Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 3rd December 2016
There were two schoolboy friendly games played under floodlights on Monday 28th November, the last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 games was played on Tuesday 29th November, a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup games, as well as two 1stxv floodlit games, were played on Wednesday 30th November, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate game was played on Thursday 1st December and one schoolboy friendly game was played on Friday 2nd November in the lead up to the two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 games, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Round 2 game and a list of schoolboy friendly games played on Saturday 3rd December.
Coleraine Grammar School and Royal School, Dungannon met in an exciting encounter at the Meadowbank Sports Arena on Monday 28th November with the Coleraine GS team emerging as 30-26 winners. The Coleraine points came through tries from Marc McClelland, Matthew Leighton, Peter Wiesener and Hugo Mawhinney, one conversion each from Ally Telfer and Zac Hutchinson, a penalty kick from Ally Telfer and a drop goal from Zac Hutchinson.
The Royal School, Dungannon points came through tries from Adam Evans, who touched down twice, Aaron Perry and James Gamble. Luke McMullan was successful with three out of four conversions.
Meanwhile, on the same evening at Ballynahinch RFC, Down High School hosted Ballymena Academy in a game the Down High School team won by 12-8. The Down High School team controlled both possession and territory for large parts of the first half but had only one Marcus Graham penalty to show for their endeavours. On a rare venture into the Down High School “Red Zone” near the end of the first half Bruce Houston scored an unconverted try for the Ballymena Academy team which gave them a 5-3 lead at the break.
The second half saw the Down High School team create a number of opportunities. They converted one penalty through Marcus Graham to take a 6-5 lead. The visitors then responded with a Bruce Houston penalty to take an 8-6 lead. The Down HS team finished the stronger of the teams and two more successful penalties from Marcus Graham secured the 12-8 victory for the Down High School team.
Having had their game postponed on Saturday 26th due to frost both teams were delighted to get the opportunity to play the game and would like to thank Ballynahinch RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
The last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 games was played on Tuesday 29th November when Ballyclare Secondary School defeated Larne Grammar School by 37-12.
The draw for the second round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield is as follows 🙂
Wellington College v Belfast High School
Regent House v Cambridge House Grammar School
Dromore High School v Ballyclare Secondary School
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Rainey Endowed
Portadown College v Lurgan College
Banbridge Academy v Carrick College
Dalriada v Grosvenor Grammar
Antrim Grammar v Foyle and Londonderry College
These games are to be played on/before Saturday 10th December.
On Wednesday 30th November Sperrin Integrated College and Rainey Endowed School 3rdxv met in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Round 2 game at the Meadowbank Sports Complex in Magherafelt. The Rainey Endowed School team won the game by 35-7. The Rainey Endowed School team scored five tries in the course of the game with Daniel Clarke touching down twice and Harry Evans, Alan Goodwin and Mark Slane running one try each. Harry Evans capped a fine personal performance with five successful conversion kicks.
In the same competition Omagh Academy defeated St Columba’s College, Stranorlar by 41-19 and Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv defeated Down High School 3rdxv by 22-3.
Campbell College 4thxv played Methodist College 5th xv in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup on Saturday 3rd December and won the encounter by 6-0.
In the one remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Round 2 game, Methodist College 4thxv will play Campbell College 3rdxv on Wednesday 7th December.
In the remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Round 1 games Ballyclare Secondary School will play RBAI 5thxv on Wednesday 7th December as will St Columb’s College and Sullivan Upper School 3rdxv.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Clongowes Wood College under the lights at Banbridge RFC on Wednesday 30th November. Following a high scoring game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team emerged as 39-28 winners. Man of the Match, James Hume, scored two tries for the Belfast Inst team as well as kicking four conversions and two penalties. David McCann, Rhys O’Donnell and Zac Davidson also scored one try each for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
Both teams would like to thank Banbridge Rugby Club for the provision of facilities and for hosting the game.
On the same evening Wallace High School hosted Sullivan Upper School under the floodlights at Ballynahinch RFC. The Sullivan Upper team recently recorded a 3-0 win against the Wallace High School team but there was no repeat of that win as the Wallace High School team ended this game as 19-5 winners. Jack Brown, Matthew Miller and Ryan Malley scored the Wallace High School tries with Matthew Pentland adding two conversions. Ruairi Meharg scored an unconverted try for the Sullivan Upper School team.
Both teams would like to thank Ballynahinch RFC for the use of facilities, hosting the game and the provision of post-match refreshments.
On Thursday 1st December Lurgan College 3rdxv played Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Round 1 game at the Lough Road venue. The Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv won the game by 22-0.
On Friday 2nd December Dalriada hosted Bangor Grammar School in a floodlit game played at Coleraine RFRC which the Bangor Grammar School team won by 40-21. It was the performance of their Ulster U19 flanker, Matthew Agnew, which inspired the Bangor Grammar School team back to winning ways after a series of recent losses. Matthew scored two tries with Aaron Sexton, Bryn Crawford, Lewis Brett and Charlie Blair running in for one try each. Rhys Larmour was successful with five of his six conversion kicks.
