Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 10th December 2016
There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Round 2 game played on Wednesday 7th December, the last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup and Plate games played on the same day and one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 2nd Round game played on Thursday 8th December, in the lead up to a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 2nd Round games and a full list of schoolboy friendly fixtures played on Saturday 10th December.
On Wednesday 7th December Royal Belfast Academical Institution 2ndxv hosted Coleraine Grammar School 2nd xv in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup at Osborne Park. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won the game by 60-3.
On the same afternoon Methodist College 4thxv hosted Campbell College 3rdxv in the last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 2nd Round games. Methodist College 4thxv won the game by 11-5.
In the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Ballyclare Secondary School hosted the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5th xv in a game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution won by 34-24. On the same afternoon St Columb’s College hosted Sullivan Upper 3rdxv in the same competition with the Sullivan Upper team recording a 13-6 victory.
Following the completion of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup and Plate games the draws for the next stages of these competitions took place. The results of the draws are as follows 🙂
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd xv Schools’ Cup 2016/2017 Quarter Final Draw
1 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rd xv v Ballyclare High School 3rd XV
2 Rainey Endowed School 3rd xv v Campbell College, Belfast 4th xv
3 Methodist College, Belfast 3rd xv v Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4thxv
4 Omagh Academy 3rd xv v Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv
QUARTER FINAL Matches to be played on or before WEDNESDAY 18TH JANUARY 2017
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate 2016/17 2nd Round/Quarter Final Draws
2nd Round Draw
1/ Ballymena Academy 3rdxv v Sullivan Upper School 3rdxv
2/ Campbell College, Belfast 3rdxv v Belfast Royal Academy 4th xv
2nd Round games should be completed before Christmas
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Quarter Final Draw
1/ Coleraine Grammar School 3rdxv v Wallace High School 3rdxv
2/Banbridge Academy 3rdxv v Ballymena Academy 3rdxv/Sullivan Upper School 3rdxv
3/Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5th xv v Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv
4/ Portadown College 3rdxv v Campbell College, Belfast 3rdxv/Belfast Royal Academy 4thxv
QUARTER FINAL Matches to be played on or before WEDNESDAY 18TH JANUARY 2017
Schools do have an option to play this game before Christmas
On Thursday 8th December Dromore High School played Ballyclare Secondary School in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield. The Dromore High School team won the game by 48-29.
On Friday 9th December the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squad players were presented with their Ulster jerseys at a presentation ceremony held at Ballymena Rugby Football Club prior to the B&I Cup game featuring the Ulster “A” team and the Cardiff Blues Select xv. Mr Stephen Black, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Committee, and Richard Clingan, Hon Sec of the Ulster Schools’ Committee and Manager of the team, co-ordinated the event. Allen Clarke, a member of the Ulster Coaching staff, addressed the players and their parents, and Les Kiss, Director of Ulster Rugby, presented the players with their jerseys. Former King’s Scholar’s RFC, Ballymena RFC, Ulster and Ireland centre, Ian McIlrath, untied himself from his hectic schedule as the Junior Vice-President of the Irish Rugby Football Union to attend the presentation ceremony. His presence was greatly appreciated by all those in attendance.
On Saturday 10th December Wellington College played Belfast High School, Dalriada School played Grosvenor Grammar School, Regent House School played Cambridge House Grammar School, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Rainey Endowed School, Antrim Grammar School played Foyle and Londonderry College and Portadown College played Lurgan College in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield.
The results of these games were as follows 🙂
Wellington College, Belfast 0 Belfast High School 48
Dalriada School 20 Grosvenor Grammar School 8
Regent House School 10 Cambridge House Grammar School 33
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 19 Rainey Endowed School 5
Antrim Grammar School 7 Foyle and Londonderry College 24
Portadown College 58 Lurgan College 10
The one remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 2nd Round game, featuring Banbridge Academy and Carrickfergus College, is scheduled to be played on Tuesday 13th December.
The draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1st Round games and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 3rd Round games were organised at Limavady Grammar School on Saturday 10th December. All these games are scheduled to take place on/before Saturday 14th January 2017.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Round 1 games
Rainey Endowed School v Regent House School
St Columb’s College v Carrickfergus Grammar School
Grosvenor Grammar School v Larne Grammar School
Strabane Academy v Antrim Grammar School
Ballyclare Secondary School v Bye
Wellington College v Bye
Lurgan College v Bye
Carrickfergus College/Banbridge Academy v Bye
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 3
Dromore High School v Banbridge Academy / Carrick College
Ballymena Academy v Bangor Grammar School
Dalriada School v Coleraine Grammar School
Cambridge House Grammar School v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
Limavady Grammar School v Belfast High School
Ballyclare High School v Portadown College
Foyle & Londonderry College v Omagh Academy
Down High School v Sullivan Upper School
All results to be forwarded to Chris Nash by text 07803335323 or by email to cnash293@c2kni.net
There were eleven schoolboy friendly fixtures played on Saturday 10th December.
