Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 8th February 2025.
On Tuesday 4th February, at Ards RFC, Regent House School and Royal School, Armagh Medallion teams replayed their previously drawn Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl 1/2 Final game.
Royal School, Armagh won the game by 8-3 and will now meet Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl.
On Wednesday 5th February, the 2nd Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate 1/2 Final game finally took place when Royal School, Armagh 2ndxv played the Friends’ School, Lisburn 2ndxv at the College Hill venue.
The Royal School, Armagh team won the game by 47-7 and will now play Ballyclare High School 2ndxv in the final.
Larne Grammar School hosted Strabane Academy in the 1/4 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy and won the game against a very spirited Strabane Academy team by 40-0.
The Larne Grammar School team tries were scored by Ethan Duncan, Nicholas Robinson, Sam Jackson, Reece Renwick, Jonathan Dallas and Matthew Crawford.
Ethan Duncan added the extras to five of the Larne Grammar School tries.
On the same afternoon, Portadown College 3rdxv played Wallace High School 3rdxv in the 1/2 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup.
The Wallace High School team won this game by 36-5.
The 2nd 1/2 Final in the Danske Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup took place at Campbell College, Belfast when Campbell College 3rdxv played Campbell College 4thxv.
The Campbell College, Belfast 3rdxv won this game by 50-10 and will now meet Wallace High School 3rdxv in the final.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Trophy 1/2 Final, Belfast Royal Academy hosted Carndonagh Community College at Roughfort.
The Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Trophy 1/2 Final game by 38-12.
Later that afternoon, Ballymena Academy 3rdxv played Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv in the 2nd 1/2 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Trophy.
It was only in the final stages of this game that the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team pulled away to win the game by 22-3.
On Friday 7th February, Cambridge House Grammar School played Friends’ School, Lisburn in the 1/4 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition.
When that doyen of the USRFR, Mark Orr, blew the final whistle in this game, the scoreboard read Cambridge House Grammar School 7 Friends’ School, Lisburn 27.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team contributed a lot to the power and pace of this game.
Their points cam from a Scott Steele try which was converted by Justin Marks.
Despite not controlling either territory or possession for long periods of time, the Friends’ School, Lisburn team scored four tries in the course of the game.
The pace of Andrew Jordan enabled him to touch down for two tries with Tadgh McMaster and Isaac Warwick touching down for one try each.
Ross Glover added conversions to two of the Friends’ School, Lisburn tries as well as kicking one penalty goal.
Meanwhile, Grosvenor Grammar School played Ballyclare High School in the 1/4 Final of the same competition.
Ballyclare High School recorded a 41-0 victory over the spirited Grosvenor Grammar School team.
The Ballyclare High School team scored their points through tries from Ross Ferguson, with two, Andrew Cooper, with two, Paddy McCleary, with two and Ben Vance with one.
James Woodside added the extras to three of the Ballyclare High School tries.
Saturday 8th February was a busy day of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Shield, Bowl and Trophy games.
In the 1/4 Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Rainey Endowed School hosted Ballymena Academy in an exciting game the Rainey Endowed School team won by 24-17.
Despite going 3-0 behind to a Reuben Allen penalty early in the game, the Rainey Endowed School team recovered to score an unconverted try from Charlie McConville, and take a 5-3 lead.
A second half try from Emmett McNulty, converted by Owen O’Kane, alongside four Own O’Kane penalties, secured the 24 points for the Rainey Endowed School team.
The remaining Ballymena Academy points came through tries from James Gregg and Ruari Kennedy, both of which were converted by Reuben Allen.
Royal School, Armagh played Regent House School and emerged from the very closely contested encounter with a hard-earned 25-22 victory.
Charlie Reaney, with a brace, Sam Gray and Willie Boyd scored the Royal School, Armagh tries.
Evan Hughes added one successful conversion as well as one successful penalty kick.
The Regent House School team points came through a penalty try, as well as one try each from Daniel Moore and Noah Miskimmin.
Josh Colville added the extras to one try as well as converting one penalty kick opportunity.
Sullivan Upper School played Belfast Royal Academy in another closely contested encounter from which the Belfast Royal Academy team emerged as 20-17 winners.
The Belfast Royal Academy took a 7-0 lead, ten minutes into the game, when Jayden Irwin touched down for a try which was converted by Conor McVicker.
This became 10-0 for the Belfast Royal Academy team when Conor McVicker converted a penalty kick.
The Sullivan Upper School team responded with a try from Nathan Noble, converted by Hamish Johnston, to leave the scoreboard reading Sullivan Upper School 7 Belfast Royal Academy 10 at the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Sullivan Upper School team took the lead for the first time in the game.
A Jack Law try, converted by Hamish Johnston, saw their team into a 14-10 lead.
Back came the Belfast Royal Academy team withy a try from Caleb McWhinney, converted by Conor McVicker, to give their team a 17-14 lead.
A second Conor McVicker penalty, then increased that Belfast Royal Academy lead to 20-14.
A Hamish Johnston penalty reduced the Sullivan Upper School deficit to 20-17 but, despite their best efforts, and good Belfast Royal Academy defence, the Sullivan Upper School team was unable to add to the scoreboard before the no-side whistle sounded.
Wallace High School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution and won the game by 21-3.
The Wallace High School team points came through tries from Ben Moore, Sam Warwick and James Gould.
Josh Geddis had a good game “off the tee” with three successful conversion kicks.