The Dalriada School team added greatly to the game with their committed approach and scored three tries through Jack Dowey and Thomas Hunter, who scored twice. Peter Elliott was successful with all three conversion kicks.
Both teams would like to thank Coleraine RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
On Saturday 3rd December the first of the 2016/17 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup games got underway when Strabane Academy hosted Carrickfergus Grammar School at the Liskey Road playing fields. Played in front of an enthusiastic group of supporters the game ended with the Strabane Grammar School team finishing as deserved 17-0 winners. The first half of the game saw the young Carrickfergus Grammar School team dominate in terms of territory but, despite the best intentions of players such as Iain Woodside, Benjamin McKay and Joel White, they could find no was past the dogged Strabane Academy defence. The Strabane Academy team had their moments in terms of possession in the first but a lack of clear cut scoring opportunities ensured the teams turned around at half time with no points on the board.
The second half saw the game really spring into life when the Strabane Academy team was enjoying a sustained period of possession in the Carrickfergus GS 22m area. A quickly taken penalty was moved to Adam McElwee who cleverly passed the ball back inside to his captain, Oran O’Neill, who was running a great line. Oran finished in style with an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. The Carrickfergus Grammar School team responded in a positive manner only to see a number of gilt edged scoring opportunities go a begging. Strabane then went back on the attack and increased their lead to 12-0 when Jamie Browne sliced his way through the Carrickfergus GS defence to touch down for a try which was converted by Ralph Mealiff. Jordan Mealiff and Ryan McKittrick then combined with Gavin Doherty to send Oran O’Neill in for his second unconverted try of the game which secured the 17-0 victory for the Strabane Academy team at the end of this exciting Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1st Round game.
Strabane Academy team will now travel to play Lurgan College in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on Saturday 7th January 2017.
The remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bank 1st Round game saw Cambridge House Grammar School host Larne Grammar School in a closely contested encounter the Larne Grammar School team won by 10-8. This game went down to the wire with the Larne Grammar School team only securing their victory in the course of the final play of the game. The Larne Grammar School pack was dominant for long periods of the game and it was the performance of the pack that laid the foundations of this win.
The first half saw both teams test each other out but it was both defences that really impressed with everyone displaying great determination to ensure no one was going to get through. Both teams were very disciplined and penalty opportunities were few and far between. The defensive qualities on display, allied to the good discipline, ensured the teams reached the half time break with no points on the board.
The second half saw Cambridge House take a 5-0 lead when Kane McIlroy touched down for an unconverted try. The Larne Grammar School team responded positively and, following a series of attacks from their back division, they scored a try through Micah Stevenson. Jonny Farquhar added the extras to give his team a 7-5 lead. James Bovill then converted a penalty kick to put the Cambridge House team into an 8-7 lead with little time remaining. With the final play of the game Larne Grammar School pressure forced the Cambridge House team into conceding a penalty. Up stepped Sam Wood to coolly slot his kick over the crossbar and between the uprights to secure the 10-8 victory for the Larne Grammar School team at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1st Round game.
Larne Grammar School will play Dalriada School in Larne in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Round Game on Saturday 7th January 2017.
Quite a number of schoolboy friendly games were played on Saturday 3ed December.
Rainey Endowed School hosted Royal School, Armagh in a game the Royal School team won by 28-0. The Rainey ES team seemed strangely subdued throughout the game allowing the RS Armagh team in for four tries. Redis Brukas, Peter Wilson, Matty Reaney and Jonny Agnew scored the Royal School, Armagh tries with Glen Faloon adding four successful conversion kicks.
Following their heroics earlier in the week against Ballymena Academy Down High School took the opportunity to rest a number of players when they hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in game that ended as a 19-19 draw. However, the Down HS team was able to welcome back to their playing ranks their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ hooker, Claytan Milligan, following a long lay-off due to injury.
The Friends’ School team took an early 5-0 lead when David Newell ran in for an unconverted try. Down High School responded with a try from Harry Hitchens, which was converted by Gareth Hutley, to take a 7-5 lead. The Friends’ School team then produced a moment of magic when a clever kick pass was fielded by Bradley Mulholland who finished off with a try. Ben McCaughey added the extras to give the Friends’ School team a 12-7 lead. This became 19-7 just before the interval when Adam Schofield finished off a well-executed Friends’ School attack with a try which Ben McCaughey converted.
Down High School created more opportunities for points in the second half than they did in the first. Harris McConnell and Harry Hitchins combined to set up a “kick chase” scenario which saw Harris outpace the Friends’ School defence to finish with an unconverted try which reduced the deficit to 19-12. The Down High School team then went through a series of patient phase plays in the Friends’ School 22m area. Eventually they created an opportunity for Claytan Milligan to finish things off with a try. Greg Hutley added the conversion which secured the 19-19 draw at the end of the game.
Lurgan College hosted Grosvenor Grammar School in a game the Grosvenor GS team won by 17-3. The Grosvenor Grammar School points came through tries from Jack McMahon and Ben Stevenson alongside two conversions and a penalty from Daniel Martin.
Scott Wilson kicked a consolation penalty for the Lurgan College team.
