Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 5th March 2016
There were two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-finals, as well as the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup final and a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate replay, played midweek, in the lead up to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-finals and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate final played on Saturday 5th March.
Holders Royal Belfast Academical Institution progressed to yet another Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final after a thoroughly entertaining 27-19 defeat of a combative and hugely inventive Ballymena Academy team in the semi-final at Kingspan Stadium on Monday 29th February. It was the winners’ ability to be clinical in the vital areas of the pitch that proved decisive in the end and earned them a place in the showpiece St. Patrick’s Day final.
But, illustrating the unpredictable nature of the seventy minutes, Ballymena Academy never gave up. They were camped on the opposition line at the final whistle and their refusal to accept the prospect of defeat was truly admirable. It was a well-prepared Ballymena that stormed into a deserved early lead and, for long periods, dominated possession and territory. For Belfast Inst another Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final beckons but the players will recognise that it might well have been a different outcome. Ballymena Academy had the better of the early exchanges and some good tactical kicking caused some disarray in the holders’ defence. Then fullback, Mark Thompson, was involved in a clever eighth-minute midfield attack which was ended only by a misplaced pass. Somehow Belfast Inst survived the opening whirlwind and Joseph Finnegan made a dangerous run down the left before being bundled into touch. Both packs were proving evenly-matched but Ballymena’s lineout was the more precise with Alexander Clarke displaying deft throwing skills and linking well with Oisin Jordan, Christopher McLeister, Jonny McKeown and Marcus Rea at lineout time. It was from a seventeenth minute set-piece move that the forwards drove purposefully towards the ‘Inst’ posts with good handling and support allowing prop David Forsythe to open the scoring with a fine try. Bruce Houston comfortably landed the conversion for a 7-0 lead to the Ballymena Academy team. Three minutes later ‘Inst’ responded in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. Ballymena left-winger Conor Gallagher’s run had been held up and, from the resultant scramble on halfway, the Belfast Inst No 8, David Whitten, gathered intelligently and ran in unimpeded for an opportunist try. James Hume added the extras to draw the teams level at 7-7 with twenty one minutes on the clock. The ‘Inst’ lineout wasn’t functioning as efficiently as usual with Ballymena Academy attacking each throw and forcing a number of turnovers and generally refusing to allow the holders to settle into a rhythm. However, in the 27th minute, the balance of the game shifted once more with the holder’s ability to capitalise on a paucity of possession rewarded. Their scrumhalf, Rhys O’Donnell, found space on the Ballymena left and then found his flying winger, Conor Field, on his shoulder. Conor finished off by gleefully touching down to the right of the posts for an unconverted try which put the Belfast team 12-7 ahead. That advantage might have been extended four minutes later when outhalf, Michael Lowry, set winger, Mark Keane, off on a dancing run down the left which Ballymena somehow managed to halt. A minute later the same two players combined more successfully with Mark Keane making a searing break in midfield before off-loading to Michael Lowry who dived over at the posts to score a superb try. James Hume added the conversion to give the Belfast Inst team a 19-7 lead at the interval.
As in the first half the Ballymena Academy team started the second period with a series of imaginative attacks but found the Belfast Inst defence to be more in control with prop, John Dickson, and flanker, Charlie Cloke, assisting their front line defenders and getting through a lot of good covering work. In the forty second minute ‘Inst’ then turned to attack and a sweeping move saw centres, James Hume and Ben McGavock , combine to put Mark Keane in for a splendid try in the corner. The try was not converted but the Belfast Inst lead had extended to 24-7. Despite this setback Ballymena Academy, refreshed by the arrivals off the bench of Conor Agnew and James McLean, showed its ambition was not entirely doused with a good forward drive leaving the RBAI right side undefended. The move finished when Mark Thompson swept over unchallenged for an unconverted try which reduced the deficit after fifty five minutes to 24-12. Almost immediately ‘Inst’ responded when James Hume landed a 30-metre penalty which should have calmed any nerves and it gave his side a 27-12 lead. But Ballymena again refused to accept that all might be lost and, after a series of attacking forays with Alexander Clarke, Marcus Rea and Jonny McKeown to the fore, it was the Ballymena forwards who edged ever closer to the opposition line. Eventually, Christopher McLeister crashed over for a try, which Bruce Houston converted, to reduce the Belfast Inst lead to 27-19. It was Ballymena who dominated the last ten minutes camping on the ‘Inst’ line and attacking with power. However, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team’s defence held out for their 27-19 win which was, in the end, far from comfortable.
