Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 23rd October 2010
With the onset of the half term break for most schools, as well as Ireland U18 Schools’ and Ireland U19 Screening camps in Dublin, a number of the schools’ senior squads lost players for the games on Saturday 23rd October. Below includes pictures from Banbridge, Ballymena Academy, Methody & RBAI, Regent House, Coleraine and Video interviews with Referee, RBAI & Methody Coaches,
Rainey Endowed School hosted Omagh Academy in a game which saw both teams understrength due to non-availability of players. The young Rainey side, including six Year 12 players and minus the experienced Luke Steele and Damien Mc Murray, took time to settle in their game with Omagh. In an evenly balanced first half which saw the Omagh forwards dominate, Rainey scored late in the half through a Jamie Burrows try and Martin Connolly conversion to give the Magherafelt team a 7-0 half time lead. The half time team talk seemed to do the trick because the young Rainey side played 15 minutes of super rugby totally outplaying Omagh Academy in the early stages of the second half. A great team try involving both forwards and backs saw the young Rainey out half, Aaron Murphy, go over for a try with Martin Connolly converting to extend the Rainey lead to 14-0. Shortly after this a stolen lineout by Mark Mc Erlean saw a beautiful move from the backs to which enabled Jamie Burrows to go through for his second try of the game. Once again, Martin Connolly converted to take the score to 21-0. Naivety from the Rainey team then took control with the inexperienced home team thinking they had the game won. The Omagh team scored two late tries through Harry Gibson and Ashley McIlwaine. Neither of the tries were converted enabling the Rainey Endowed team to record a 21-10 victory. Jonathan Lees and Michael Dawson in the back row performed well for the home team as did debutant Matthew Stewart on the right wing.
Ballymena Academy lost Sam McNabney and John Andrew to the Irish Schools’ camp in Dublin when they hosted Regent House at the Galgorm Road. Despite the poor weather conditions, Ballymena Academy set out to keep the ball in hand and got rewarded with first try of the morning after just ten minutes of the game. Debutant out half, Stephen Shaw, spotted space behind the Regent defensive line and his well-placed kick was gathered by centre Darren Geddis who finished confidently under the posts. Caleb Morrison had no difficulty in adding the extras to give the Ballymena Academy team a 7-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, Ballymena Academy winger, Jordan Foster, scored an outstanding individual try. Gathering the ball just inside the Academy half, Jordan showed excellent balance and pace to beat several Regent defenders and scored the second try of the game under the Regent House posts. Caleb Morrison again added the conversion to put his team into a 14-0 lead. The Ballymena pack was now beginning to dominate the Regent pack and, after a Peter Storey break, Darren Geddis burst through two tackles to score his second try of the morning. This try was not converted but the home team lead was extended to 19-0. 
In the lead up to half time, Regent enjoyed a period of territory and possession which culminated in a try when their scrum half charged down enabling Nathan Burns to ground an attempted Ballymena clearance from the dead ball area. 
The conversion attempt was missed to leave the half time score at 19-5 in favour of Ballymena Academy.
Ballymena continued to dominate in the second half with forwards George Hargy, Peter Hayes and Timothy Patton particularly effective in delivering quick ball for the dangerous backs. Peter Wallace broke through on the narrow side and off-loaded to Caleb Morrison who powered under the Regent posts to stretch Ballymena’s lead to 24-5. Caleb converted his own try to give the Ballymena Academy team a 26-5 lead. Shortly after this try, Jack Fleming moved a quickly taken penalty to Caleb who beat two defenders and showed pace to finish from 50 metres out. He converted his second try of the game to extend the Ballymena lead to 33-5 
During the course of the second half the Regent team was unfortunate to lose several players with injuries. Nevertheless, they continued to battle and threatened the Ballymena line on more than one occasion. The final whistle sounded with the score at 33-5 to the home team with the work rate of the Ballymena Academy pack laying the foundations for this deserved victory.