Dromore High School travelled to play Portadown College missing a number of key front line players. The Portadown College team won the game by 31-5 but the Dromore team made them work hard for their win. The Portadown College back row trio of Jordan Taylor, Stewart Hodgen and Scott McDowell laid the foundations for the Portadown win with their positive contributions and efforts throughout the game. Portadown College had built up a 10-0 lead by the break with two unconverted tries scored by Dylan Nelson and Alistair Gilpin.
Three more tries followed in the second half with Matthew Neill, Christopher Thornberry and team captain, Stewart Hodgen, all touching down. Matthew Neill was successful with all three conversions. Ben Heath scored a consolation try for the Dromore High School team to see Portadown College finish the game as 31-5 winners .
Regent House School travelled to Belfast High School and came away with a 31-0 victory. The Regent House team had built up a 12-0 lead by the break with tries from Lewis English and Iain Jones, one of which was converted by Robbie Johnston.
In the second half two more Lewis English tries, both of which Robbie Johnston converted, and one unconverted try from Josh McFarland, secured the 31-0 win for the Regent House School team.
Belfast Royal Academy recorded a morale boosting 10-8 win when they hosted Coleraine Grammar School at the Roughfort playing fields. Matthew Borne scored a try for the Belfast Royal Academy team with Conor McAuley adding a conversion and a penalty.
The Coleraine Grammar School points came from a Peter Weisener try and an Ally Telfer penalty.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School hosted Limavady Grammar School in a game the Enniskillen RGS team won by 33-0. The Enniskillen team had built up a 14-0 lead by half time with tries from William Dowson and Alex Parke, both of which were converted by Reece Smyton.
The second half saw two tries from Jack Rutledge and one from Reece Smyton, two of which were converted by Reece, secure the 33-0 victory for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Banbridge Academy in a game the RS Dungannon team won by 34-5. In a very competitive first half the Royal School, Dungannon team took an early 7-0 lead when Josh Patton scored a try which Luke McMullan converted. Banbridge replied with an unconverted try from the impressive Robbie Mathers to reduce the arrears to 7-5. The RS Dungannon team applied the pressure after the Banbridge score and got rewarded for their hard work when James Gamble crossed the whitewash to give his team a 12-5 lead at the break.
Despite the best efforts of Banbridge Academy players such as Ross Cartmill and Angus Corbett in the course of the second half there was little they could to prevent the RS Dungannon team from scoring a further four tries. Clever backline attacks presented Aaron McCammon with the opportunity to score two tries out wide and James Wilson and Jono Shrestha touched down for one try each. Luke McMullan was successful with one conversion kick which ensured the Royal School; Dungannon team finished the game as deserved 34-5 winners.
Foyle and Londonderry College hosted Omagh Academy in a game the Omagh team won by 43-0. Omagh Academy, ] with their pack taking control of affairs from the kick off, had built up a 14-0 lead by the break. Nathan Sides continued his recent run of good form with a try, which Kyle Beattie converted from the touchline, to give his team a 7-0 lead. Kyle Beattie then broke out from his 22m area to create an opportunity for Fintan Lagan to run in for a try. Kyle converted the try to increase the Omagh Academy lead to 14-0. At this stage the Foyle College team started to mount a series of attacks on the Omagh Academy line. However, with James Longwell and Nathan Sides dominant in their defensive roles, there was no way through for the home side which ensured the visitors 14-0 lead remained intact at the interval.
The start of the second half saw the Omagh Academy team steal possession from an opposition lineout and James Longwell took advantage to score an unconverted try to increase the Omagh Academny lead to 19-0. Jake McCay then ran in for a try, which Kyle Beattie converted, to put the Omagh Academy team into a 26-0 lead. Omagh then gave 1stxv debuts to a number of players such as Philip Rainey, Finn Small and Nathan Young. This did not seem to disrupt the flow of the Omagh Academy approach to the game. Nathan Young created the opportunity for Taine Lagan to score an unconverted try and increase the Omagh lead to 31-0. Taine then broke clear from a scrum to put Deane Kane in for a try. Kyle Beattie added the conversion to increase the Omagh Academy lead to 38-0. With the last play of the game a clever chip kick from Deane Kane was gathered at pace by Taine Lagan. He outpaced the Foyle and Londonderry College defence to touch down for an unconverted try to secure the 43-0 win for the Omagh Academy team.
CIYMS Rugby Club was the setting for the eagerly anticipated clash of the Campbell College, Belfast and Methodist College, Belfast teams. The game was played on a superb pitch and ended with the Campbell College team recording a hard earned 10-6 victory.
The encounter saw the Methodist College team take a 3-0 lead into the break with the only points of the first half coming from a successful Paul Kerr penalty kick.
The second half saw the Campbell College team get some reward for their endeavours when their Ulster U19 prop, Tom O’Toole, ran in for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-3 lead. Another successful Paul Kerr penalty saw his team regain the lead with the scoreboard now reading 6-5 in favour of the Methody team. However, the Campbell College team had sufficient faith in their ability to win the game. They mounted a series of attacks and got their reward when Ben Webb outflanked the Methody defence and finished with an unconverted try to secure the 10-6 victory for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
Both teams would like to thank CIYMS RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
