There was one game played on Friday 6th prior to a fuller list of fixtures on Saturday 7th January.
Lurgan College II XV v Dalriada II XV PICTURES CLICK HERE
Friends’ School hosted Lurgan College in a floodlit game at Lisburn Rugby Club.
The Friends’ team had been showing signs of improvement in recent games having run a very good Portadown College team close prior to the Christmas break as well as having a very useful run out against Regent House during the holiday period. Despite these signs of improvement from the Lisburn team, it was the Lurgan team that opened the scoring in this game when Dean Wilson and Cameron Lyness combined to send Mark McIlwaine in for a try. Ben McIlwaine converted the try to give the Lurgan College team a 7-0 lead. The game was evenly contested after the positive opening from the Lurgan College team with both defences working hard to keep the opposition attacks at bay. That was until just before the interval when the Friends’ School No 8, Dean Howes, broke from the base of the scrum to run in for an unconverted try and reduce the arrears to 7-5. The second half saw the Friends’ team take greater control of the game. They were rewarded for their endeavours when Dean Howes ran in for his second try of the game following a break from 30 metres. The try was unconverted but the Friends’ School team now had a 10-7 lead. The Friends’ team secured a well-deserved victory when they won good lineout possession and moved the ball swiftly through their backs to create sufficient space for Jack McMullan to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but the Friends’ team had won the game by 15-7. Jack Ravey made a welcome return from injury for the Friends’ team while Ross Robinson showed great determination in controlling the game. Both teams are very grateful to Lisburn Rugby Club for use of their fine facilities and staging this game.
Grosvenor Grammar School entertained Belfast High School in a closely contested game at the Cameronian Drive venue.
Lurgan Medallion highlights
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In a very scrappy first half both teams failed to play with any degree of fluency. However, it was the visitors who took a 3-0 lead after twenty minutes through a penalty just inside the Grosvenor 22metre area which was converted by Adam White. Grosvenor responded with their best rugby of the half with their forwards giving the backs good ball which was effectively moved by the home team backs. From a breakdown close to the Belfast High School line, centre Ben Coard gained possession and dived over for the first try of the game. The try was not converted but the Grosvenor team had a 5-3 lead. The High school continued to dominate at the ruck and forced a number of turnovers, the last of which allowed them to kick behind the home defence and put pressure on the Grosvenor line. The visitors continued to press and fully deserved their score from Jordan Garford which was converted by Adam White to give them a 10-5 half time lead. The home side started the second half brightly and, despite problems with their set piece, played with a better tempo in the loose. Their efforts were rewarded when prop, Nic Jones, spun out of the tackle to score a try. Peter Davison converted the try to give the home side a 12-10 lead. Once again the visitors showed great fighting spirit and no little skill to work their way into the Grosvenor Grammar School half. Their efforts were rewarded with a penalty opportunity which again was converted by Adam White to see his team retake the lead by 13-12. The Grosvenor Grammar School kicking game improved and they began to dominate territory and possession in the later stages of the game. Peter Davison was successful with two penalty opportunities to give his team an 18-13 lead going into the last few minutes of the game. The result was sealed with a very clever kick by scrum half Neil Adams which went over the visiting defence. The High school defence did not cope effectively with the kick which allowed Peter Davison to score the decisive try. The try was not converted but the Grosvenor Grammar School team had won the game by 23-13.
Wallace High School travelled to play Royal School, Dungannon with a number of their front line players making a welcome return from injury.
The Wallace High School team opened up a 12-0 half time lead with tries from Matthew Ballantyne and Josh Ard. James McCallan added one first half conversion. Despite the best intentions of Andrew Clingan and Stephen Rogers for the home team, there was little they could do to prevent further Wallace High School scores. Zack McCall, Jordan Grattan and Adam Dickson scored second half tries with James McCallan adding two further conversions to ensure a comprehensive 31-0 win for the Wallace High School team.
Foyle and Londonderry College entertained Bangor Grammar School in a game that was very closely contested.
