There was one midweek fixture played on Tuesday 7th October when the Royal School, Dungannon team hosted the touring Dilworth School from Auckland, New Zealand.
Prior to the kick off the recently formed Royal School, Dungannon Pipes and Drums ensemble led the players from both teams, along with the match officials, onto the WK Armstrong pitch. The Dilworth players then performed their version of the Haka which was well received by the large gathering of supporters who had come along, in glorious sunshine, to watch the game. The Dilworth players were on an end of season tour to various parts of the UK and this game was their final fixture. The Dilworth visitors emerged from the game as 53-10 winners with both teams giving their all in the course of the game. The physically bigger New Zealand team set their stall out early in the game when their No 8, Shem Setu, raced in for a try with only minutes on the clock. David Alofi converted the try to give the Dilworth team a 7-0 lead. The RS Dungannon team displayed great character and determination throughout the game and got their first points of the game when John Buckley converted a penalty opportunity to reduce the arrears to 7-3. The Dilworth team then went on to control the game for long periods of time and took a 14-3 lead when Corey Betham touched down for a try which David Alofi converted. David was then successful with a penalty kick to increase the Dilworth lead to 17-3. Matthew Peters then touched down for an unconverted try to put his team into a 22-3 lead. This became 27-3 when replacement player, David Paea, scored a try following a good interchange of passes involving both forwards and backs. Just before the break Shem Setu scored his second try of the game, which David Alofi converted, to see his team into a 34-3 lead at the interval.
The RS Dungannon team started the second half displaying great determination with backrow players Josh Patton, Peter Doran and especially, Josh McKee, getting through a great deal of work. However, there was little they could do to prevent Sione Akokava running in for a try, which was converted by David Alofi, to increase the Dilworth lead to 41-3. The hard working RS Dungannon team then got some reward for their endeavours when the spurned a number of opportunities to kick penalty points. The impressive Josh McKee led the way with a number of pick and drive attacks before Thomas Dowling was awarded a well-deserved try for the young Dungannon team. Captain, John Buckley, converted the try to reduce the deficit to 41-10. The Dilworth team sprang back into action once again but found the RS Dungannon scramble defence, at times, hard to break down. However, Selwyn Loamanu did find his way through to score an unconverted try and increase the Dilworth lead to 46-10. With little time remaining, Norman Kupu scored an eighth Dilworth try, which David Alofi converted, to secure a 53-10 for the Dilworth School team. Following the game, the real essence of schoolboy rugby was displayed when both teams joined together for a series of photographs and the Dilworth players and management poignantly reflected on their last match together as a team.
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One further midweek game was played on Wednesday 8th October when Friends’ School, Lisburn travelled to play Larne Grammar School.
Both teams endured dreadful overhead conditions in the course of the game with the Larne Grammar School team eventually emerging as 27-21 winners. Friends’ started the game slowly and conceded two tries within the first fifteen minutes with the dominant Larne Grammar pack causing the visitors all sorts of problems. Friends’ bounced back quickly with a well worked try which was finished by Niall McCabe and converted by Ryan Hall. Missed tackles, due to difficult playing conditions, enabled Larne GS to score a further two tries in the first half to increase their lead to 24-7. However the half was not over as, with the final play, Curtis Dundas showed great strength and skill to go over the Larne line for a try, which Ryan Hall converted, to take the score at half time to 24-14 in favour of the Larne Grammar School.
The second half started off more positively for Friends’ as they fronted up well in defence and held out a determined Larne pack. Through some good phases of play, Friends’ managed to get the ball out wide with Ryan Hall finishing strongly in the corner. He then converted his own try from the touch line to reduce the arrears to 27-21. A large amount of the half was spent in the middle of the park, with the two teams evenly matched, showing both strong attack and defence. After many phases of holding the Larne pack out, Friends’ conceded a late penalty in front of the posts allowing Larne to get their first and only points of the half to take the score to 27-21. Friends’ School tried to get back into the game but, with the clock against them, coupled with a strong Larne defence, they were unsuccessful. This ensured the Larne Grammar School team finished the game as 27-21 winners, despite the best intentions of Friends’ School players such as Ryan Hall, Curtis Dundas and captain, Thomas Boyde.
Antrim Grammar School had reason to celebrate when they defeated a Dalriada “Select” xv by 20-0 in a recent game.
