Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 Previews 6th February 2016
With the first two rounds of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup having been successfully completed the draw for the third round took place at the Kingspan Stadium. The draw was made by Ulster Branch President, Bobby Stewart, and Richard Caldwell, representing the sponsors, Danske Bank. With the top eight seeded teams entering the competition at this stage there was a tremendous interest in the outcome of the draw and the outcome did not disappoint!
Regent House left it very late to secure their 14-13 victory against Portora Royal School when the teams met in Round 2 of the competition. The Regent House team will need to be much more decisive when they host Sullivan Upper School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on Saturday 6th February. The Regent House team dominated the early exchanges of their second round game but still found themselves behind at the interval. They remained behind in terms of the score until the final few minutes of that game when Ryan McCarroll scored the try, which Adam Curry converted, to secure their entry into the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Regent House coaching staff of Nick Gamble, Peter Lowry, Mervyn Tweed and Paddy McGrath will hoping that their hard working No 8, Alisdair Deering, will have made a full recovery from a blood injury sustained in the game against Portora Royal School. Ali has been among the top try scorers for the Regent House team this season and his on-field presence is always a big boost to his team mates. Team captain, Tom Arthur-Donnan, leads the Regent House team from the hooker position. Tom was central to the Regent House comeback against Portora RS when he scored a hard-earned try at a critical time of the game. Either side of him, in a formidable Regent House front row, he can call upon the expertise of Ethan Bradley and Kyle Van Giesen. Kyle has caught the attention of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Management team as well as the attention of the Ireland U18 National Management team. He will have gained a lot from his attendance at the recent National U18 Camp in Ashbourne. The loss of 2nd Row forward, Matthew Foster, to a leg injury, was a blow to the Regent House pack but other players such as Josh McFarland, Ryan McCarroll, Rory Jackson and Josh Crossan all did well against the Portora team. They will need to do even better against the Sullivan Upper team. Robbie Johnston has been the top points scorer for the Regent House team and his emerging talents are being monitored closely by the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department. He forms an effective half back partnership with Adam Curry and these players will hope their pack will provide sufficient quantities of quality possession throughout the game. Adam is a fine goal kicker and it was his accuracy with the boot that secured his team’s place in the 3rd Round. If the Regent House pack can concentrate on winning quality possession there are talented players in the Regent House back division who will be keen to test the Sullivan Upper defence with the ball in hand. Players such as Vice-Captain, Aaron May, Alex Hendrickse, Ryan Colwell, Matthew Stanex and David Jamison will be only too willing to ask the necessary questions given the right circumstances to do so.
The Sullivan Upper team, on their day, has the ability to cause problems for any other school team in the Province. Coached by Willie Anderson, who has the assistance of Lawrence Kerr, as well as the management skills of Stephen Finlay to call upon, the Sullivan Upper team has had to deal with the impact of a range of long term injuries since September. Their results have not been what they would have hoped for but a number of younger players have gained a great deal of experience when called upon to play in place of some of the more established members of the squad. With most players now available for selection the positive development of the younger players could provide challenges for the Sullivan Upper management when it comes to making final selection decisions for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter with Regent House. Team captain, Chris Jordan, as well as being a talented rugby player, is also an international schoolboy athlete. Chris is the leading try scorer for his team and gained representative honours with the Danske Ban Ulster Schools’ U18 squad