Ballyclare High School remains the only team with a 100% win record after their victory against a Wallace High School team deprived of the services of Chris Taylor through injury. Ballyclare High School scored early in the game when Jonny Holmes kicked a penalty to put his team ahead by 3-0. The Wallace team responded positively and Dean Irvine scored an unconverted try to give his team a 5-3 lead, following good lineout work from his pack. Jonny Holmes put the Ballyclare team back into the lead with another penalty, taking the score to 6-5. The Ballyclare team was controlling possession as well as territory and Jonny Holmes took advantage of this with a converted try to extend the Ballyclare lead to 13-5. Just before half time the Wallace team redressed the balance to 13-12 with a Cal McIlwaine try which Jordan Grattan converted.
Wallace High School took control of the early exchanges in the second half and came close to scoring on a number of occasions. It was the home team that extended their leads after a period of defensive work. Their pack turned over possession from a Wallace attack and the Ballyclare High School winger, Peter Ferguson, finished off with a breakaway try. Jonny Holmes added the conversion to put his team into a 20-12 lead. With ten minutes of the game remaining Wallace scored an unconverted try through Andrew Neely to reduce the arrears to 20-17. It was the home team who got the final score of the when prop forward, Peter Kennedy raced over for a try which Jonny Holmes converted to leave the final score at 27-17 in favour of the Ballyclare High School team. Jonny Holmes was the star of the Ballyclare High School team while Wallace High School benefited from good debuts by Andrew Coffey and Andrew Neely.
Belfast Royal Academy played the RS Dungannon team at the J C Picken playing fields at Roughfort in very difficult conditions. The RS Dungannon team lost Peter Nelson to the Ireland U19 Screening camp as well as Gary Wong to injury. The Belfast Royal Academy team had Stuart Olding unavailable due to the Ireland Schools’ screening but this did not seem to unduly upset the attacking nature of the Academy game plan. The BRA team was 19-0 ahead at half time with Matthew Robinson touching down twice and Eoin Devlin once. Robbie Jamison kicked two conversions in the first half. The RS Dugannon team was aggressive in defence but could not prevent the home team scoring two further second half tries through Ryan Clarke and Matthew Robinson with Robbie Jamison adding two penalties to give the BRA team a 35-0 win. The Dungannon team worked tirelessly throughout the game with Andrew Clingan, Derek Martin and Peter Cashel all putting in good performances. For the Belfast Royal Academy team Mary Wylie and Matthew Robinson impressed with their ability to attack from anywhere on the pitch.
The Friends’ School team was without key players such as Michael Cochrane and Dean Howes when they travelled to play Belfast High School. Despite this, the Friends’ team still managed to come away with a 10-0 victory. The Belfast High School team made the Friends’ team work hard for any worthwhile possession and asked regular questions of the Friends’ team’s defensive capabilities. The Friends’ team held a 5-0 half time leads after Paddy Pringle took advantage of quick ball to outpace the home defence and touch down for an unconverted try. It was the same player who laid the foundations for the second try of the game when he broke through a hesitant home defence to carry the ball for forty metres. A last ditch Belfast High School tackle prevented Paddy from scoring but he was aware enough to off load to the supporting Desi Eastwood who got the try. The conversion was missed but it was the Friends’ team that recorded a well-deserved 10-0 win. Jonny MacCorkell, Paddy Ferguson, Rory McIvor and Aaron Bassett all contributed positively for the Lisburn team throughout the game.
Banbridge Academy hosted a resurgent Coleraine AI team who went home with a very hard earned but deserved 17-5 win. Banbridge Academy opened their account with a try after ten minutes when their outhalf, Chris Craig, touched down for an unconverted try to give the home team a 5-0 lead. Michael Poskitt kicked a penalty for the Coleraine AI team after twenty minutes and went on to convert a Stuart McCaffery try to put the Coleraine AI team into a 10-5 half time lead. The early stages of the second half witnessed a Banbridge Academy siege on the Coleraine AI line. Their defensive line held firm and after twenty minutes of the second period of play the visitors broke away. Paddy Farrell did the ground work by combining with Derek Connor to send Alan Clarke in for the got try which sealed the game. Michael Poskitt kicked the conversion to ensure that the Coleraine team won this encounter by 17-5.
