Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 16th December 2023.
On Tuesday 12th December the launch of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round of Sixteen competition took place in the AL Goodbody Lounge at the Kingspan Stadium.
Denis Gardiner, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, welcomed all the school staff and players in attendance to the draws.
Richard Clingan, Chairman of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Committee and Ian Russell, Head of Home Buying, Danske Bank, spoke with the assembled company prior to the draws being made.
Richard went on to give a speech, thanking all involved from the Ulster Schools’ Cup, Danske Bank, to all the coaching staff teachers and boards of governors for everything they do to support school rugby.
“School rugby helps boys to develop integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect, all values in line with the pillars of world rugby, so a huge thanks to everyone involved who helps to make the matches happen.
In addition, Richard drew attention to the importance of Ulster Rugby’s initiative #respectURgame, highlighting respect for players, officials and volunteers is the cornerstone of this experience and key to upholding the values of sport.
Ian Russell, from Danske Bank, also spoke a few words. Ian highlighted how this is Danske’s nineteenth year sponsoring the schools’ competitions and how Danske Bank are really proud and passionate to support the competition as part of the journey of young players, and the development of talent we see year on year.
Denis Gardiner and Ian Russell then proceeded to make the draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen competitions.
The results of the draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen.
1/Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Campbell College, Belfast.
2/Rainey Endowed School v Methodist College, Belfast
3/Portadown College v Banbridge Academy
4/Wallace High School v Royal School, Armagh
5/Sullivan Upper School v Larne Grammar School
6/Belfast Royal Academy v Ballymena Academy
7/Regent House School v Dromore High School
8/Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen games MUST be played on/before Saturday 27th January 2024.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Preliminary Round.
1/Limavady Grammar School v Lurgan College
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Preliminary Round game MUST be played on/before Saturday 20th January 2024.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen.
1/Wellington College, Belfast v Foyle and Londonderry College
2/Bangor Grammar School v Cambridge House Grammar School
3/Ballyclare High School v Grosvenor Grammar School
4/Antrim Grammar School v Down High School
5/Limavady Grammar School/Lurgan College v Omagh Academy
6/Carrickfergus Grammar School v Belfast High School
7/Royal School, Dungannon v Dalriada School
8/Coleraine Grammar School v Strabane Academy
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games MUST be played on/before Saturday 27th January 2024.
Later that evening an Ulster U17 Club/School squad played the touring New South Wales Raptors team in a game the Ulster team won by 22-19.
This game was played at Belfast Harlequin’s RFC and both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Belfast Harlequin’s RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
Two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage games, that were previously postponed, were played on Wednesday 13th December when Rainey Endowed School hosted Foyle and Londonderry College in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group C game and Larne Grammar School played Royal School, Dungannon in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group D game.
The Rainey Endowed School team scored a comfortable 40-0 victory with players such as Paul McCloskey, Ben Bell, Steffan Lloyd-Evans, Peter Craig, Nathan Overend, Luke Caskey, George Stone, Glenn Caldwell and Owen O’Kane impressing with their performances during the game.
For the Foyle College team players such as Robbie Patterson, Darwyn Nutt, Thomas Williamson and Cahair McKay displayed great commitment throughout this final Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage C game.
Meanwhile, in Larne, Larne Grammar School hosted Royal School, Dungannon in their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group D game.
Despite being 12-8 behind at the interval, it was the Larne Grammar School team that emerged from this closely contested Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage game with a narrow 20-19 victory.
“Man of the Match”, Ryan McDowell ran in for an unconverted first try for the Larne Grammar School team and proceeded to complete his hat trick with two second half tries. Ethan Duncan converted a first half penalty kick and added the extras to one of the second half tries.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored two first half tries through Ben Doyle, one of which was converted by James Gibson.
Nathan Hamilton, scored a second half try for the RS Dungannon team with James Gibson successfully adding the extras.
On the same afternoon, in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup, two games took place.
Ballyclare High School 2ndxv played Wallace High School 2ndxv in a game the Wallace High School team won by a comfortable 36-0.
Rainey Endowed School 2ndxv was scheduled to have played played Methodist College, Belfast 2ndxv but, due to the fact the Rainey Endowed 1stxv was playing in their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage game, this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Round 3 has been rescheduled to be replayed prior to the end of term
Royal Belfast Academical Institution 2ndxv hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn 2ndxv and won the game by 40-0.
In the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy, Limavady Grammar School hosted Coleraine Grammar School in a closely contested high scoring game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 31-25.
In the last of the delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 2nd Round games, Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv played Royal School, Armagh 3rdxv in a game the Royal School, Armagh 3rdxv team won by 40-0.
On Thursday 14th December Portadown College 2ndxv played Omagh Academy 2ndxv in the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy.
The Omagh Academy 2ndxv won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy Round 1 game by 17-10.
Later that evening a Danske Bank Ulster U17 Schools’ squad played the touring New South Wales Raptors team in another closely contested game the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team won by 15-14.
This game was played at Belfast Harlequin’s RFC and both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Belfast Harlequin’s RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
On Friday 15th December Coleraine Grammar School hosted Ballyclare High School at the Castlerock Road venue.