earlier in the season. So well did Chris play with that team that he was selected to attend the National Ireland U18 Camp back in October. Joining Chris in a very talented Sullivan Upper back division are other players who have achieved representative honours. Jonny Betts, like Chris, is in his third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. He played with the Ulster U19 squad earlier in the season and Lewis Smyth had his talents recognized by the Age Grade system as well. Jules Storey and Chris Jordan are the leading try scorers for the Sullivan Upper team and they have benefitted from the talents of inside backs such as Ruari Meharg, Rory Kilpatrick and Matty Moran. Rory has been an outstanding place kicker for the Sullivan Upper team this season and any ill-discipline from the Regent House team will be severely punished by Rory if he gets the chance. The Sullivan Upper pack is a very mobile unit and the players have the ability to play positive rugby. They are a good scrummaging unit and clever lineout operators. Steven Moore, Peter Baker and George Chittick form a formidable backrow trio and in Luke Coulter they have a young forward who has drawn the attention of the Ulster Talent ID Department with his standout performances this season. This game will provide Luke with the opportunity to further enhance his reputation. Willie Anderson, and his coaching staff, will want the Sullivan Upper team to approach this game with a positive frame of mind. He will want to see his young charges play the game in a positive manner and go out to enjoy themselves. Hopefully they will.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Ballyclare High School and Bangor Grammar School both came successfully through potentially tricky encounters in the second round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. They were delighted to be in the hat for the 3rd Round draw and the battle is now on to see which team progresses to the next round stage after their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game in Ballyclare. The Ballyclare High School Director of Rugby, Michael Orchin-McKeever, who is assisted by Gary Clotworthy and Ulster Rugby prop forward, Richard Lutton, will be hoping for an improved performance as his team prepares to host Bangor Grammar School. After a shaky start to their last game in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, when they found themselves 7-0 down inside the first minute, the Ballyclare High School team drew level when Dean Jones broke through the RS Dungannon defence and finished off with a try. Owen Hutchinson added the conversion to see the score line read 7-7 at the break. The Ballyclare HS team then took a 12-7 lead when Owen Kirk ran in from forty metres to touch down for an unconverted try. The Dungannon team drew level when the Ballyclare High School team had a player sent to the “bin”. Discipline against Bangor Grammar School will need to improve. It was a failed RS Dungannon clearance kick that seemed to save the day for the Ballyclare team. The ball was gathered by the Ballyclare High School team. Sustained pressure from the home team finished with Jonny Crockett touching down for an unconverted try which ensured it was the Ballyclare High School team that was celebrating their hard earned 17-12 victory at the end of that Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 game. Team captain, Ryan McIlwaine, knows the Ballyclare High School team has scored many tries in their games this season with players such as Alistair Burke, Dean Jones and Andrew Seymour leading the try scoring charts. Alistair Burke was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ squad as a second row forward while Jack Magee has also been involved with Age Grade representative squads. Jack Lewis, Owen Kirk, Zachary McMurran and Jack Blair have been involved with Regional Age Grade squads and they will be hoping for a successful run in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup in order to enhance their possibilities of attaining even higher honours. Young forwards such as Adam McConkey and James Nelson have successfully made the transition from junior to senior Rugby while Jake McVicker has worked hard to develop his skills as a young strong running centre. All of these talented Ballyclare High School players will be expected to step up to the mark for the game against Bangor Grammar School if they are to find their name in the hat for the quarter-final draw.