The Antrim team scored four tries in the course of that game. Debutant, Louis Higgins scored the first try with JJ McKee running in for a fine solo try to touch down for the second try and give his team a 10-0 lead at the interval.
The second half saw the Antrim Grammar School team score two more tries with James Mawhinney taking advantage of good work from his team mates to score both. This was a well-deserved win for the young Antrim GS team with several of their players experiencing 1stxv rugby for the first time.
The Antrim Grammar School team went on to play Cambridge House on Saturday 11th October.
The Antrim team started the game strongly but could not hold to an early lead and lost the game by 22-5. Antrim Grammar School opened their account when JJ McKee ran in for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. The Cambridge House team responded with an unconverted try from Aaron Henry to see the scoreline read 5-5 at the break.
The second half saw the Cambridge House team control the set piece plays which ensured they enjoyed a territorial advantage. Sam Nicholl displayed great awareness before rumbling over for an unconverted try to put his Cambridge House team into a 10-5 lead. This soon became 17-5 when Josh Henry cleverly off-loaded to Ben McIlroy and the full back touched down for a try. James Bovill was successful with his conversion kick. Close to the end of the game Cambridge House sealed their 22-5 win when Jack Livingstone scored an unconverted try in the corner.
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Rainey Endowed School produced a “Select”xv to play Larne Grammar School in a game the Rainey team won by 28-14.
The Rainey team had built up a 21-0 lead by half time with tries from Andrew Brown, Lorcan Quinn and Todd Smyth. Lorcan also converted all three tries.
The second half saw the Larne Grammar School team score two converted tries but the Rainey Endowed team had Andrew Conway to thank for their fourth try of the game. Lorcan Quinn converted the try to secure the 28-14 victory for the Rainey Endowed team.
The Belfast Royal Academy team has had a difficult start to the season and things did not get any easier when they hosted a very powerful Wallace High School team.
The Wallace team won the game by 65-0, scoring eleven tries in the process. Star of the show was Ulster Schools’ full back, Philip Hylands, who scored four of the tries as well as adding two conversions. Not far behind came the Ulster Schools’ scrum half, Jonny Stewart, who touched down for two tries as well as being successful with three conversion kicks. Graham Malley, Connor Guiney, Ikenna Nzewi, Ben Finlay and Paddy Ferguson were the remaining Wallace High School try scorers.
Methodist College hosted a Ballymena Academy that took an early 7-0 lead in the game with a try from Tom Alexander which was converted by Josh McIlroy.
However, this lead appeared to be something of a false dawn as the Methody team went on to win the game by 28-7. Following the early setback, the Methody team responded positively and opened their account when Lewis Ioane took advantage of good work from Conor Kelly to run in for a try. Gareth Millar was successful with his conversion kick. Just before the end of the first half, Daniel Coulter took advantage of a very effective Methody maul to touch down for a try. Gareth Millar converted the try to see his team into 14-7 lead at the break.
The Ballymena Academy team launched a series of attacks throughout the second half but could find no way through a very effective Methody defence, in which Ali McIvor was outstanding. The Methody team worked out a couple of try scoring opportunities near the end of the game with Daniel Coulter scoring his second try of the game and Saul Herdman his first! Gareth Millar converted both tries to ensure the 28-7 victory for the Methodist College team.
Belfast High School hosted Ballyclare High School in a game the Ballyclare High School team won by 26-3.
The Belfast High School team took a 3-0 lead when Joel McBride converted a penalty kick. This score might have doubled only for Joel to see a second well struck penalty kick rebound off the upright. There were no further scores in the first half.
The second half saw the Ballyclare High School team dominate proceedings with Matthew Darling intercepting a loose Belfast High School pass to run in from the half way line and touch down for an unconverted try which gave his team a 5-3 lead. Further pressure from the Ballyclare High School team presented Zac McMurran with a try scoring opportunity under the Belfast High School posts. Matthew McDowell converted the try to put the visitors into a 12-3 lead. Ballyclare HS winger, Paddy Mooney, then outwitted his opposite number to score a try which Matthew McDowell converted to put the Ballyclare team into a 19-3 lead. With the last play of the game Alistair Burke broke out of defence to run in for a fourth Ballyclare High School try. Matthew McDowell converted the try to ensure the 26-3 win for the Ballyclare High School team.
