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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 23rd February 2019
There was the replay of a previously abandoned Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate quarter-final game on Friday 22nd February when Wallace High School hosted Dromore High School. The Wallace High School team won the closely contested game by 20-17. The Wallace High School team will now travel to play Grosvenor Grammar School in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate on Saturday 2nd March.
On Saturday 23rd February there were four Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final games, four Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield quarter-final games and two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl semi-final games.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-finals
Rainey Endowed School played Wallace High School in a game the Wallace High School team won by 36-12. The Wallace High School team had dominated proceedings and controlled the game for long periods in the first half. Having built up a substantial 29-0 lead by the break the Wallace High School team looked as if they going to run away with the score. However, the second half was much more evenly contested.
The Rainey Endowed School points all came in the second half came through tries from Bryn Davies and Tim Campbell to which Harry Evans added one conversion.
The Wallace High School points came through tries from Kyle Patton, Ben Carson, Joel Dundas, Harry McMeekin and Jack Bailie. Nathan Doak, who put in an impressive performance during proceedings with his game management skills, added four conversions as well as a penalty.
Methodist College, Belfast hosted Royal Belfast Academical Institution in an exciting Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup ¼ Final game the Methodist College team won by 29-14. Despite losing their scrum half, Mark Manso, early in the game to injury, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team took a 7-0 lead shortly afterwards when Bradley McNamara touched down for a try which was converted by Robin McIlveen. This setback seemed to spur the Methodist College team into action and they reduced the arrears to 7-5 almost immediately when their captain, the impressive Kevin McNaboe, touched down for an unconverted try. Then Ethan McIlroy stepped up to confidently convert a penalty opportunity to see the Methodist College team into an 8-7 lead. This became 15-7 when Daniel Humphries scored a try which was converted by Ethan McIlroy. Just before the break the Belfast Inst team looked almost certain to score when Simon Jackson made inroads on the Methody defence. However, a try saving tackle from Callum Davidson ensured that no further points were conceded and the teams turned around with the Methodist College team 15-7 ahead.
Into the second half and Tom O’ Doherty touched down for a Methodist College try, once again converted by Ethan McIlroy, to increase the Methodist College lead to 22-7. The Belfast Inst arrears were then reduced when their captain, Angus Adair cut through a hesitant Methody defence from the centre position, to score a try. Robin McIlveen added the conversion to see the score board read 22-14 in favour of the Methody team. With Angus Adair, Robin McIlveen and Jude Postlewaite leading the way the Methodist College defence had to work hard to ensure no more points were conceded. They did so effectively and Thomas Armstrong ensured it was the Methodist College, Belfast team that went into the draw for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final when he touched down for a fine individual try, which was converted by Ethan McIlroy, to secure the 29-14 victory for his Methodist College, Belfast team.
At Ballymena Academy a large crowd of supporters turned up to witness a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup ¼ Final game played against Royal School, Armagh in difficult overhead conditions. The Royal School, Armagh team won the game by 14-10 with both teams playing the game in a very positive manner throughout. The Royal School, Armagh team started the game strongly and took a 7-0 lead, seven minutes into the game, when the impressive Charlie Worth touched down for a try to which he added the conversion. From the restart the Ballymena Academy team took play into the Royal School, Armagh 22m area. They forced the RS Armagh defence into conceding a penalty and Ross McKay stepped up to dispatch his kick successfully over the bar to reduce the deficit to 7-3. Midway through the half the Armagh team thought they had scored another try only for superb Ballymena Academy defence to hold the ball up in the in goal area. Having survived that onslaught on their line the Ballymena Academy team broke out of defence when No 8, Adam Lamont, broke from the base of a scrum and left a trail of Royal School, Armagh defenders trailing in his wake. He was eventually tackled in the RS Armagh 22m area but his fellow forwards produced a series of quick balls from a number of phases. From one such phase, the Ballymena Academy scrum half, James Wright, sniped over the whitewash for a try. Ross McKay added the extras to see the Ballymena Academy team into a 10-7 lead. The Ballymena Academy team might have extended their lead on a number of occasions prior to the break but the Armagh defence held out and the teams turned around at the interval with the home team ahead by 10-7.
It was the Armagh team that started the second half strongly and they regained the lead when Jonny Agnew crashed over the Ballymena Academy line for a try. Charlie Worth added the conversion to see his team into a 14-10 lead. From that stage on it was the Ballymena Academy team that launched wave after wave of attacks but the Royal School, Armagh defence was extremely well organised. James Wright, Matthew Corr, Ross McKay, Frankie Andrews, Patrick Hargy and Harry Andrews all asked questions of the Armagh team. However, Jonny Agnew, Aaron Woods, Peter Taylor, Romain Morrow, Charlie Worth and Nicholas Jennings more that answered the questions with a great defensive performance. In the final minute of the game, with the Ballymena Academy team still on the attack, the Royal School, Armagh team secured turnover ball which was immediately dispatched out of play. After that the no-side whistle sounded and it was the Royal School, Armagh team that celebrated their hard earned, but ultimately well-deserved, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup ¼ Final victory.