The Bangor Grammar School team started slowly against a determined Limavady Grammar School team in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Round game. They will travel to Ballyclare High School for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game secure in the knowledge they have an almost fully fit squad of senior players from which to select. They are missing the services of their talented 2nd Row forward, Christopher Goldthorpe, who picked up a leg injury prior to the Schools’ Cup campaign starting. The Bangor Grammar School team struggled somewhat in the early stages of the season to find and real consistency in their performances. However, the team, coached by Jason Morgan and captained by Evan Wellard-McMillan, has seen results improve dramatically since November. They seem to have found an appropriate level of consistency with their performances and this has been rewarded with wins against teams such as Dalriada and Regent as well as a draw against a more than useful Wallace High School team. The top scorer for the Bangor GS team is Zack Kerr who is a very fine place kicker. He has also scored a number of tries this season. Top try scorer is Connor McKee who weighs in with twelve to his name while Lewis Brett and Matthew Agnew both come a close second. Matthew is a young player who is academically gifted as well. He acquired ten A* grades in his recent GCSE Examinations and actually played for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team before he played for the Bangor Grammar School 1stxv! His two tries in the first half against Limavady Grammar School bear witness to his talents as a rugby player. Lewis Brett is emerging as a very talented footballing outhalf and one who continually asks questions of opposition defences. His game management skills seem to be improving with every recent outing. His goal kicking is top quality as well and he, along with Zack Kerr, will be only too happy to punish any Ballyclare High School indiscretions. Centre, Charlie Blair, will have no shortage of advice from within his own family when it comes to Schools’ Cup time. His two older brothers went through the school and played in a number of Schools’ Cup matches. Charlie, who scored two second half tries in the game against Limavady Grammar School, is an abrasive and direct runner who has developed very strong defensive skills as well. He brings leadership skills to the Bangor GS backline as well. In the Bangor Grammar School pack players such as prop, Martin Withers, another try scorer against Limavady, and second row, Patty Eves, stand out because of their sheer physical presence. Martin is a 122kg strong scrummaging prop forward who is more than effective with the ball in hand while Patty is a towering 6’ 6” second row forward who has been described as having a great engine. Both these players will be hoping to be involved in a successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup run in the hope their talents might be recognized by the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Management team.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Then Foyle and Londonderry College team has come through to the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup having won both away from home against Belfast High School and at home against Antrim Grammar School. Team coach, David Barnett, who is assisted by Ian Orr, will be delighted to be at home when the Foyle College teams faces a very talented Dalriada School team in the next round. The Foyle and Londonderry College team has proved difficult to beat at home this season and their success, on the road, against Belfast High School in the first round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup shows just what a competent team they are. Team coach, David Barnett, was delighted with their first and second round victories. However, he will take nothing for granted against a Dalriada School team that experienced success against Omagh Academy at the end of their second round game. David knows there is more to come from his team.Team captain, Callum McDonnell, is a younger brother of last season’s captain, Alex. There will be no shortage of sound advice from that source. Ian Orr, as well as having a “professional” interest in the game, will have a personal interest in the game as his son, Matthew, has emerged as a key player for the team throughout the current season. Not only has Matthew been an effective try scorer with the ball in hand but he is also an outstanding place kicker who has been the leading points scorer for his team this season. His performances against the Belfast High School and Antrim Grammar School teams in the cup, bear witness to his abilities. Young Foyle and Londonderry College No 8, Joel Smyth, has had an outstanding game Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign so far. He will be hoping for another big performance against Dalriada to enhance his growing reputation. Reece Hughes, Matthew Alford, Thomas Cole, Cameron McCracken, Stephen Mills, Killene Thornton and Conall Gill are other Foyle and Londonderry College players whose performances will need to be closely monitored by the Dalriada School defenders when the teams clash in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game. Conall Gill, in particular, shone in the earlier rounds with his try scoring exploits and he will be hoping for a repeat performance in the third round of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