Campbell College will meet holders Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final at the Kingspan Stadium on St. Patrick’s Day. The Campbell College team guaranteed its place in the showpiece on 17th March with a compelling win over a defiant but, ultimately, underpowered Dalriada by 24-3 at headquarters on Tuesday afternoon. Dalriada and Campbell started the game with admirable adventure with both sides willing to launch attacks from deep in their own territory. However, it was a Dalriada defensive error, a clearance kick charged down, which allowed the Campbell College flanker, Jamie McCartney, to run in unchallenged for an unconverted ninth minute try which gave his team a 5-0 lead. Dalriada’s response was instant with a swift forward drive allowing the backs to feed centre, Stewart Moore, whose charge to the line was only just halted by frantic Campbell College defence. However, the gifted midfielder reduced the arrears to 5-3 shortly afterwards with a straightforward 30 metre penalty. Two minutes later Campbell regained the initiative. A well-rehearsed forward drive allowed out-half, Patrick Beverland, the time and space to send right-wing Jack Howard sprinting in for a try at the posts. Malcolm Corry added the conversion to put the Campbell College team into a 12-3 lead.
The frantic pace didn’t relent and both backlines were prominent in attack with Campbell full-back Ben Webb’s pace and mazy running catching the eye. For Dalriada centre, Denis Posternak, was as dynamic in the tackle as he was in attack for the Ballymoney side. In the thirty second minute it was the Campbell team who extended their lead. A flowing move, with prop Tom O’Toole acting as pivot in midfield, and a clever piece of inter-passing, eventually saw centre, Johnny Haldane, touch down on the left for an unconverted try and a rather flattering 17-3 half-time lead.
The rain arrived to welcome the second half action and it was a determined Dalriada team that immediately got on the front foot with Matthew Kernohan, Alan Montgomery and Matthew Lockhart providing ball which was well used by Matthew Kennedy and Angus Johnston. Campbell survived the early second half onslaught slowly winning its share of possession and of territory. In the fifty fourth minute the Campbell College lead was increased when a splendid charge from their impressive No.8, Jack Barry-Glendinning, saw him crash over at the posts. Malcolm Corry was successful with the conversion to stretch the Campbell College lead to 24-3. The Campbell College team was now in the ascendancy but the Dalriada defence displayed an outstanding resilience in all their players did. Despite one last exciting attacking run into the Campbell 22m area a forward pass signaled the end of an entertaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final won deservedly by a talented Campbell College team which was given a real examination by a fine Dalriada outfit.
In the midst of all the excitement surrounding the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-finals Omagh Academy played an Ulster U18 squad at the Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt. The Omagh Academy team won the game by 14-0 with tries from Matthew Clyde and Fintan Lagan, both of which were converted by Kyle Beattie.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup final took place on the Pirrie Park Paddock Pitch when Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Ballyclare High School on Wednesday 2nd March. This entertaining game was won by the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team by 20-5. Post-match, Bobby Stewart, the Ulster Branch President congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on getting to the final and providing such an excellent game for the large crowd of spectators that had gathered to watch the game. He thanked Vincent Hughes for the way in which he refereed the game, thanked Methodist College for the provision of such excellent facilities and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support of schools’ rugby in Ulster. Bobby then presented medals to both sets of players and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup to the captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
On Thursday 3rd March Campbell College hosted Portadown College in a replay of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate semi-final game. The Campbell College team won the game by 24-5 and will meet Sullivan Upper Medallion in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final. This game will be played at Pirrie Park on Wednesday 9th March at 2-30pm.