At Pirrie Park Methodist College, Belfast hosted Ballyclare High School in a game the Methody team won by 36-3. The Methody team had opened up a 17-3 lead by half time with tries from Paul Kerr, Chris Larmour and Thomas Armstrong. Paul converted one of the tries. The Ballyclare High School points came from an Adam Clarke penalty.
Inspired by a half time talk from team captain, Matty Loane, the Methodist College team went on to take control of all aspects of play in the second half. They scored three more tries with James McConnell touching down twice and Paul Kerr running in for one. Paul added two conversions which secured the 36-3 victory for the Methodist College, Belfast team.
Belfast High School hosted Antrim Grammar School in a game the Belfast High School team won by 20-5. The Antrim GS team started the game strongly with scrum half, Gareth Hull, directing operations for his team. A piece of clever play from Gareth presented team captain and 2nd Row forward, Dean McCrory, with the opportunity to finish off with an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. Belfast High School responded with an unconverted try from Ben Quigg, as well as a penalty from Simon White, to give them an 8-5 lead at the break.
A better second half performance from the visitors led to tries from Quigg, who touched down for his second of the game, and Scott McDowell. Simon White added one conversion to ensure the 20-5 victory for the Belfast High School team.
Banbridge Academy played Belfast Royal Academy in a game the BRA team won by 33-7. The Belfast Royal Academy team had built up a 19-0 lead by the break by scoring three tries in the closing stages of the first half. Conor McCracken touched down twice with Tom Stewart adding the third. Conor McAuley was successful with two conversion kicks.
Despite the best intentions of Banbridge Academy players such as Ross Cartmill and Andrew Denvir, there was little they could do to stop the BRA team extending their lead to 33-0 in the course of the second half. Ten minutes after restart Jack Burton touched down for a try, which Conor McAuley converted, to put his team into a 26-0 lead. Five minutes from the end of the game, the hard working BRA forward, Tom Gilpin, got rewarded for his performance when he ran in for a try. The try was converted by Conor McAuley, to extend the Belfast Royal Academy lead to 33-0. With the final play of the game the spirited Banbridge Academy team got some reward for their approach to the game when Robbie Mathers scored a try, which was converted by Ross Cartmill. The final whistle blew and it was the Belfast Royal Academy team that celebrated their 33-7 victory.
Limavady Grammar School travelled to play Dalriada School and were delighted to come away with a 19-12 victory. James Howe, Gary Kee and Jim McCartney were the try scorers for the Limavady Grammar School team with Jim adding two conversions.
The Dalriada School points came through tries from Luke Pollock and Peter Wright with one conversion from Ross Fallows.
Omagh Academy recorded an impressive 51-7 victory over Portadown College when the teams met at the Campsie Playing Fields. The Omagh team had built up a 25-7 lead by the interval withy tries from Jake McCay, Nathan Sides, Kyle Beattie and Ryan Gibson. Kyle Beattie added one conversion as well a penalty. The Portadown points came from a Dylan Nelson try which was converted by Matthew Neill.
The second half saw the Omagh Academy team continue to play the game on the front foot. Glenn McKinley, Oscar Nelson, Taine Lagan and Deane Kane all scored tries by taking advantage of good work from players such as Fintan Lagan, Matthew Hill, James Longwell and Danny Ritchie. Kyle Beattie converted two of the tries with Scott Ballentine converting another to secure the 51-7 win for the Omagh Academy team.
Friends’ School, Lisburn continued their recent run of good form with a 41-19 victory against the Rainey Endowed School team. Both teams were determined to play the game in a positive manner and this was reflected in the first half performances of both teams. The Friends’ School team had built a 19-14 lead at the end of an exciting first half. Adam Schofield, Curtis Dundas and George Pringle each scored a try for the Friends’ School team with Ben McCaughey converting penalties. The Rainey Endowed School points came from Adam Hunter and Matthew Porter with Adam successful with one both conversions.