Dalriada School coach, Rab Gregg, who is assisted by the experienced Benji Van Der Byl, was delighted with the positive manner his team came through their potentially difficult Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 encounter against Omagh Academy. They have a very mobile pack of forwards with which to work and a pack that can produce quality set piece possession as well quick ruck ball. Aaron Christie, Matthew Lockhart and Matthew Kernoghan are the experienced players in the pack with each of them playing in their third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Matthew Kernoghan, son of former Ulster Schools’, Ireland Schools and Ireland U21’s hooker, Richard, is equally adept at playing in the hooker or blind side flanker positions and he brings a great deal to the Dalriada pack with his flexibility. Alan Montgomery has been involved with Ulster Age Grade squads over the past few seasons and his all action style is greatly appreciated by his team mates. Team captain, Angus Johnston, is the top try and points scorer for the Dalriada team. A talented on-stage actor as well Angus forms an astute halfback partnership with Matthew McConnaghie and their aim will be to move the opposition around the park. When the Dalriada pack established early dominance against the Omagh Academy pack in their 2nd Round game it was Angus and Matthew who controlled the game at that stage. There is power and pace aplenty in the Dalriada back line. Their direct lines of running and pace of attack caused problems for the Omagh defence. One slight cause for concern might be the fact they struggled to turn the pressure into points with just a first half try from Aaron Christie to show for their endeavours. However, it was a different story in the second half with tries coming from Angus Johnston, Thomas Hunter and Fergal Wiseman. Ross Fallows and Thomas Hunter, as well as being talented rugby players, are talented athletes. Ross has represented Northern Ireland in Volleyball and both have represented Northern Ireland in Athletics. Gavin McConnaghie has Northern Ireland Volleyball honours behind him as well. Perhaps the jewel in the Dalriada back division crown is Stewart Moore. Stewart is a very talented rugby player who has scored many points this season through tries and goal kicks. Stewart was successful with three out of four conversion kicks against Omagh Academy and he is another player who is being closely monitored by the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department. Stewart will be out to further impress in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Foyle and Londonderry College.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Friends’ School, Lisburn will host Campbell College, Belfast when the teams meet in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on Saturday 6th February. In the eyes of a lot of observers of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup the Campbell College team would be seen as clear favourites to win, not only this game, but the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition. The Friends’ School coach, Stephen Robinson, who is assisted by Norman Gamble, Ivor Monaghan and Peter Weir, is delighted to have a home draw. The Friends’ School team has been “on the road” for their two previous Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ games and these games have seen a steady improvement in the performances of the team. The performance of the team against Campbell College will need to be lifted to yet another level. The team played well against Portadown College in the second half of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game. They will need to ensure they compete in every aspect of the game for the duration when they take on the might of Campbell College in the 3rd Round. However, the Friends’ School victory at Portadown College came at something of a cost with a number of players added to an ever increasing injury list. Thankfully most of the injuries could still be classified as being off the minor variety but it could be a race against time for the Friends’ School team to be at full strength. Team captain, James Maxwell, was delighted with the win against Portadown College. He will now realise his team mates will need to raise their performance up yet another notch, at least, if they are to achieve a similar result against Campbell College. Ross Stewart, Kirk McGrady and Adam Milligan are key forwards in the Friends’ School pack while players such as Adam Schoffield, David Stewart, David Newell, Curtis Dundas, Alex O’Brien and George Pringle in the talented Friends’ School back line will need to perform to the best of their ability, if they are all available to play, if the Friends’ School, Lisburn team is to have any chance of progressing to the next stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