Charlie O’Connor scored the Royal Belfast Academical Institution points with an early game successful penalty kick.
In the 1/4 Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Shield, Banbridge Academy played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and won the game by 14-10.
Ryan Hanna and Peter Lewis scored the Banbridge Academy tries with Andrew Jackson adding the extras to both.
Sam Clark scored an early try for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team with Sam Paon adding the conversion as well as one second half penalty.
Campbell College, Belfast played Coleraine Grammar School and recorded a 38-7 victory.
The Campbell College, Belfast team scored six tries through Jed Dornan, with two, Conor McKinney, Paul Lunney, Russ Lovo and Oli Park.
Henry Ralston was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Coleraine Grammar School team contributed a lot to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Oliver McLean touched down for a try, following some great work from the talented Joshua Hawe.
Joshua then added the extras to the Coleraine Grammar School try.
Dalriada School should have played Down High School but the game was postponed on Friday 7th due to frozen pitches.
The replay has been arranged to take place on Monday 10th February.
Methodist College, Belfast played Bangor Grammar School and got back to winning ways with a 38-7 victory.
Sam Nixon, Peter Malloy, Matthew Gourley, with two and Harry Doherty, with two were the Methodist College, Belfast try scorers.
Louis Curran added the extras to four of the tries.
The Bangor Grammar School points came through the award of a penalty try.
In the two remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl 1/4 Final games, Limavady Grammar School played Portadown College and recorded a 27-21 victory.
The Limavady Grammar School team scored three tries through Seth Guy, with two and Dara McAuley.
James Laird added the conversions to all three tries as well as kicking two successful penalty goals.
The Portadown College points came through tries from Tyler Jackson, who touched down twice and Jack Todd.
Danny Guy added three successful conversions.
Royal School, Dungannon played Omagh Academy in a game that saw the Royal School, Dungannon emerge with a hard fought, but ultimately well-deserved, 29-20 victory.
With players such as Isaac Busby, James Gibson and Blake Redmond to the fore, the Royal School, Dungannon team started the game strongly.
The Omagh Academy team, with Sam Harper to the fore, and well assisted by Ryan Mitchell and Harry McIlwaine made the Royal School, Dungannon team work hard for their victory.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored their points with tries from Josh Ferguson, James Gibson, Max Patterson, Blake Redmond and James Shaw.
James Gibson was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
The Omagh Academy team scored their points with tries from Ryan Mitchell, Lewis McIvor and Jack Adams.
Sam Harper added one conversion as well as one penalty goal.
In the 1/4 Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy, Antrim Grammar School played Lurgan College and won the game by 19-10.
Rhys McGrandlles, Tom McNeilly and Jonah Woolley each scored one try for the Antrim Grammar School team.
Isaac Lynn was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
The Lurgan College team worked hard throughout the game and got some reward when Andrew Bird touched down for a try to which, having already kicked a penalty goal, Andrew Lyttle added the conversion.
Bangor Academy played Foyle and Londonderry College in a game the Foyle and Londonderry College team won by 19-0.
Despite not scoring any points, the Bangor Academy team contributed a lot to the game and made the Foyle College team work hard for every point they scored.
The Foyle and Londonderry College team scored their points with tries from Kaine McClelland, who touched down twice and Ben Kennedy.
Thomas Williamson added the conversions to two of the Foyle College tries.
Dromore High School played Belfast High School in an exciting game the Dromore High School team won by 22-20.
The Dromore High School points came through tries from Alan Tate, Daniel Ennis-McManus, Jonny Beckett and Harry Cromie.
Daniel added also one successful conversion kick.
The Belfast High School team scored two tries through Ben Gardner and Rory Dunlop.
Archie Cruickshank added two successful conversions as well as two successful penalty kicks for the Belfast High School team.
Once the results of all the games were known, the draws for the 1/2 Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Shield, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy took place in Royal School, Dungannon.
The draws were organised by Richard Clingan, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Committee, and Chris Webster, Ulster Rugby Domestic Manager.
Mrs Ruth Maxwell, Principal of Omagh Academy, Dr David Burnett, Principal of Royal School, Dungannon and Chris Webster made the draws.
The results of the draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/2 Finals.
1/Royal School, Armagh v Rainey Endowed School.
2/Wallace High School v Belfast Royal Academy.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1/2 Finals will be played at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th February at 2-30pm.
The first team listed for each game will have the use of the Ulster Home changing rooms on 1/2 Final Day with the winners of the first game listed having use of the Ulster Home changing rooms on March 17th.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Shield 1/2 Finals.
1/Dalriada School/Down High School v Campbell College, Belfast
2/Banbridge Academy v Methodist College, Belfast.
These games are played at the home grounds of the first teams listed with the winners of Game 1 having use of the Ulster Home changing rooms at the Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday March 12th.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Shield 1/2 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 22nd February.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl 1/2 Finals.
1/Royal School, Dungannon v Ballyclare High School.
2/Limavady Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl 1/2 Final games are played at the home grounds of the first teams listed with the winners of Game 1 having use of the Ulster Home changing rooms at the Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday March 5th.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl 1/2 Finals MUST be played on/before Saturday 22nd February
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy 1/2 Finals.
1/Dromore High School v Antrim Grammar School.
2/Foyle and Londonderry College v Larne Grammar School.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy 1/2 Final games are played at the home grounds of the first teams listed and MUST be played on/before Saturday 22nd February.