The Foyle team opened the scoring with a Kyle Henderson try which was not converted to give his team a 5-0 lead after just a few minutes of play. The Bangor Grammar School team responded with two quick tries from Michael Weir. Neither of the tries was converted but the visitors now had a 10-5 lead. The Foyle and Londonderry College team drew level when Ryan Curry ran in for an unconverted try after twenty five minutes of the game. With the score now reading 10-10 there were no further scores before the interval. The second half saw the Bangor team take a 15-10 lead when Daniel Kennedy outwitted the home team defence to run in for an unconverted try. With just minutes remaining the Foyle and Londonderry College team thought they had secured a win when Kyle Henderson scored a try which he converted to give his team a 17-15 lead. However, the Bangor Grammar School team was offered an escape card when the Foyle team was penalised with just seconds remaining. Up stepped Andrew Mellon who slotted his kick over the crossbar and between the uprights to register an 18-17 victory for his Bangor Grammar School team.
Foyle & Londonderry College Medallion Highlights
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Omagh Academy hosted Regent House in a game that was played in difficult overhead and underfoot conditions at the Campsie playing fields.
The Omagh Academy team took a 3-0 lead when Andy Allen converted a penalty opportunity after fifteen minutes of play. For much of the remainder of the first half neither team really threatened to score with both defences ensuring their lines remained intact thereby ensuring the Omagh Academy team took their 3-0 lead up the interval. Following the restart the Regent House team exploited hesitancy in the Omagh Academy defence. Quality possession was well used by the Regent House backs who finished off a good move with a try on the right wing. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Regent team had a 5-3 lead. The Omagh Academy team regrouped quickly only to see good Regent House defence deny Ryan Mitchell and Scott Hemphill golden opportunities to score. Alan Sinnamon and Nathan Burns worked hard for the Regent House team but neither team was able to score any further points leaving the final score reading 5-3 in favour of the Regent House team. Adam Longwell, Michael Gibson and James Kelso all played well in the Omagh Academy pack while Andy Allen and Neil MacLaine were the pick of the backs.
Ballyclare High School travelled to Magherafelt to play the Rainey Endowed team with a squad that included a number of players returning from injury.
The Ballyclare team started strongly playing a style of game the young Rainey team had difficulty in handling. The visitors scored nine tries with 2nd Row forward, Matthew Dailly, touching down for a hat trick. The Ballyclare High School front row trio of Matt Brolly, Jonny Craig and the impressive Paddy Reid all scored one try each with Eddie McKee scoring a try in his first game back from injury. Winger James Beattie scored a try with the ninth try coming as a penalty try. Jonny Homes was successful with the penalty try conversion as well as five others to leave the final scoreline reading 57-0 in favour of the Ballyclare High School team.
Dalriada II XV highlights
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Banbridge Academy hosted the impressive Down High School team in what was always going to be a challenging game for the home team.
The visitors started strongly and took a 3-0 lead after ten minutes of play when Justin Rea was successful with a penalty opportunity. This lead extended to 10-0 when Kelvin Hamilton scored a try which Justin Rea converted after twenty five minutes. The Banbridge Academy team displayed great determination after their slow start. They pressurised the Down High defence into giving away penalties close to the Down High School line. Aaron Kennedy made no mistake with two of these opportunities to reduce the arrears to 10-6 at the interval. In the second half, the visitors controlled most of the possession as well as territory. Despite the best intentions of Banbridge Academy players such as David McKeown and Blair McDonald the Down High School team was able to run in three second half tries, one of which was converted, to ensure a reasonably comfortable 27-6 win.
The Royal School, Armagh team who had lost their unbeaten run against teams from Ulster in their previous outing to Methodist College, was keen to get back to winning ways when they entertained the only remaining unbeaten team in Ulster, Limavady Grammar School.