The Campbell College, Belfast team will see themselves as clear and firm favourites to progress in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup as they prepare to play against Friends’ School in the 3rd Round of the competition. Team coach, Brian Robinson, who is assisted by Jonny Cupitt, is obviously aware of the very talented group of players he has at his disposal. Team captain and hooker, James Boyle, leads his team from the front. He has been involved with Ulster Schools’ training squads and both props either side of him have been as well. Loose head prop, Matthew Russell, has been with the Ulster Schools’ training squad while Tom O’Toole, on the tight head side, has been involved with the Ulster Schools’ Ulster U18 team as well as with the recent Ireland U18 Camps. Second Row, James Nelson, featured with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team earlier in the season and is joined by Marcus Collim another talented Campbell College player being monitored by the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department. Backrow players, flankers Matthew and John Crowther, and No 8, Jack-Barry Glendinning, have all been involved with Ulster Schools’ U18 teams. Matthew and John Crowther are sons of Sean Crowther, former Bangor Grammar School flanker who toured Zimbabwe with the all-conquering Ulster Schools’ team in 1988. Malcolm Corry, Jonny Haldane, Paddy Beverland, Ben Webb, Matt Russell, Oscar Yandell and Jack Howard are players in a very talented Campbell College backline who love to get a chance to run with the ball at every conceivable opportunity. Malcolm Corry is a first rate place kicker who will take full advantage of any opposition indiscretions. The Friends’ School team will need to be disciplined for the entire duration of the game against Campbell College.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Down High School will host Belfast Royal Academy in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on Saturday 6th February. The Down High School team has had a successful season so far and will see themselves as favourites to win their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against a Belfast Royal Academy team they have already beaten earlier in the season. Team coach, Charlie Knox, who can call upon the experiences of John Gunston to assist him, has a very talented group of players with which to work. Aaron Cairns, a member of the successful IRFU Senior Sevens squad, looks after the S&C work with the squad so they will be in good physical shape for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. The team is a good mixture of youth and experience and they have a number of players in the ranks that have played with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team. Team captain, William Martin, a player with an exceptional work rate, might have joined Zac Ward, son of former Ulster and Ireland flanker, Andy, as well as hooker, Clayton Milligan, in the ranks of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ squad only to have his hopes dashed by injury. However, he has made a full recovery from his injury problems and leads his team with distinction. During the Age Grade Inter-Pro games in September the Down High School team took some time to gel together due to the loss of players. When they were back to full strength in October their performances lifted and they caused a number of surprises with their all action style of play in their games. The success of the Down High School team this season has been built on the performance of the pack. When at full strength they are a very strong scrummaging unit with vice-captain, Aaron Chambers, Ulster Schools’ Hooker, Clayton Milligan, and Harry McCormick forming a formidable front row. Callum Dunn is a Year 12 second row forward who is the youngest member of the Down High School pack. He is a player who is renowned for his work rate and one who never shies away from any of his duties. William Martin, Zac Ward and Matthew Porter form a very hard working backrow trio who are clever at the breakdown. Lewis Finlay is a very talented scrum half whose performances are being monitored by the Ulster Talent ID Department. He will need to be monitored closely by the BRA defence as well. Paddy Browne, the top points scorer for the Down High School team this season, and Robin Wilson, another talented back, are vying for the outhalf position. Both have played the position, as well as other positions, during the season in what is a talented Down High School backline. Paddy is a top class goal kicker and in Charley Power the Down High School team has another one. The top try scorer, Marcus Graham, is a winger who is a great finisher while another winger, Ronan Patterson, has been involved with the Ulster Age Grade programme. Harry Hitchens is an adaptable player who is adept at playing in a number of positions. The Year 12 and 13 players on the Down High School team experienced great success during their years on the Medallion teams in the school. They will see their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against the Belfast Royal Academy team as an opportunity to extend that taste of success to their involvement with the Down High School 1stxv.
