Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 8th March 2025.
On Monday 3rd March the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup semi-final replay, featuring Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Wallace High School, eventually took place at Osborne Park.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won the game by 29-12 and will now play Campbell College, Belfast in the long awaited final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup.
Later that evening, Foyle and Londonderry College U17 team played the Ulster Clubs’ U17 team at the Meadowbank Centre in Magherafelt.
The Ulster Clubs’ team won this game by 17-7.
The Foyle College points came through a try from Shay Grimes which was converted by Niall Kelly.
The Ulster Clubs’ points came through tries from David Dragan, Dungannon FC, Joshua Woods, Ballynahinch RFC and Conor Frazer, Malone RFC.
Joshua was successful also with one conversion kick.
Following the U17 game, the Ulster Clubs’ U18 team played Coleraine Grammar School in a game the Ulster Clubs’ team won with a last play of the game drop goal which secured them a 15-12 victory.
The Coleraine Grammar School team scored two tries through Luke McMillan and Hayden Dickson to which Joshua Hawe added one successful conversion kick.
The Ulster Clubs scored two tries through Adam Blaine, Ballynahinch RFC and Dylan Byrne, Dungannon FC.
Jack Robinson added one successful conversion as well as his match winning drop goal.
On Tuesday 4th March, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield final took place at the Kingspan Stadium where Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Friends’ School, Lisburn.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield by 38-7.
After the final whistle, Laurence Rocke, President of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Andrew Michell, and his team of Mark Hermin, Michael Pollock and Billy Halliday, for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked Paula Bradley, Chris Webster and the Ulster Branch staff, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 20th season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Laurence, alongside Andrew Sproule, Senior Project Manager at the Danske Bank, then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield to Matthew Watkins, captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution Medallion team.
On Wednesday 5th March, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl final took place at the Kingspan Stadium where Ballyclare High school played Limavady Grammar School.
The Ballyclare High School team won the game by 38-3, scoring five tries and kicking five conversions as well as one penalty in the process.
Austin Adair and Ben Vance touched down for two tries each with Josh Tweed running in for a fifth try.
James Woodside added the extras to all the tries and converted the penalty goal.
The Limavady Grammar School team started the game strongly and took an early 3-0 lead when James Laird converted a penalty kick opportunity.
Both teams were delighted to have this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl final played at the Kingspan Stadium and would like to thank all those who made it possible.
After the final whistle, Laurence Rocke, President of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Jonathan Diamond, and his team of John Adams, Jack Coyle and Nick Scott, for the way in which they controlled the game, Paula Bradley, Chris Webster and the Ulster Branch staff, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 20th season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Laurence, alongside Aaron Ennis, Head of Specialist Business at the Danske Bank, then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl to Isaac Shiels, captain of the victorious Ballyclare High School team.
Meanwhile, at Pirrie Park, Antrim Grammar School played Larne Grammar School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy.
The Antrim Grammar School team won the game by 22-19.
Tom McNeilly, Jonah Woolley and Eoin Byrne scored the Antrim Grammar School tries.
Isaac Lynn added the extras to two of the tries as well as converting one penalty kick.
The Larne Grammar School team was leading the game for a long period of time.
Their points came through tries from Ryan McDowell, with a brace and Max Gault.
Ethan Duncan was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
After the final whistle, Hugh McC Logan, a former President of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Paul Morriss, for the way in which he controlled the game, thanked Methodist College, Belfast and especially Nick Wells, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 20th season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Hugh then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy to, Jack McNeilly, captain of the victorious Antrim Grammar School team.
On Friday 7th March, Deramore Park was the venue when Campbell College, Belfast played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup final by 15-5.
After the final whistle, Neale Wilson, representative of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Colin Stanley, and his team of Rory Stewart and Dave Henderson for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked Belfast Harlequin’s RFC and especially Richie Stevens, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 20th season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Neale then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup to Luis Keenan, captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
On Saturday 8th March, Malone RFC was the venue when the Rainey Endowed School Medallion team played the Down High School Medallion team in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate.
The Down High School Medallion team won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final by 32-13.
After the final whistle, Gary Greer, a member of the USRFR and former Medallion Plate winning coach, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Neil Robertson, for the way in which he controlled the game, Malone RFC, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 20th season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Gary then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate to Oran Denvir, captain of the Down High School Medallion team.
Looking towards next season, one U17 game took place when Lurgan College hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Friends’ School, Lisburn team won by 26-12.
The Lurgan College points came through tries from Andrew Lyttle and Alex McMeekin with Ben Maxwell adding the extras to one of the tries.
The Friends’ School team scored four tries through Scott Henderson, with a brace and Jonny Sammons and Patrick Arnold running in for one try apiece.
Ross Glover was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Both schools played a game involving only U18 final year leavers which the Friends’ School, Lisburn team won by 36-0.
Cillian Quinn and Ethan Salt each scored two tries with Joel Collins and Lewis Fitzpatrick each scoring one try.
Ethan Salt added two successful conversions with Joel Collins kicking a third successful conversion.
Quite a few blitz tournaments, involving U12, U13 and U14 players have been played at schools in recent weeks.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted a recent Year 8 tournament at Roughfort which involved some 320 players in a series of games.
Rainey Endowed School and Methodist College, Belfast shared the Cup with Coleraine Grammar School emerging as Trophy winners.
Down High School hosted a 12 team tournament involving around 270 players with Wallace High School winning the Shield, Regent House School winning the Bowl and Grosvenor Grammar School and Killicomaine Junior High School sharing the Trophy.
The annual Royal Belfast Academical Institution U14 Tournament took place with around 460 players from 20 schools involved.
Terenure College, Dublin won the Cup, Larne Grammar School won the Plate, Dromore High School won the Trophy with Regent House School and Omagh Academy sharing the Bowl.
Dalriada School, Campbell College, Belfast, Belfast High School and Cambridge House Grammar School played out an entertaining series of blitz games involving some 100 U13 players.
