Ballymena Academy’s first ever Ulster Schools Cup winners have reunited to celebrated a half century milestone for their alma mater.
Former pupils and players from the team that helped the Academy lift the trophy for the very first time in 1972 recently gathered to recall a special moment for the County Antrim School.
One member, Brian Aiken, travelled all the way from his Munich home in Germany while captain John Montgomery flew in from England to recount a famous day.
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Former player Bill Wray said: “1972 was the first time Ballymena Academy had lifted the Schools Cup and it was great to get everyone together again all these years later.
“Old stories were shared and it was clear a special bond still existed between everyone there.
“The dinner also gave us the opportunity to pay tribute to and toast our former coach Jimmy Boyle and team mate Nigel Orr who have sadly both since passed away.
“Nigel, who played left wing for us, died tragically at his home in Edinburgh three years ago, and Jimmy, who was such a respected figure, died in 2020.”
Captain John Montgomery said the team’s “success and style of rugby” would not have been possible without Boyle’s guidance.
Ballymena Academy, who have lifted the Ulster Schools Cup three times in their history, the last in 2010, had lost three showpieces in 1924, 1928 and 1971 prior to lifting the trophy in 1972.
Many of the squad that celebrated a 13-9 win over Belfast Royal Academy in the 1972 final were part of the side that lost 3-15 to Belfast Boys Model the previous year.
En route to the 1972 showpiece, Ballymena overcame Belfast’s ‘big guns’ Campbell College and Methodist College at the quarter-final and semi-final stages.
They overcame Wallace High School (46-3) and Omagh Academy (22-3) before beating Campbell 10-0 in the last-eight and Methody in the semi-finals after a replay.
In the Ravenhill final, which was watched by 20,000 spectators, David McKelvey crossed the whitewash for two tries, with Adrian Goodrich kicking a penalty and a conversion.
- The Ballymena Academy team that won the 1972 Schools Cup final was as follows:
Bill Wray; David McKelvey, Lester Davidson, David Montgomery, Nigel Orr; Adrian Goodrich, Wilbur McDonald; Ian Houston, Norman McConaghie, Brian Aiken, Trevor Montgomery, Walker Rainey, John Montgomery (captain), Colin Robinson, David Mawhinney.
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