Both teams were missing key players through illness and injury but this seemed to impact less on the home team. From the start of the game the RS Armagh team showed their determination in all aspects of their play following the disappointment of their narrow defeat by the Methodist College team. The RS Armagh pack, with the backrow trio of Thomas Johnston, Darren Morton and Matthew Clarke in imperious form, laid the foundations for an emphatic victory. The quality possession provided by the pack presented Stuart Hooks and Alistair Wright with the opportunity to constantly threaten and pick holes through the Limavady Grammar School midfield defence. The RS Armagh defence was well-organised and negated immediately any attacking opportunities the Limavady Grammar School team occasionally created. The RS Armagh team opened their account with a Duncan Stead try which was converted by Alistair Wright to give his team a 7-0 lead. Daniel Ewart added a second try to give his team a 12-0 lead. Alistair Wright added a penalty to put the RS Armagh team into a 15-0 lead. Duncan Steed scored his second try of the game, which was not converted, to put his team into a 20-0 lead. Mattie Clarke, the RS Armagh captain, scored his first try just before the interval. The conversion was missed but the home team had a 25-0 halftime lead. RS Armagh coach, Kenny Hooks, missed his annual Christmas Day run, but was more than making up for it with his kicking tee carrying duties in the course of the first half! Things did not get any easier for the gallant Limavady Grammar School team, or indeed Kenny, in the second half. Playing with the elements in the second half the RS Armagh team captain, Mattie Clarke, started where he had left off in the first half by scoring a try. Alistair Wright was successful with his conversion attempt to put his team into a 32-0 lead. The RS Armagh right winger, Daniel Reaney, added two further tries, one of which Alistair Wright converted, to increase the RS Armagh lead to 44-0. Just before the final whistle, Daniel completed his hat trick by touching down for another try. Alistair Wright was successful with his conversion kick to ensure a resounding 51-0 win for the RS Armagh team.
Lurgan College Medallion Highlights
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There were two cross provincial fixtures played on Saturday 7th January.
Campbell College hosted Munster lynchpins, Rockwell College, at Fox’s Field. The Rockwell College team scored one converted try, an unconverted try as well as a penalty in the course of the game. In response, the Campbell College team scored a try through their impressive scrum half, Josh Fullerton. Rob Haldane added the conversion to leave the final score reading 15-7 in favour of the Rockwell College team.
Meanwhile, Methodist College travelled to Dublin 4 to take on a full strength Blackrock College team.
Despite good performances from Rory Winters, Chris Gracey, James Harrison and Mark Campbell in the Methodist College pack, it was the Blackrock College team that emerged from the game as 21-16 winners. Methody played into a stiff breeze in the first half and found themselves 5-0 from the kick-off. Gavin Thornberry, the Blackrock College and Leinster U19 2nd Row forward, charged down an attempted clearance kick to gather the ball and touch down in the corner for an unconverted. The Methody team recovered from this early setback and took play deep into Blackrock College territory. Rudolph Benade was successful with a penalty opportunity to reduce the arrears to 5-3. Blackrock then kicked a penalty to increase their lead to 8-3. Just before the interval a Blackrock College pass was intercepted by Paddy Colhoun, the Methody winger. Paddy showed his sprinting skills to leave a trail of despairing Blackrock College defenders in his wake to touch down for a try under the Blackrock College posts. Rudolph Benade added the conversion to give his team a 10-8 halftime lead. This was extended to 13-8 early in the second half when Rudolph was successful with another penalty opportunity. Blackrock College staged something of a comeback and reduced the arrears to 13-11 with a successful penalty of their own. Two quick Blackrock College unconverted tries followed to give the Dublin team a 21-13 lead. In the final few minutes of the game Rudolph Benade was successful with his third penalty of the game to take the score to 21-16 in favour of the Blackrock team. Despite an all-out attacking philosophy from the Methodist College team in the remaining time, the home defence held firm to ensure a 21-16 win against their long standing Methodist College rivals.
Seven of the eight Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 2 games were played on Saturday. The results were as follows:-
Grosvenor Grammar School 5 – 13 Portora Royal School.
Carrickfergus Grammar School v Craigavon Senior High School (playing Tuesday 10th January)
Limavady Grammar School 17 – 8 Larne Grammar School.
Dalriada School 12 – 0 Cambridge House
Lurgan College 8 – 18 Foyle and Londonderry College. PICTURES 78 CLICK HERE
Friends’ School 3 – 3 Omagh Academy.
Bangor Grammar School 10 – 11 Rainey Endowed School.
Wellington College 12 – 17 Banbridge Academy.