Coleraine Academical Institution hosted the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team in a game the Belfast team won by 25-7.
The Belfast Inst team had opened up a 15-0 lead by the interval. Conor Field scored two tries with TJ Morris adding one conversion as well as a penalty kick.
The second half saw the Coleraine AI team dominate proceedings with their pack causing great concern for the Belfast Inst pack at set piece time. They got rewarded for their hard work when team captain, Peter Bonnar, was on the end of a driven maul to get the touch down. Callum Smith added the extras to reduce the arrears to 15-7. However, it was the Belfast Inst team that finished the stronger when TJ Morris converted a penalty opportunity and Ben McGavock scored a try which TJ converted.
Foyle and Londonderry College hosted Carrickfergus Grammar School in a game the Foyle team won by 18-12.
Alex McDonnell put his Foyle College team into a 3-0 lead when he converted a penalty kick. The Carrickfergus Grammar School team responded positively when Jake Porter crashed through the Foyle defence to score a try. Jake added the conversion to give his team a 7-3 lead. Alex McDonnell reduced the arrears to 7-6 when he was successful with his second penalty of the game. Foyle then scored a try through Philip Carroll, which was converted by Alex McDonnell, to take a 13-7 lead by halftime.
Ryan Marshall gave the Foyle College team an 18-7 lead when he outpaced the Carrickfergus GS defence and ran in for an unconverted try. The Carrickfergus Grammar School team displayed great determination and good work from their pack allowed Adam Urquhart to make a break before off-loading to Reece Berry who finished with a fine try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Carriockfergus team had reduced the deficit to 18-12. The Carrickfergus GS team went all out to win the game but good pressure from the Foyle defence forced them to cough up possession on numerous occasions. This ensured the game finished with the Foyle and Londonderry College emerging as 18-12 winners.
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Lurgan College hosted a Banbridge Academy team that was delighted to win the game by 14-12.
The Banbridge Academy team had built up a 14-0 lead by halftime with tries from Matthew Bell and their impressive scrum half, Jordan Mount. Outhalf, Ben Carson was successful with both conversions.
The second half saw the Lurgan College pack, with Harry Simpson and Nathan Moffett to the fore, win more set piece ball for their talented backline to use. Jonny Hunter made a telling break before finding Ryan Osborne who finished off with a fine try. The conversion kick was unsuccessful but the Lurgan College team had reduced the arrears to 14-5. Good defensive work from the Lurgan College team forced the Banbridge Academy team to turn over ball on a number of occasions. It was following one of these turnovers that Richie Hull was sent away to score a try in the corner for the Lurgan College team. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the Banbridge Academy team held out for their 14-10 victory.
Down High School recorded an impressive 36-0 against a Portadown College team that was expecting to do better following the good form displayed in their previous game. The home team had opened up a 29-0 lead by the interval with tries from Johnny McCoubrey, Ross Carlisle, Aaron Chambers, Luke Dandford and Clayton Milligan. Ross Carlisle was successful with two conversions.
The second half proved to be a scrappy affair with the only score coming from Luke Sandford who touched down having taken advantage of some slack Portadown College defence. Ross Carlisle added the extras to give his team a comfortable 36-0 win.
Regent House made the Campbell College team work hard before the Campbell team emerged from the game as 20-5 winners.
The first half proved to be evenly contested and the score was 0-0 at the break. Injuries to three key players impacted on the Regent House team and they ran in twenty quick points in the third quarter of the game. The Regent House team did get some reward for all their efforts when Ryan McCarroll scored an unconverted try to leave the Campbell College team as 20-5 winners.
Undefeated Sullivan Upper kept their record intact when they hosted Dalriada School.