Coleraine v Banbridge Photos: 
Down High School 1stxv played an Ards RFC U19 team and their attacking style of play caused problems for the Ards team throughout the game. Down High School scored eoght tries with Matthew McKeown and Jason Patterson scoring two tries each. Patrick Giffin, Devon Wright, Jack Calvert and Sturat Orr all scored one try each in the course of the game. Justin Rea weighed in with three conversions to see the Down High School team safely through this game as 46-0 winners.
Meanwhile, the Down High School 2ndxv played Lurgan College and recorded a 37-7 win. Things were evenly matched in the course of the first half of the game but the Down team pulled away in the second half to ensure their win. The Lurgan team put on a spirited display and was rewarded for their endeavours with a Greg Lyness try which was converted by Josh McKay.
RS Armagh hosted St Gerard’s College, Bray in a game which was very entertaining. Both teams lost players to the Ireland Age Grade Screening camps but this did not unduly upset the performances of either team. Harry Boyd gave the Armagh team a 3-0 lead with a well struck penalty. The St Gerard’s team responded with a try to take a 5-3 lead only to see Harry Boyd kick another penalty to put his team into a 6-5 lead. Duncan Steed scored a try for his RS Armagh team which was converted by Harry Boyd to see the Armagh team into a 13-5 half time lead. Early in the second half Peter Eves worked his way over the opposition line, after a series of 5 metres lines out, for an unconverted try, to put the RS Armagh team into an 18-5 lead. St Gerard’s came back strongly to score a touchline try which was converted to reduce the arrears to 18-12. Shortly after this set back Timmy McNeice scored a try for the Armagh team, which he converted, to give his team a 25-12 lead. St Gerard’s got the last score of this game when they converted a penalty try to see the RS Armagh team win the game by 25-19.
Dalriada played Cambridge House at the St James’s Road venue in a game which the Ballymoney team might have expected to win with a degree of ease. The Cambridge House team looked upon this game, against a team that has only lost once this season and made the quarter-finals of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup last season, as their biggest of the season so far. Cambridge House got off to a very positive start when Matthew Harkness scored a try in the corner following good work from second row forward, Johnny Simpson. Timmy Small was just wide with the conversion attempt but his team had a 5-0 lead. The game flowed with both teams attacking at every opportunity. However, both defences held firm and was the Cambridge House team that adopted the more pragmatic approach when they asked Timmy Small to kick a penalty attempt after twenty minutes. Timmy was successful with his kick and his team had an 8-0 lead. Cambridge House had the opportunity to further increase their lead just before half time but good home defence ensured that Jordan Robinson was stopped just short of the line just when he looked certain to score. On the stroke of half time Dalriada winger,Jonny McLaughlin, touched down in the corner after a prolonged series of attacks. Ben Henderson kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline to see the half time score read 8 – 7 in favour of Cambridge House.
In the second half and they took a 10-8 lead after a 60th minute penalty from Ben Henderson. The same player ensured victory for his team with a penalty in the closing stages of the game to see the Dalriada team through this tough encounter by 13-8. Despite losing the game the Cambridge House team can take great confidence from their performance with players such as Matthew Harkness, Mark Payne and Kieran Bowes all impressing with their performances.
The only game Dalriada have lost so far this season was on their recent visit to play Foyle and Londonderry College in the Maiden City. Foyle scored an early try when Neil Burns off loaded in the tackle and winger Michael Lyons was able to score an unconverted try in the corner to give his team a 5 -0 lead. Twenty minutes later Ian Vance chipped ahead, caught his own kick and scored a try half way out. Chris Campbell converted this solo effort to give the Foyle team a 12-0 lead. Dalriada reduced the arrears with a Ben Henderson penalty 5 minutes later to take the score to 12-3. Foyle scored two tries in last 5 minutes of the first half when Jack Arthur finished off a sweeping move for a fine try and then winger Conor Cummings scored a try from a pre rehearsed move. Chris Campbell converted one of these tries to see his team into a 24-3 half time lead. In the course of the second half the home team was unable to maintain the momentum of their first half performance and Dalriada responded with a well worked line out move which resulted in David Campbell scoring a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the scoreline was now reading 24-8. The visitors added to their tally with a try from Roger Bonnar which was converted by Ben Henderson in a the closing stages of the game. This ensured that the Foyle and Londonderry College team emerged as deserved 24-15 winners of this intriguing encounter.