Campbell College, Belfast played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup ¼ Final game which finished with the Campbell College team recording a 38-22 win. In the finest traditions of the Campbell College, Belfast philosophy of the game the Campbell College team scored six tries. Dara Gaskin touched down twice with Tobi Olaniyan, Jack Boal, John Gildea and Olli Ralston each touching down for one try. Conor Rankin was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team played a full part in making this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game a most interesting and enjoyable game to watch. Despite being 38-8 down at one point the Enniskillen RGS players never gave up and got some reward for their considerable endeavours in the last quarter of the game. The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School points came from a hat trick of tries from their impressive No 8, Callum Smyton, as well as a penalty and two conversions from Eddie Keys.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield quarter-final Bangor Grammar School hosted Ballyclare High School in a game the Bangor Grammar School team won by 42-24. Aaron Sexton, Adam Pritchard, Angus Christie, Cameron Stewart, Ben McCrossan and Paddy Dobie scored the Bangor Grammar School tries to which Rhys Larmour added six successful conversions.
The Ballyclare High School points came through tries from Robert Reid, Jack Gamble and Callum McConnell. Mark Jackson added all three successful conversion kicks as well as one penalty.
Sullivan Upper School played Cambridge House Grammar School in a game the Sullivan Upper School team won by 28-7. Jack McFerran scored two tries for the Sullivan Upper School team with George Saunderson and Will Cave each touching down for one try. Conor McKee was successful with all four of his conversion kicks.
The Cambridge House Grammar School points came through a try from Rhys Ervine which was converted by Rory McCandless.
Down High School played Royal School, Dungannon in a very close encounter the Royal School, Dungannon team won by 19-18. The Down High School team had taken a 10-0 lead midway through the first half through a try from Jonathan Graham, which was converted by Greg Hutley. Greg then added a penalty shortly afterwards. The Royal School, Dungannon team responded with a try from Joshua Clarke, which was converted by Jack Girvan, to leave the score board reading 10-7 in favour of the Down High School team at the interval.
Despite the beat intentions of the RS Dungannon team in the opening stages of the second half they found themselves further behind shortly after the restart. Greg Hutley converted a penalty kick and Conor Moag ran in for an unconverted try to put the Down High School team into an 18-7 lead. The Royal School, Dungannon team responded with an unconverted try from Adam Junk to reduce their arrears to 18-12. With the final play of the game Jack Girvan capped a fine personal performance when he touched down for a try under the Down High School posts. Jack then converted his try to secure the 19-18 victory for the Royal School, Dungannon team.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Dalriada School in the ¼ Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield with the Dalriada School team winning the game by 22-7.
Lewis West scored a try for the Belfast Royal Academy team with Harry Warke adding the conversion.
The Dalriada School points came through three tries from Luke Pollock, one try from Phil Irvine and one conversion from Paddy Carson.
In the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Portadown College hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Friends’ School, Lisburn team won by 22-20. Daniel Moorcroft, Ethan Williamson and Scott McDowell scored one try each for the Portadown College team with Adam Speers adding one conversion as well as a penalty.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn points came through tries from Fergus McEwan, who touched down twice, and Reece Malone. Reece added one penalty kick as well as two conversions, the second of which was from the touchline with the last kick off the game.
Belfast High School played Coleraine Grammar School in a high scoring Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield ¼ Final game the Coleraine Grammar School team eventually won by 33-28.
The Belfast High School team scored four tries through Thabiso Madlala, Cameron McKimm, Jack Ferguson and Aaron Douglas, Aaron was successful with all four of his conversion kicks.
The Coleraine Grammar School points came through tries from Harry Mitchell, who touched down twice, and one try each from David Brown, Conor Potts and Shaw Fleck. Tyler McNeill was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl will take place on Wednesday 6th March at Rainey Old Boys’ RFC at 2-30pm with Friends’ School, Lisburn and Coleraine Grammar School contesting the final.
When the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Subsidiary Shield quarter-final results were known the draws were made for the semi-final stages of both competitions. The draws were made by Carol Wilson, representative of the Danske Bank, and Mr Stephen Black, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Committee.
The results of the draws are as follows 🙂
1/Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final
Campbell College, Belfast v Royal School, Armagh
This game will take place at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 5th March at 2-30pm
2/Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final
Methodist College, Belfast v Wallace High School
This game will take place at the Kingsapn Stadium on Wednesday 6th March at 2-30pm
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-finals
1/Sullivan Upper School v Royal School, Dungannon
2/Bangor Grammar School v Dalriada School
These games will take place at the home venue on Saturday 9th March.
