CIYMS tied the game if minutes late as a penalty from Ewan Nelson took the score to 3 - 3.

We caught up with the MCCambley Cup final between Omagh Academicals 4th XV and Ballynahinch 5th XV in the MCCambley Cup Final at Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon. Hinch were first on the scoreboard with a 4th minute try from Robin Harte, converted by James Briar, for a 0 - 7 lead. Briar extended the lead to 0 - 10 two minutes later with a sucessful penalty.

We took in the 2nd games of a triple header at Meadowbank Arena, Magherafelt, when Carrick played Instonians in the Under 16 Plate Final. A large crowd watched the game in ideal sunny conditions. Aidan Notorantonio opened the scoring for Inst It was a free flowing 1st half, with attacks not frightened to throw the ball about. Defences were on top until moments before halftime, when Aidan Notorantonio crashed over for the opening score.

Initially it was grey and overcast, but at least the rain had stopped for the second game of the double header, on Saturday, at the Kingspan Stadium for the Junior Cup Final between Dromore and Enniskillen. A bitingly cold crosswind blew across the pitch. Eddie Keys added 2 conversions and 3 penalty goals for Enniskillen Enniskillen opened the scoring in the 7th minute, when Eddie Keys landed a penalty goal for a 3-0 lead.

The last game at Meadowbank on Saturday was the Club U18 Bowl Final between Carrickfergus and a combined Clogher Valley and Omagh Academicals side. Yet again it as another extremely close match with both teams giving their all. I missed the opening exchanges but the combined Clogher and Omagh side opened the scoring about 15 minutes in when Oisin Hone scooped up a lose pass to battle over the line.

It was grey, overcast, cold and windy, at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday for the first game in a doubleheader, the Junior Shield Final between Ards and Carrickfergus. A cold crosswind blew across the pitch. Ards found themselves under pressure but cleared their lines and lost an early scoring chance with a missed penalty.

Our second match at Meadowbank on Saturday morning was the Club U16 Bowl Final between Ballymoney and Co Cavan. Action from the Club U16 Bowl final between Ballymoney and Cavan at Meadowbank Sports Arena on Saturday 29th March 2025 This was another close fought game as the reams battled away for most of the first half without troubling the scoreboard. …

We caught up with the Club U14 Bowl Final between Monaghan and Ballymena on a cold and damp Saturday morning at Meadowbank Arena. Monaghan got of to a flying start with a successful penalty, after 2 minutes, from their No. 8 Conan Murphy. 3 - 0. In an even game the teams battled it out over the next 20 minutes before Monaghan's center Nathan McGuinness broke clear on the left for the opening try and a 8 - 0 lead.

We caught up with the U16 High School Trophy Final between Limavady High and Bangor Academy at Ravenhill on Wednesday afternoon. Limavady took an early 3 - 0 lead thanks to a successful penalty from Isaac Stubbs-Carton. Isaac Stubbs-Carton opened the scoring with an early penalty for Limavady Bangor hit back 8 minutes later with a try from Vlad Grebenov, converted by Thomas Rice to take the score to 3 - 7.

We caught up with the Ulster Schools Cup Final between The Royal School Armagh and Wallace High School on Monday afternoon at Ravenhill. Armagh started well and picked up an early three points from the boot of Evan Hughes on the 3rd minute.

We caught up with the Suzanne Flemming Cup Final between Clogher Valley and Ballymena at Ravenhill late Saturday afternoon. In a one-sided game, a very experienced Clogher Valley squad took on Ballymena and overwhelmed them in the first half with tries from Marie Traynor, Shauna O’Hagan, Katie Hetherington, Victoria Bothwell, Alex Bothwell and Chloe Somerville, backed up with conversions by Chloe Donaghy (2) and Sinead Sheerin.

We caught up with the Gordon West Cup Final between Omagh Academicals 2XV and Donaghadee at Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon. An early penalty converted by Alistair Lockhart put Donaghadee ahead and this was followed by a burst through the middle by No 11, Aaron McKee to increase that lead, to 8 - 0, with a fine try.

We caught up with the, newly minted, Gordon West Plate Final between Larne and Inishowen at The Glynn on Saturday afternoon. Larne were strong favourites for this one having already defeated their visitors twice in the league this season and they were quick off the mark with a try after two minutes from Charlie Patterson for a 5 - 0 lead.

We caught up with the Club Academy Cup Final between City of Armagh and Ballymena at Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon. In a very exciting game, it was Armagh who got the first points on the board with No 2, Ashton Clarke crashing over the line and No 10, Joseph O’Rawe adding the conversion for a 7 - 0 lead.

On Wednesday afternoon Campbell College faced Methodist College in an Belfast derby in the Schools Subsidiary Shield Final at Kingspan Stadium. Rus Lovo celebrates the 1st of his brace of tries for Campbell College A charge down was seized by Campbell and a combination of forwards and backs created space for Rus Lovo to crash over. Henry Ralston’s conversion had Campbell 7-0 up in less than 90 seconds.

On Sunday afternoon, in game three of a triple header, at the Kingspan Stadium, a combined Banbridge/Larne/Malone side played Enniskillen in the Girls Under 18 Cup Final. From first encounters this looked to be the tightest game of the three. Both sides had powerful packs and weren’t frightened to unleash their backs.

On Sunday afternoon, in game two of a triple header, at the Kingspan Stadium, Omagh played Virginia in the Girls Under 16 Cup Final. It was nip and tuck in an evenly contested opening minutes. Gradually Virginia took charge. Eno Akpan opened the scoring for Virginia after 15 minutes for 5-0. Omagh had their moments but couldn’t compete with a fired up Virginia back row.

Early on Sunday afternoon, in game one of a triple header, at the Kingspan Stadium, a combined Inishowen and Finn Valley side played Virginia in the Leona Harper Girls Under 14 Cup Final. IFV pressed from kick off trapping Virginia in their 22. In the absence of a kicking game, Virginia tried to run the ball out, but it was turned over and run back at them.

We caught up with the Medallion Plate Final between Down High School and Rainey Endowed School at Gibson Park on Saturday morning. Playing in front of a big, noisy crowd both teams were busy right from the start but it was Down who got on the scoreboard first when their big No 8, Matthew Horner burst across the line to open their account, Freddy Harris made the conversion for a 7 - 0 lead.

On Wednesday afternoon Ballyclare High School and Limavady Grammar School met in the Schools Bowl Final at the Kingspan Stadium. It was grey and overcast. A strong wind blew down the pitch, initially in Limavady’s favour. After some big carries by the Ballyclare pack it was Limavady who took the lead, when James Laird converted an 8th minute penalty goal for a 3-0 lead.