The Belfast Royal Academy team successfully came through their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Round game against Grosvenor Grammar School but it was a victory that was not without concerns. They lost a couple of key players during the warm up and it might be a race against time as to whether or not these players will be available for the 3rd Round encounter against Down High School. The BRA team went behind in the early stages of the game against Grosvenor Grammar School and team coach, David Creighton, will be hoping there will be no repeat of that against Down High School. The Belfast Royal Academy team did, however, display great resilience to eventually record an emphatic victory at the end of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Round game. Director of Rugby at BRA, Brian McLaughlin, was delighted with the outcome but will now have set his eyes firmly on the game in Downpatrick. In tandem with David Creighton, Brian will be plotting the route for the team into the quarter-final draw. They will be aware, as well as appreciative, of the strengths of the Down High School team but no stone will be left unturned. Team captain, Gareth McAdams, has led by example in games throughout the season and nowhere more so than in the game against Grosvenor Grammar School. Gareth has some key players to call upon as his team sets out looking for further success in this Schools’ Cup match against Down High School. Michael Wilson has notched up a lot of points for the BRA team already this season. He is a superb place kicker, who kicked three first half penalties, one first half conversion, a second half conversion as well as a second half penalty to secure sixteen vital points for his team in their previous game. Michael has scored quite a few tries as well in the course of the current season. Conor McAuley, Lewis Davidson and Conor O’Neill have been the top try scorers for the BRA team and the Down High School team will have to monitor these three players closely. Jack Burton, Jay McCrum and Francis Collins are other renowned finishers in the ranks of the BRA team. Conor McAuley and Matthew Dalton have gained experience working with Ulster Age Grade teams earlier in the season and, such has been Matthew’s progress, he has attracted the attention of the Ireland U18 Management team. A recent involvement with the National U18 Camp puts Matthew in line for selection for the Ireland U18 team at Easter. Some of the younger players on the Belfast Royal Academy team have attracted the attention of the Talent ID Department at Ulster Rugby. Jude Cowley, Cormac McCracken and, in particular, Tom Gilpin have emerged as young players who have displayed a lot of potential. They will be hoping their performances in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match will further enhance their considerable potential.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
One of the “Matches of the Day” that emerged when the draw was made for the 3rd Round of the Danske Danske Bank was the game involving Ballymena Academy and Wallace High School. Both these teams have had successful seasons thus far and, in the eyes of many observers, both these teams could be seen as potential winners of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition. The experienced Ballymena Academy coaching staff off John Andrews and Gavin Murray, who are assisted by Aaron Moore and Ryan Keating, would see their team as having had a good season so far. However, a recent victory against MCB was needed as it offset earlier defeats against Campbell College and Wallace High School, their opponents on Saturday. They have a strong pack of forwards from which to select. Alexander Clarke, a member of last season’s Ireland U18 FIRA squad, is a key player in that pack. Alexander is still eligible for the Ireland U18 squad this season. Jonny McKeown, also a member of the 2015 FIRA squad, is joined by, team captain, Marcus Rea in a dynamic Ballymena Academy back row. Marcus was also captain of the Ulster U19 team. Both these players will have their performances in the cup campaign closely monitored by the Ireland U19 Management team. Jonny gives great support in terms of leadership to Marcus and, as Head Boy of the school, is in a prime position to do so. Josh Bill, another member of the Ulster U19 squad, is another player who is important to the Ballymena Academy pack. These three players will be playing in their 3rd Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. David Forsythe, the Ballymena Academy loose head prop, has currently played thirty five consecutive games, over two seasons, for his team. Azur Allison was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster U18 squad. The Ballymena backline has a number of players who can work well with the ball in hand given the right conditions. Michael Stronge is an emerging scrum half who has the ability to influence the outcome of games. He has already featured with the Ulster U19 team despite being two years young. His half back partner, Bruce Houston, is very young but has a mature head on his shoulders. He has scored over 120 points for the team this season. There is an abundance of pace in the wider channels with players such as Angus Kernohan, another Ulster age Grade player, Conor Cosgrove, Ryan McKee and Alan Small all willing to take on the opposition defenders. Mark Thompson, another attendee at the recent Ireland U18 Camp, is an exciting prospect at full back on the Ballymena team. All of these players have scored tries for the Ballymena Academy team this season and will need to be closely monitored by the Wallace High School defence.
