Campbell College are bidding to complete the Schools hat-trick on Friday when they meet holders RBAI  - and they will have home advantage after the game was switched on Thursday from an unplayable Pirrie Park.

Having already won this year’s Rugby Schools Cup and U16 Football Cup, they will bid to bring back the Ferguson Grainger Cup to the Belmont Road for only the second time in their history.

The first was in 2022 when they interrupted RBAI’s reign as holders but this year looks an even more imposing task. That defeat four years ago, is the Belfast school’s only loss in the competition since 2019, a remarkable run of 18 matches and unbeaten in their last 15.

Head of Cricket at Campbell, Andy McCrea is delighted to be back in the showpiece occasion and has praised his side for their efforts in getting past Coleraine Grammar, Bangor Grammar and Sullivan Upper.

“They have come up against many challenges and passed them, that has been a feature of our season,” he says. “Against Bangor, we were in trouble at 30 for three but Jacob McClure-Dalzell hit 74 and Kyle Heasley 47 not out and Jacob then took seven wickets, the first time that has happened in my time at the school.

“We then had it tough against Sullivan in the semi-final and although we won by seven wickets it certainly wasn’t as easy as it might look. They had two very good bowlers and we had to work hard.”

Seb Yeates with an unbeaten 49 and McClure-Dalzell, 29 not out, again led the rescue act after Campbell had lost three wickets for 35.

Campbell did post the highest total in this year’s competition, 295 for three against Coleraine with Yeates again leading from the front before retiring on 111. Myles McNaught and Henry Brand also both got 50s with McClure-Dalzell finishing 35 not out.  He goes into the final averaging 138 in the Cup.

Captain Yeates is the only Campbell player getting regular 1st team club action although that is mainly down to the players’ commitment to the school. Indeed, No 3 batter Brand has not played any club cricket this year.

Asked if this year’s team is stronger than the 2022 class, McCrea replied: “That’s a good question. But I think this year’s has more strength in depth.

As well as opening bowlers Patrick Charlton, who had figures of 5-15 in the semi-final, and McNaught, Yeates has other pace options in Jack Woolsey and Jacob Campbell while Yeates can back up his own slow bowling with big overs from McClure-Dalzell, Dylan Armstrong and Angus Packenham.

It is unlikely that Campbell can recover from a poor start against such strong opposition so a lot will depend on their top three batters, but they have bowled out all three teams in their run to the final, with no innings lasting beyond 25 overs.

Having said that, Ballyclare High, in the quarter-final, were the only team to bat their full quota against RBAI with Muckamore’s Luca Bates taking five wickets and Civil Service North’s James West two. In all they have each taken eight wickets en route to the final while the batters enjoyed themselves in the semi-final, amassing 257 for six against BRA, with James Nelson top scoring with 68 and West also passing 50.

West has played in all three winning finals, taking five wickets in 2023 and three in each of the last two deciders as well as being one half of the partnership that won last year’s decider against Sullivan by 10 wickets.

Head of Cricket at RBAI Darren O’Neill expects it to be much closer this year.

“Campbell are always a very strong side, with more depth in batting and bowling than most schools. So yes, I expect a good match,” he said.

“Our strength is we have a good balanced bowling attack. A solid opening pair in Luke Crothers and Luca Bates plus Matthew Gray and Harry Luke then three strong spinners in West, Ben Walsh and David Agnew, who all bowl in the Premier League.

“We also have depth in batting with James Nelson and Agnew opening followed by West, Bates and Jack Robinson, who top scored against Ballyclare, who are a very good team.”

Fifth former Robinson will take over the wicket-keeper duties on Friday because Adam Currie, who has played in every round, has gone to the World Cup in America to follow Scotland!

Although there are five Upper Sixth players in the RBAI team, they actually have only four survivors from last year’s decider in West, Bates, Walsh and Nelson so seven more players can pick up winners’ medals for the first time, including Luke Crothers, the brother of Tom who captained the team to their 2024 success.  

RBAI did gain instant revenge for their most recent final defeat with victory by 40 runs in the 2023 semi-final when West took his “usual three wickets” and Yeates top scored for Campbell.

As usual, the holders will start favourites as they aim for a remarkable 15th victory – since they won the inaugural Schools Cup in 1986 - in their 23rd final. No other school has won the Cup more than five times. Now RBAI, who have played in all but one of the last nine finals, are trying to win their fourth in a row!  

The 40-overs final is at Campbell College, starting at 3.30pm.

Teams: Campbell College (from): Seb Yeates (capt), Dylan Armstrong, Henry Brand, Jacob Campbell, Patrick Charlton, Greg Dixon, Kyle Heasley, Jacob McClure-Dalzell, Matthew McGonigle, Myles McNaught, Angus Packenham, Jack Woolsey.

RBAI: James West (capt), James Nelson, David Agnew, Luka Bates, Jack Robinson, Hugo Robinson, Luke  Crothers, Ben Walsh, Harry Luke, Matthew Gray, Frank Holloway.