Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 19th March 2022
On Tuesday 15th March Down High School played the Ulster Youths’ U18 team at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt in a high scoring game the Ulster Youths’ team won by 38-31.
Ryan Connolly scored two tries for the Down High School team with Cameron McCaughey, Ethan Fitzsimmons and Ciaran Flynn each scoring one try. Rhodri Phillips was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
The Ulster Youth team scored six tries in the course of the game. Shane Liggett, Clogher Valley RFC, and Finlay Ramsey, Portadown RFC, each touched down for a brace, with Paul McCloskey, Rainey RFC, and JF Burns, Coleraine RFC, scoring one try apiece. JF was also successful with four of his conversion kicks.
On Wednesday 15th March Antrim Grammar School played Methodist College, Belfast 5thxv.
Grosvenor Grammar School, Banbridge Academy and Dromore High School played out an end of season three team blitz when all involved had the opportunity to finish the season in an enjoyable fashion.
Grosvenor Grammar School and Banbridge Academy drew their game 0-0.
The Banbridge Academy team then played Dromore High School in a game the Dromore High School team won by 7-0. Curtis Forbes scored the Dromore High School try which was converted by Nathan Hook.
Marcus McNeill and Ollie Norris impressed with their performances for the Banbridge Academy team.
The Dromore High School team went on to defeat Grosvenor Grammar School by 21-0. Michael Pepper, Lewis Bond and Matthew Heasley scored the Dromore High School tries with Conor Bradfield adding one successful conversion and Nathan Hook adding two successful conversions.
On Wednesday 16th March the Antrim Grammar School U17 Development team played the Methodist College, Belfast 5thxv in a game the Antrim Grammar School team won by 50-15.
The Antrim Grammar School team scored eight tries in the process with Ben Mawhinney scoring a hat trick, Jack McNeilly a brace and Ethan Ashe, Peter Kane and Patrick Dunlop scoring one try each. Matthew Adair was successful with four conversions and Jack McNeilly converted a fifth try.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final took place at the Kingspan Stadium on Thursday 17th March when Methodist College, Belfast played their crosstown rivals from Campbell College, Belfast.
The game proved to be a very closely contested affair with the Methodist College team eventually emerging as 20-17 winners which ensured the Methody team secured the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup for the 37th time.
Campbell College got off to a positive start when, shortly after the kick off, Methody conceded a penalty. Peter Caves stepped to converted the opportunity and put his Campbell College team into 3-0 lead;
Almost from the restart Methody responded immediately, with openside, Josh Stevens making a great break up the pitch. Following the ensuing ruck, the ball was moved and the Methody centre, Lorcan Hanratty, was on-hand to crash over the whitewash for the try. Ben McFarlane nudged over the conversion to see the Methodist College team take a 7-3 lead.
Campbell then had a great chance on 22 minutes when Zac Solomon gained ground down the narrow side following a line-out. However, good Methody defence ensured he was bundled into touch in the corner to give Methody the 22-drop-out.
Methody showed intent when in attack, while CCB were composed in defence, which made it a tight and entertaining affair in the second quarter of the game.
Just before the break, Campbell 2nd row, Joe Hopes, made a phenomenal break in midfield when he stepped his way past a number pf would be defenders. Eventually, Joe was tackled just short of the line but Zac Solomon was on hand to scoop the ball up and muscle over to score the try. Peter Caves landed the conversion to see his team re-take the lead with the scoreboard reading Methodist College, Belfast 7 Campbell College, Belfast 10 at the break.
Campbell started the second half, as they finished the first half, on the attack. Winger, Oliver Topping, squeezed his way through a gap in the Methody defence to dot down for their second try of the afternoon. Peter Caves made no mistake with the conversion to extend the Campbell College lead to a comfortable 17-7.
A short time later the Methody winger, Chris Bradley, looked a dead cert to score but the Campbell full-back, Lukas Kenny, tracked across to make a superb try-saving tackle.
However, momentum started to swing towards Methodist College and, following a sustained period of pressure, 2nd row, Harry Palmer, powered over the Campbell line for a try. The ever-reliable Ben McFarlane kicked the conversion to bring his team to within three points with the scoreboard reading Methodist College, Belfast 14 Campbell College, Belfast 17.
With just eight minutes to go Campbell College were penalised for an off-side offence. Well within Ben McFarlane’s range, the full-back kept his 100% kicking from the tee when he nailed the penalty to bring the scores level at 17-17
With little time remaining a Methody attack forced the Campbell defence into conceding yet another penalty. As Ben McFarlane hadn’t missed a kick all afternoon the decision was taken to opt for the posts once again. Ben’s monster kick sailed through the uprights to put Methody ahead for the first time in the second half with the scoreboard now reading 20-17 in their favour.
From the restart the Campbell College team had one last throw of the dice. Clever play brought both wingers, Oliver Topping and Peter Caves, into the game and they made two wonderful breaks in quick succession on either side of the pitch. However, the Methodist College defence was up to the task and, when Lukas Kenny was bundled into touch, the no-side whistle sounded to see the Methodist College, Belfast team emerge victorious for the 37th time in the history of the prestigious Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup with the scoreboard reading Methodist College Belfast 20 Campbell College, Belfast 17
Methodist College, Belfast
(15-9) Ben McFarlane, Chris Bradley, Peter O’Hagan (Capt.), Lorcan Hanratty, Joe Dickson, Ryan Lindsay, David Armstrong;
(1-8) Callum White, Johnny O’Kane, Finn McAdam, Ryan Kidd, Harry Palmer, Patrick Fullarton Healy, Josh Stevens, Michael Crothers.
Replacements: Ben Wilson, Matteo McLaughlin, Harry Pratt, Josh McAdam, Ben Neill, Liam Black, Jacob Kelly, Lewis Doherty.
Campbell College, Belfast
(15-9) Lukas Kenny, Oliver Topping, Matthew Booth, Cal Florence, Peter Caves, Tom Crowther (JC), Johnny McCracken;
(1-8) Cameron Hillis, Zac Solomon (JC), Darragh Hanlon, Alexander Brennan, Joe Hopes, Oliver McCauley, Luke Johnston, Flynn Longstaff.
Replacements: Chris Massey, Lucas Perez de Leza, Matthew Murphy, Reece Bell, Cameron Faith, Henry Johnston, Matthew Rea, Stuart Johnston.
On Saturday 19th March the Lurgan College U17 Development team hosted the Antrim Grammar School U17 Development in an end of season fixture. The fixture was designed to give as many as possible U17 Development players from both schools as least half a game.
The Antrim Grammar School team won the outing by 17-7 and scored three tries in the process.
Eoin Byrne, Caleb McClean and Matthew Adair were the try scorers with Matthew Adair adding one conversion. Caleb Whiteway and Angelo Simangan impressed with their performances for the Antrim Grammar School team.
The Lurgan College points came through a try from Niall Patience with Thompson Owen adding the conversion.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Seven-a-Side competition will be played at Campbell College, Belfast on Saturday 26th March. This traditional end of season extravaganza, superbly well organised by John McKinney, and his colleagues at Campbell College, will bring the curtain down on what has been a busy season for Schools’ Rugby in Ulster.
The Seven-a-Side Tournament will see competitions take place at Senior, Junior and Medallion levels with proceedings getting underway at 11-00am.
At the same time Royal Belfast Academical Institution will play an Ulster Schools’ “Select” team at Osborne Park as part of their sesquicentennial rugby celebrations
