The recent weather conditions have left the sports teams in The Wallace High School frustrated and indeed all teams are still waiting to step onto the pitch for competitive fixtures in 2010. The new term promises to be an action packed and exciting one with many teams looking forward to major cup clashes in the coming weeks.
Last Saturday’s postponement of the Schools’ Cup 2nd round means that the 1st XV are still not sure who they will face when they enter the competition in the 4th round.
They have had an inconsistent year so far but will be looking to recent Irish Schools’ debutant and current captain Kyle McCall, as well as fellow Ulster players Chris Spence and Rory Stewart for inspiration. The Medallion XV have had a more impressive season and coach Jonny Reid and his boys await their draw with interest too.
Saturday 30th January sees the girls’ hockey 1st X1 play the traditionally strong Armagh Royal in the Schools’ Cup quarter final at Lisnagarvey, the first time they have reached this stage in a number of years. They will hope that captain Lauren Wilson and representative players Sophie McClean, Jo Leathem, Ellen Hood and Anna Jones continue their fine individual form and take the girls into the semi finals in February. The under 14 girls also face up to Dalriada in their next cup round, the game being scheduled for this Saturday away to the North Coast side.
The boys’ 1st X1 will look to build on the positive experience of reaching the final of both the Irish Schools and McCullough Cup last term and hope to go one stage further in the Burney Cup. Co captains Peter MacDonnell and Stephen Hunter, alongside Richard Arneill have been named in an extended Ulster under 21 squad, whilst Matthew Murphy will look to make his Irish under 18 debut this term and it is to them that Wallace will look when they face RBAI at Shaw’s Bridge on Saturday 30th January in the cup 2nd round.
Netball has been traditionally strong for many years now in the school and the junior girls will be looking to carry on this proud tradition when they compete in the Area finals this term. From here they hope to progress to the prestigious Norrthern Ireland finals day, whilst individually Sarah Montgomery, Sophie McClean, Caroline Davis, Rebecca Poots and Julie Whitten will look to make the Northern Ireland under 19 squad which will be selected soon.
In badminton the various cup and league competitions will continue, whilst Alannah Stephenson and Ryan Getty (in badminton) and Alan Montgomery and Adam Matthews (in athletics and swimming respectively) will look to continue their progress on the international stage. The senior boys’ golf team will hope that their inspirational figurehead and international player Matthew McKnight can lead them into the final of the Ulster Winter League and they are looking forward to their semi final in the coming weeks.
This Saturday sees the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XVs travel to Dublin to face St Mary’s College, whilst the Medallion A and B and under 14 A teams face up to Methody at home, 10am kick of. The under 13 A and B teams travel to Pirrie Park to face the same proud Belfast opponents, also 10 am start. In hockey the senior girls teams travel to Ards to face up to Regent House, whilst the boys 1st, under 15, 14 and 13 teams face up to local rivals Friends at Lisnagarvey, 10 am start. All of these games are subject to pitch inspections and all at the school hope to get their second term off to a positive start.
Last modified: May 15, 2010