On Thursday 3rd March the touring Friends’ School, Lisburn side travelled from a day spent in Venice to play Petrarca Rugby Club U19’s in Padova. Their first taste of Italian rugby ended as a success for the travelling side with the final score being recorded as a 14-10 victory. The game started very quickly with the Lisburn team getting used to playing on a new 3G pitch. They still managed to apply pressure in both attack and defence on the home team. The Petrarca defence resisted multiple rolling mauls and set piece plays from the Friends’ School pack in the early stages of the game. However, midway through the first half clever handling from the Friends’ School backs ended when a lovely offload from David Newell put Daniel Patterson in to score the first try of the game. The try was converted by Ryan Hall to give the Friends’ School team a 7-0 lead. The Italian team, with the Petrarca pack showing dominance in the scrum, came back at the Friends’ School team but could find no way through a well-organised Friends’ School defence. The second try of the game was scored by the Friends’ School team when Curtis Dundas put Ryan Hall away on a run which saw Ryan step his way in and out of defenders along the touch line before cutting infield to score under the posts. Ryan added the conversion to see the Friends’ School team into a 14-0 lead at the break.
The second half started in the same manner as the first with Friends’ playing good rugby and holding off any Petrarca attacks. However, no phases of Friends’ play came to fruition in the second half and Petrarca gained momentum as a result. This momentum carried through into their rolling maul tactic which was the source of their first try of the match. The try was not converted but the Friends’ School lead had been reduced to 14-5. The Petrarca morale lifted as a result of the try and they mounted more attacks and, close to the end of the match, they scored a second unconverted try which ensured it was the Friends’ School team that finished the game as 14-10 winners.
The Friends’ School team brought their tour to Italy to a successful conclusion when they defeated Gussago RFC U19’s by 31-29 in a highly entertaining game on Saturday 5th March. The game was seen as a big occasion for the Gussago club who provided a tough game on the pitch and superb hospitality off the pitch for the Friends’ School players. The game started out with intense physicality from the home side pack. They threw their big runners at the Friends’ defence which worked hard to keep their line intact in the opening exchanges. As the physical runs and power plays came from the Italians it was Friends’ who made the first break when, against the run of play, Alex Hall ran in for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. Gussago struck back quickly making a line break through the middle of the Friends’ defence and beating defenders to cross for an unconverted try of their own and level the score at 5-5. The pressure did not drop from Gussago as, straight from the restart, players ran hard lines from deep and kept pressing to score another try. The try was converted to put the home team into a 12-5 lead. After an error strewn period of play Tom Le Seulleur scored a try following a well-organised Friends’ School rolling maul. Ryan Hall converted the try to draw the teams level at 12-12. Just before the break the Gussago team scored another converted try to see them take a 19-12 lead into the interval.
During the second half for the third time the score was levelled-this time at 19-19. Superb handling from the Friends’ School backs, and a clever inside pass from Curtis Dundas, put Daniel Patterson over the Gussago line for a try to which Ryan Hall added the conversion. Play started to open up but physicality remained high as Gussago went over once again through their No 8 who burst through a static defence to touch down for an unconverted try which gave his team a 24-19 lead. This became 29-19 when the same player repeated his try scoring exploits to extend the Gussago lead to 29-19. Friends’ substitutes and positional changes then began to make the difference as multiple hits and turnovers created possession and territory for the touring side. The quality of possession created the opportunity for David Newell to score a brace of tries one of which Ryan Hall converted. This secured a hard-earned, but ultimately well-deserved, 31-29 victory for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team. The Friends’ School touring party would like to thank Gussago RFC for their hospitality and welcome and for the wonderful post-match celebrations which were enjoyed by the players and officials from both teams..
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate final, featuring Sullivan Upper School and Methodist College, Belfast, was played at Campbell College on Saturday 5th March. The Methodist College team won an entertaining game by 20-5. At the post-match presentation, Stephen Black, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee, congratulated both teams on reaching the final and providing such an entertaining game for the spectators who had watched the match, thanked the referee, Jamie Pedlow and his assistants for the way in which they contributed to the game, thanked the coaching staff from both schools for all their hard work throughout the season, thanked Campbell College for the provision of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of Ulster Schools’ Rugby. Stephen then presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate finalist medals to the players from both teams and presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate to the captain of the victorious Methodist College team.