The Wallace High School team, coached by Director of Rugby, Derek Suffern, and Neil Hinds, have had a very successful season so far. The strength of the squad is built on the simple philosophy of team work with every member of the team giving his all for his team mates in every game. The team ethos is central to everything the Wallace High School players do. Team captain, Jonny Stewart, has played a leading role in the success of the Wallace High School team and he has built up a great team spirit with his players. His leadership qualities were recognized by the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 Management team when he was appointed to captain that team. He is Head Boy in Wallace High School as well. He was involved with the Ireland Schools’ FIRA squad last season and looks certain to be involved with the Ireland U18 team this season. Ben Finlay, the Wallace High School winger, played with the Ulster Schools’ team earlier in the season. There is an abundance of emerging talent within, what is essentially, a young Wallace High School squad. The Cardosi twins, Josh and Sam, Matthew Millar, Nicky Woods, Ryan Malley, Jack Brown, Ben Morrison, Ben Parker, Gary Dillon and Jamie Manderson are all players of note for the future of the game in the school. In Jonny Hunter there are exceptional rugby genes as his grandfather is former Ulster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions player, Raymond. Nicky Woods, the energetic Michael Smyth and Matthew Millar are key, talented front row players for the Wallace High School team. They get great assistance from fellow forwards such as Tom Baird and Nika Blaine. Their engagement with the talented Ballymena Academy front row trio could be central to the eventual outcome of this game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Methodist College, Belfast will host the Rainey Endowed School team in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. It has been an indifferent season in terms of results for the Methody team but recent wins against Wallace High School, the Portugal U19 team as well as the Christian Brother’s College, Monkstown team would suggest the team might be hitting a more consistent form at just the right time. No Methodist College team should ever be written off when it comes to Ulster Schools’ Cup time. Coaches, Nicky Wells and Stephen Lindsay, have accumulated a wealth of successes over the years and it is the experience of these men who can turn around what has been, at times, a difficult season for the Methody team. Despite a mixed set of results in the course of the first term the Methodist College team will be well prepared to take on a more than competent Rainey Endowed School team. With players such as Josh Jordan and team captain, Zac Jordan, both Ireland U19 hopefuls, available for selection there is no shortage of talented players in the Methodist College ranks. Zac Jordan and Kane Doherty have been among the leading try scorers this season and they will be eager to score more in the course of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Jonny Jordan and Paul Kerr form a more than useful half back combination. If these two are playing well the Methody team generally functions well. There is a wide range of talent in the back ground to some of the Methody players. Josh Jordan was an Ireland Schools’ Hammer champion back in 2012 while the Cairn’s brothers, Oliver and Alex’s mum, Cathy, was a Northern Ireland record holder in the Heptathlon and represented the GB and NI team at international level. Oliver is also a more than useful violin player. These brothers are fine players on the rugby pitch. The entire Methodist College squad will be keen to put the disappointing aspects of the current season behind them and will see their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd Round game against the Rainey Endowed School team as a great opportunity to really kick start their season.
The Rainey Endowed School has built up a deserved reputation over the years as being renowned Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigners. The current squad of players are up there with the best of Rainey Endowed School teams and will be no respecters of reputation as they prepare to head to the Pirrie Park Paddock Pitch. Team coach, Chris Campbell, who is assisted by Peter Boyle and Stu McCalmont, has put together a formidable squad of talented players who have beat beaten only twice this season. Chris will, however, be aware that his team did not perform to the best of their ability in their game against the Royal School, Armagh team in the previous round. He will be looking for an improvement in performance from every member of the Rainey Endowed School squad. Team captain, Andrew Browne, leads from the front and he has had the experienced hands and heads of players such as Lorcan Quinn and Anton Lupari to assist him. Anton is an Ulster U19 player who attended the National U19 Camp back in October. As well as being a talented ball playing forward, who can play in both the front and back rows, Anton is among the leading try scorers on the Rainey Endowed School team and his try scoring record improved with a try against the Royal School, Armagh team. Lorcan Quinn has scored quite a few tries this season as well but it is his success with the boot that makes him the leading points scorer for the Rainey Endowed team. Lorcan, like his team mates Adam Hunter, Mark Mulholland and Michael Lynn, is not just a talented schoolboy rugby player but has had his sporting talents recognised by the Derry Minor GAA team. These four players have played leading roles in the success of their team in that sporting code as well. The Rainey Endowed School squad contains quite a number of younger players in their ranks. Year 12 players who will be keen to impress in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign include David Atkinson, Matthew Smyth and Adam Thornton. All of these players have successfully made the step-up to the ranks of the Rainey Endowed School 1stxv this season. Neal Hastings, a member of a family synonymous with successful Rainey Endowed School teams over the years, is another Rainey player who has scored vital tries for his team this season. He will be only too happy to add to his tally against the Methodist College team.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