The Coleraine Grammar School team won the high scoring game by 33-22 and scored five tries in the process.
Ollie McClean, Zack McCartney, Joshua Hawe, Joel Madden and Myles Johnston scored one try apiece for the Coleraine Grammar School team with Jordan McAuley adding three successful conversion kicks.
The Ballyclare High School team scored four tries through Lewis Flynn, Andrew Cooper, Josh McColgan and Reuben Ennis. Harry Thompson added the extras to one of the Ballyclare High School tries.
On the same afternoon Sullivan Upper School 2ndxv played Royal School, Dungannon 2ndxv in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup.
The Sullivan Upper School 2ndxv won this game by 35-19.
Meanwhile, at the Magheralave Road venue in Lisburn, Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Sullivan Upper School in a 1stxv friendly game.
The Sullivan Upper School 1stxv team won this game by 26-12.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn points came through 2nd half tries from Conor Harvey and Rob Henderson with Ross Glover adding one successful conversion.
The Sullivan Upper School team scored tries through Ruan Waryck, Nathan Noble, Alex Dunlop and Harry McKeown with Harry McKeown adding three successful conversions.
On Saturday 16th December, as well as three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Round 3 games, two 1st Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy games, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Round 2 game and one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 3 game, a few 1stxv friendly games were scheduled to be played.
In the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup. Banbridge Academy 2ndxv hosted Belfast Royal Academy 2ndxv in a game the Belfast Royal Academy 2ndxv won by 47-19.
Bangor Grammar School 2ndxv played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 2ndxv and the game ended with the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 2ndxv team recording a 40-19 victory.
Regent House School 2ndxv played Ballymena Academy 2ndxv and, on the back of an impressive “Man of the Match” performance from Zac Parker, the Regent House School 2ndxv won the game by 22-20.
The Royal School, Armagh 2ndxv game against Campbell College, Belfast 2ndxv has been rescheduled for Tuesday 19th December.
In the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy Belfast High School 2ndxv was scheduled to have played Antrim Grammar School 2ndxv but this game, for a variety of reasons, has been rescheduled.
Grosvenor Grammar School 2ndxv played Dalriada School 2ndxv in a game the Dalriada School 2ndxv won by 22-5.
Larne Grammar School 2ndxv played Dromore High School 2ndxv in a game the Dromore High School 2ndxv won by 19-10.
In the last delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 2nd Round game, Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4thxv hosted Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4thxv won this game by 24-17.
Following all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Round 2 games being completed the draws were released for the 1/4 Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup and the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate.
The results of these draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 1/4 Final Draw
1/Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4thxv v Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv
2/Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv v Royal School, Armagh 3rdxv
3/Campbell College, Belfast 3rdxv v Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock 1stxv
4/Ballymena Academy 3rdxv v Wallace High School 3rdxv
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 1/4 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 27th January 2024.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate 1st Round Draw
1/Down High School 3rdxv v Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv
2/Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3rdxv v Limavady Grammar School 3rdxv
3/Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5thxv v Regent House School 3rdxv
5/Ballyclare High School 3rdxv v Banbridge Academy 3rdxv
5/Methodist College, Belfast 5thxv v Royal School, Armagh 4thxv
6/Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv v Bye
7/Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv v Bye
8/Rainey Endowed School 3rdxv v Bye
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate 1st Round games MUST be played on/before Saturday 13th January 2024 with the option of playing before the Christmas break.
In the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Grosvenor Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School in a game the Antrim Grammar School team won by 10-5.
Quite a few 1stxv friendly games were scheduled to have taken place on Saturday 16th December,
However, due to a number of factors, including Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage midweek replays, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup games and end of term tours, some of the previously scheduled 1stxv friendly games did not take place.
Belfast Royal Academy played a controlled 3×20 minute session against Banbridge Academy in a no scoring training game.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted St Mary’s College from Dublin and won a very closely contested game by 13-12.
The Campbell College, Belfast captain, James McConnell, scored a try which was converted by Henry Ralston. Henry weighed in with two successful penalty kicks as well.
Aaron O’Brien and Cillian Jacobs scored the St Mary’s College tries with Evan Moynihan kicking one successful conversion.
Carrickfergus Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School in a game the Antrim Grammar School team won by 22-0.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School coaches used this game as an opportunity to give extra game time to a number of their younger squad members. Twelve of the starting fifteen were Year 12 pupils all of whom benefitted greatly from the experience.
Aaron McReynolds, Joshua Soeters, Logan McLaughlin, Ivan Onyshenko and Cameron Brown all impressed for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team with their determination and commitment throughout the game.
“Man of the Match”, Jake Quigley scored a brace of tries for the Antrim Grammar School team with Eoin Byrne and Bailie Coates touching down for one try apiece. Boris Lestiansky was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
Wallace High School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution and recorded an impressive 32-7 win.
Matthew Dickson, Harry Lightbody, Lewis Stevenson and Rio McDonagh scored the Wallace High School tries with Lewis adding three successful conversions as well as two successful penalty kicks.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution points came through a Blake McClean try which was converted by Alex Place.