A Limavady Grammar School “Select” xv recently played host to Scarborough College, a touring team from Yorkshire. The game was played in beautiful conditions and the home side used this to their advantage as they opened their account through their Number 8, Ryan McCool, who scored a fantastic solo effort. His initial break was followed up by skilful footwork to round the full back. Further tries came from Simon Olphert and Stuart Hull before skipper Nathan Barr got in on the act. Nathan broke blind and exchanged passes with winger Matthew Keys before chipping over the full back’s head and gathering to finish under the posts. All four of these tries were converted by Nathan Barr. Another try came from Limavady Grammar School outside centre, John Falows, who touched down in the corner for an unconverted try. With the score at 33-0 mass changes were made by the Limavady team. However, the home team maintained their positive momentum to the game. They continued to dominate possession and territory and scored further tries through Adam Blair, Conor Crampsie, Aaron Rainey, Simon Olphert, Andrew Carmichael, Robert Lamberton and Daniel Irvine. Nathan Barr added three more conversions with Luke Faulkner also adding a couple. Scarborough scored 2 consolation tries with only one being converted to ensure they got some reward for their committed approach to the game but it was the Limavady Grammar School team that recorded an 80-12 win.
The “Match of the Day” was the Osbourne Park clash featuring Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College. The Belfast Inst team was without Ben Alexander and Michael Kilpatrick who were involved with the Ireland Age Grade Screening camps in Dublin. The Methody team lost James Harrison, Rory Winters, Ryan Martin and Mark Gribben in similar circumstances. Methody lost Gareth Gracey to injury prior to the game as well. This provided the opportunity for extended squad players from both schools to gain experience in the white hot atmosphere provided by one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes in the local schools’ game.
116 Pictures slideshow here from RBAI v Methody 23rd Oct 2010, pictures are free to download just click on the one you want – Enjoy! Click Here
The game was played at a tremendous pace from start to finish with Matthew McFaul putting the Methody team into an ealry 3-0 lead when he kicked a penalty just after the kick off. Matthew McGuigan levelled the score at 3-3 when he kicked a long range penalty for RBAI. This seemed to galvanise the RBAI effort and they scored two quick tries through James Martin and the hard running Kevin McLean. Both tries went unconverted but the RBAI team had opened up a 13-3 lead coming up to half time. The Methody team did not lie down but came back strongly with a try from Peter Logan which Matthew McFaul kicked to reduce the arrears to 13-10. The Methody captain, Dan Kerr, gave his team the lead when he scored an unconverted try in the closing stages of the first half to see them into the interval ahead by 15-13.
At the start of the second half RBAI brought on Zach Welshman and Michael Mairs to add strength to their team. Matthew McFaul extended the Methody lead to 18-13 when he converted another penalty kick following an RBAI offence at the break down. Both teams had one player yellow carded for a technical offence but Matthew McGuigan remained calm to slot over a penalty for the RBAI team to reduce their deficit to 18-16. Johnny Martin was rewarded for his performance for Inst with a try which Matthew McGuigan converted to put the RBAI team into a 23-18 lead in the final ten minutes of the game. The Methody team was in control of territory and possession in the final few minutes but the Belfast Inst defence remained intact. Methody turned down chances to kick at goal during this period and thought they had at least drawn the game in the dying seconds only to see a try scoring opportunity denied because of a double movement. This ensured that the RBAI team won the game by 23-18 in a match that was a great advertisement for all that is positive about the game in schools in Ulster.
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