The last two teams drawn out of the Ulster Schools’ Cup for the 3rd Round draw were Royal Belfast Academical Institution, the current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, and Coleraine Grammar School, the “New Kids” on the block. This will be the first appearance for the Coleraine Grammar School team in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition. As Coleraine Academical Institution a lot of the current squad played in the semi-final of the competition last season and lost narrowly to the same opposition. How the new Coleraine Grammar School team players would love to put that score right and progress to the quarter-final of the current competition at the expense of the holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. However, Director of Rugby at RBAI, Dan Soper, who is assisted by the experienced Richard Hedley, will be working to ensure that does not happen. A comprehensive 27-5 victory, earlier in the season, against the same opposition will have put the Belfast Inst team down as favourites to win this game. These men seemed to have ensured their young charges have hit the right form at just the right time of the season. Returning from Cork with a win against the Presentation Brother’s College, Cork team as well as a victory against the English giants from Ivybridge College would appear to bear witness to that. The return to action of Conor Field, the RBAI captain, has been a major boost to the team and he has scored a number of tries since his return. The Belfast Inst team had Callum Reid and James Hume in attendance at the recent Ireland U18 Camp. These players are key players in the Inst set up but there are many other talented players available to the coaching staff. In the pack players such as John Dickson and Neil Saulters experienced success last season and will want more this season. Rhys O’Donnell and Michael Lowry, a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squad member, form a more than effective half back partnership but both have had more than their fair share of injuries in the course of the current season. Dan Soper and Richard Hedley, along with team manager, Andrew Douglas, will be hoping they remain injury free. Sam Fryers and Joe Finnegan are other key members of an attack minded Royal Belfast Academical Institution back division and players the Coleraine Grammar School defence will need to monitor.
After a shaky start to the season the Richard Boyd coached Coleraine Grammar School team has really got into a fine run of good form since November. Richard has former RBAI player, Stephen Douglas, helping him with coaching the Coleraine Grammar School team alongside former pupil Ritchie McMaster, the Ballymena RFC and Barbarian’s player. Wins against Campbell College and Methodist College have shown what the team is capable of achieving. Callum Smith, their outhalf, has found himself attracting the attention of the Ireland U18 Management team and he was in attendance at the recent National U18 Camp. Players such as Matthew Norris and Peter Wisener have been involved with the Ulster Schools’ Age Grade programme as have Andrew McKee, Max Bailie, Matthew Mooney and Thomas Lavery. Thomas O’Neill, Ally Telfer, Jake King, Hugo Mawhinney and George McKeag have made opposition teams sit up and take notice of their performances in games throughout the season and especially in victories against Methodist College and Campbell College back in November. Team captain, David Greatorex, will be keen to ensure all these talented players give off their best when they meet the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team. The team has not played for a while due to matches being cancelled because of weather conditions. This has given certain members of their squad the opportunity to rehab fully from bumps and bruises picked up before the end of last term. They will be determined to hit the ground running whenever their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign begins at Osborne Park on Saturday 6th February.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am.
As well as the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 games scheduled for Saturday 6th February there are four Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl quarter-finals and two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy semi-finals scheduled to take place on the same day.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Quarter-Finals
Limavady Grammar School v Omagh Academy
Portadown College v Grosvenor Grammar School
Portora Royal School v Antrim Grammar School
Royal School, Armagh v Royal School, Dungannon
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl games are all scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Semi-Finals
Belfast High School v Larne Grammar School
Banbridge Academy v Cambridge House Grammar School
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy games are scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
This week has been designated as the week in which schools will seek to support the work of the IRFU Charitable Trust. The very significant contribution of schools in Ulster to the IRFU Charitable Trust over many years has been widely acknowledged and it is hoped that there will be a similar positive response from all our schools this year.