The Sullivan Upper team won the game by 40-17 against a team that made them work hard for the win. The game was played with both teams displaying a great deal of pace and intensity. The Ballymoney boys started well and maintained the pressure on the Sullivan Upper defence. Matthew Christie intercepted a loose pass and off-loaded to Thomas Hunter who sliced through the defence and galloped fifty metres downfield before linking with Matthew Kernoghan. Realising he was not going to beat the cover defence, Matthew delivered the scoring pass to Aaron Sparks who ran in for a try. Michael Finnerty added the conversion and Dalriada led 7-0. This bolstered the self-belief in the Dalriada team and they began to put real pressure on the Sullivan attack which looked slick and very well drilled when in possession. Despite the loss of a number of players to injury, the performance of the Dalriada team continued to excite the big crowd who were enjoying the spectacle and no-one was surprised when Michael Finnerty added a further three points as a result of another Sullivan infringement. Behind by 10-0, the Holywood boys had to raise their game and, were it not for some excellent defence by Dalriada, they would have conceded several scores. Eventually, the much larger Sullivan team stretched the defence too far and their right winger, Chris Jordan, showed blistering pace to score a try just before halftime. Calum Jeffrey added the conversion to leave the Dalriada team with a 10-7 lead at the break.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first with both teams playing attacking rugby and defending with aggression and organisation. Unfortunately,from a Dalriada perspective, as the second half progressed the much larger Sullivan team began to force the pace and use their physical superiority to their advantage. Chris Jordan scored two more tries with Fergus Jemphrey scoring one. Calum Jeffrey converted all three to put the Holywood boys into a 28-10 lead. Nevertheless, hard work by Matthew Christie, Scott Malcolmson, Angus Johnston and Aaron Sparks helped to steady the Dalriada ship but they then lost two more influential players to injury. Sullivan Upper scored two tries through Max Clarke and Ryan Spence. Calum Jeffrey converted one to see his team into a 40-10 lead. Despite this, the Dalriada heads did not drop and the Dalriada team was keen to finish the game well. This positive attitude meant that an aggressive defence forced a Sullivan player to spill the ball which was collected by Thomas Hunter who sprinted clear to score under the posts allowing Aaron Sparks an easy conversion to finish the game with a final score of 40-17 in favour of the Sullivan Upper team.
Omagh Academy defeated the Royal School, Dungannon team by 25-0.
The RS Dungannon team had difficulties in containing the attacking instincts of the Omagh Academy in the first half of the game. The Omagh team had built up a 20-0 lead by the break with Stuart Ballantine kicking a penalty, Adam Stephenson taking advantage of good work from Matthew Clyde and Jonny Anderson to touch down twice and Dean Kane scoring his first senior rugby try. Stuart Ballantine was successful with one conversion.
The RS Dungannon team got to grips with the game during parts of the second half. Jonny Buckley, Josh McKee, Josh Patton and Adam Cranston all asked questions of the Omagh Academy defence but found players such as Ethan McKeown and Clive Hawkes to be unyielding. The Omagh Academy team sealed their well-deserved 25-0 victory when, ten minutes from time, James Longwell took the ball of a well worked Omagh Academy lineout to score an unconverted try in the corner.
The Royal School, Armagh team hosted a Blackrock College “Select” xv in an entertaining game the visitors from Dublin won narrowly by 15-13.
Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted the Grosvenor Grammar School team in a game the Grosvenor GS team won by 20-15.
The Grosvenor GS started the game strongly and took a 5-0 lead when Thomas Quinn scored an unconverted try with just two minutes on the clock. The Friends’ School team responded positively and Curtis Dundas brought the scores level at 5-5 when he scored an unconverted try following some Grosvenor GS indecision from the restart. The Grosvenor GS team started to dominate the set pieces and this set the platform for them to score two unconverted tries through James Cartilage and Isaac Richardson to put the Grosvenor GS team into a 15-5 lead. Following this, David Newell and Mark Dodds combined to split the Grosvenor GS defence and send Ryan Hall away to score a fine try under the posts. Ryan converted the try to reduce the deficit for the Friends’ team to 15-12 at the break.
After the break the Friends’ team looked as if they were going to make a great comeback. However, a missed tackle allowed the Grosvenor GS outhalf, Mark Johnston, to get away and he scored an unconverted try in the corner. The Grosvenor GS team now had a 20-12 lead but the Friends’ team reduced the arrears to 20-15 when Ryan Hall converted a penalty kick with ten minutes remaining. David Stewart, Curtis Dundas and Ryan Hall all tried to break the Grosvenor Grammar School defence down to seal a victory for the Lisburn team. However, the Grosvenor GS defence held firm and this ensured it was the Grosvenor Grammar School team that celebrated a hard-earned 20-15 victory at the end of the game.
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