Foyle College on the way to Ravenhill

The students will play Grosvenor Grammar School in the final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools Rugby Bowl next Wednesday after they beat Larne Grammar School 26-19, in last Saturday's semi-final tie.

Foyle coach Gerald McCarter said the young players will relish the prospect of playing at Ravenhill. "It was definitely pleasing to win and the boys are delighted to be playing at Ravenhill. It is a big thing for any group of young rugby players, getting to play in a big final at Ravenhill."

He said that Grosvenor will probably be going into the final as marginal favourites, but that his players have a very good chance.

"They will probably go into the match as favourites. They were beaten in the final last year so they will have that experience to build on. There are still quite a few of the same players who played in the final last year still there. They have that core group, so with that experience they would probably be considered favourites.

"But even if they are favourites the boys will be very motivated, having worked hard to get where they are, particularly with the match being played at Ravenhill. We are in the final and all the usual clichs apply. It is a one off game and anything can happen. It is fifteen against fifteen."

Mr McCarter believes the victors on the day will most likely be the team who can keep their cool in the face of what could easily be an overwhelming experience.

"All thirty players will have massive nerves going into the match at Ravenhill. Whoever manages to keep their heads and adapt to the situation will probably come out on top. I will be telling the boys to settle down and not get themselves too wound up. They should go out there and enjoy themselves because for some of the players it may be their last chance to play at Ravenhill.

"I'll try and find out a bit more about Grosvenor Grammar School between now and then."

He also paid tribute to his players, particularly his captain for their performance against Larne GS which got them to the final: "We won 26-19 in a pretty even game. I think we deserved the win but that is just my own opinion. It was a pretty even start. Larne scored first, slightly against the run of play I would say, and converted the try. We scored just before the half time break through Blennerhassbtt, and it was converted by Murdock. It was 7-7 at half time. The second half was pretty even stevens.

"Early in the second half our captain Aaron Patterson scored a try in the left hand corner. This one was a sweeping move. We moved the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and Patterson scored the try right down in the corner.

"Patterson was leading by example, leading from the front. The players took their lead from him and I think we deserved the win."