There were two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-final games played on Saturday 5th March.
Rainey Endowed School hosted Down High School in a game the Down High School won by 39-10. In a very entertaining game it was the Rainey team that started the stronger of the teams. An early penalty opportunity was missed but the Rainey team took a 5-0 lead when Lorcan Quinn crashed over the Down High School line to score a try. His conversion attempt struck the upright but his team now had a 5-0 lead with just nine minutes of the game gone. From the restart the Down High School team was able to gain a territorial advantage. Team captain, William Martin, took advantage of good play from Clayton Milligan following some patient phase play in the Rainey 22m zone. William touched down for a try, which Charlie Power was unable to convert, to bring his team level with the score at 5-5. However, Charlie Power soon added to the Down High School tally when he slotted three points after Rainey were deemed to be offside at a breakdown to give his team an 8-3 lead. For most of the remainder of the first half Down High managed territory effectively and, coupled with good discipline in defence, they kept the Rainey team well pinned back in their half. With five minutes of the first half remaining Matthew Porter extended the Down High School lead when he spotted a gap in the Rainey defence. He took a neat pass from Lewis Finlay to dive over for a try. Charlie Power added the extras to give Down High a 15-5 lead going into the interval.
The second half got off to a pleasing start for the Downpatrick lads when Charlie Power landed a penalty with only three minutes played to increase their lead to 18-5. Despite conceding these early points Rainey kept fighting and forced Down High School to spend a considerable period of time defending their line. However, with fifteen of the second half gone, Down High School winger, Harry Hitchens, chased an excellent Jack Carlisle grubber kick and won the race for the touchdown. Charlie Power had no problems in converting the try to increase the Down High School lead to 25-5. Charlie Power then put the result beyond doubt when he intercepted the ball on a Rainey attack and had the straightforward job of running in for a try under the posts. Charlie duly added the extras to give his team an unassailable 32-5 lead. Down High School emptied their bench with twelve minutes to go and, despite some excellent performances from the replacements, Rainey did manage an unconverted consolation try. It was a tribute to the commitment displayed by the Rainey Endowed team when Cameron Stewart took advantage of hesitancy in the Down High School defence to run in for an unconverted try and reduce the arrears to 32-10. The visitors had the final say of the day when Marcus Graham showed some excellent evasion skills to finish off a counter attack that had been started by second row, Tom Martin, a player who had an impressive showing throughout the match. Charlie Power added the conversion leaving Down High School with a 39-10 victory at the final whistle.
The Down High School team will have to wait until Wednesday 9th March to find out who their opponents will be in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield final which is scheduled to be played at the Kingspan Stadium on Monday 14th March.
Coleraine Grammar School and Wallace High School met in the second semi-final on March 5th and the game finished as a 14-14 draw. Having dominated territory and possession for large parts of the first half the Wallace High School team had built up an 11-0 lead by the interval. Josh Cardosi ran in for an unconverted try and team captain, Jonny Stewart, was successful with two penalty kick opportunities.
The Coleraine Grammar School team recovered with their second half performance and actually took a 14-11 lead at one stage in the second half. A penalty from Callum Smith and an unconverted try from Thomas Lavery reduced the Coleraine arrears to 11-8. Another two Callum Smith penalties gave the home team a three point advantage with little time remaining. However, the Wallace High School team stuck to their task and forced the Coleraine Grammar School into conceding a penalty. Up stepped Jonny Stewart to coolly slot the kick and ensure the game finished as a 14-14 draw.
The replay for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-final game has been scheduled for 2-30 pm on Wednesday 9th March at Wallace High School.
There are three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ finals scheduled for the incoming week.
On Tuesday 8th March Wallace High School will play Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Medallion Shield. This game will kick off at the Kingspan Stadium at 2-30pm.
On Wednesday 9th March the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl will take place at the Royal School, Dungannon when Grosvenor Grammar School will play Portora Royal School in a game which will kick off at 2-00pm.
On Wednesday 9th March Sullivan Upper School will play Campbell College in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate competition. This game will be played at Pirrie Park at 2-30pm.