The second half saw the Friends’ School team score four more tries through Bradley Mulholland, who touched down twice, George Pringle, who scored his second of the game, and David Newell. Ben McCaughey added one conversion. Adam Thornton scored a consolation unconverted second half try for the Rainey Endowed School team which left the Friends’ School, Lisburn team as 41-19 winners.
The Royal School, Armagh team played Grosvenor Grammar School in a game the RS Armagh team won by 49-22. The Royal School, Armagh team started brightly and within five minutes had got the first score of the game when Chris Jennings crossed the whitewash for a try which Glen Faloon converted to see his team into a 7-0 lead. Glen then got himself on the scoresheet with a break in midfield and he had the pace to finish off with a try, which he converted, to give his team a 14-0 lead. Nicholas Jennings then joined his brother on the scoresheet when, after a good break, he put Peter Wilson into space. Peter drew the cover defence before passing back inside for Nicholas to score. Glen Faloon added the extras to increase the RS Armagh lead to 21-0. Ryan O’Neill then made a telling break and his outwitting of the Grosvenor GS full back saw him run in under the posts to score a try. Glen Faloon converted the try to leave the score reading 28-0 at half time in favour of Royal School, Armagh team.
Armagh started the second half well with a solo try from Peter Wilson that Glen Faloon converted to increase the lead to 35-0. Grosvenor Grammar school responded with an unconverted try from Jack Kennedy which got them a foothold in the game. Armagh indiscipline saw Grosvenor GS now control the game with long periods of possession and territory. However, RS Armagh hit back with a score from Zac Thompson, which Glen Faloon converted, to take a 42-5 lead. Grosvenor responded with another unconverted try from Jack Kennedy to reduce the deficit to 42-10. Then Zac Thompson struck again with a second try. Glen Faloon converted the try to complete the game with a 100% kicking success rate off the tee and put his team into a 49-10 lead. The visitors finished the game strongly with two tries from Reuben Harris and Ben Davis, one of which was converted by Daniel Martin, to leave the Royal School, Armagh team as 49-22 winners at the final whistle.
Down High School travelled to play Sullivan Upper School and came away with a comprehensive 33-7 victory. In a closely contested first half the Down HS team took a 7-0 lead when Ronan Patterson took full advantage of good phase play from his pack and finished off with a try to which Marcus Graham added the conversion. Sullivan Upper replied with a try from Ruairi Meharg, which Rory Kilpatrick converted, to see the score board read 7-7 at the break.
The Down High School team controlled matters in the second half and they went on to score four more tries. Marcus Graham touched down twice, William Annett scored once and Ronan Patterson ran in for his second try of the game. Marcus Graham converted three of the second half tries to ensure the 33-7 victory for his Down High School team.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Regent House in a game the RS Dungannon team won by 26-7. The first half was very closely contested with both defences ensuring there were no points scored in the course of the first thirty five minutes.
From the restart kick at the beginning of the second half the RS Dungannon forwards, through Josh Fegan and Timmy Davidson, secured possession. The ball was used cleverly by the RS Dungannon back division and Luke McMullan took advantage to run in for a try, which he converted, to put the RS Dungannon team into a 7-0 lead. Good RS Dungannon defence then forced the Regent House team into forfeiting possession. Joseph Cashel took advantage and touched down for an unconverted try to give his team a 12-0 lead. Regent House replied with a try from Josh McFarland, which was converted by Robbie Johnston, to reduce the arrears to 12-7. Luke McMullan then scored an unconverted try to increase the RS Dungannon lead to 17-7. Luke then went on to add two penalties to increase that lead to 23-7. A penalty from Adam Evans ensured the Royal School, Dungannon team finished the game as deserved 26-7 winners.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution host St Michael’s College from Dublin in a game played in perfect conditions at Cranmore Park. The Belfast Inst team put on an outstanding performance and won the game by 43-5. They started brightly at it was only a few minutes before scrum half, Rhys O’Donnell, opened the scoring by breaking at the edge of the ruck and finishing with the try. James Hume converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead. Blindside flanker, David McCann, got the next score after the Belfast Inst backs had stretched the opposition defence allowing the Belfast Inst forwards to barge over the whitewash. James Hume added the conversion to put the home team into a 14-0 lead. Rhys O’Donnell collected his second score of the morning when team captain, Michael Lowry, split the St Michael’s College defence wide open before he passed inside to Rhys who was running a great support line. James Hume converted the try to give his team a 21-0 lead. James then ran in for an unconverted try to give the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team a 26-0 lead at the interval.
The Belfast Inst team continued to dominate territory in the second half and it wasn’t long before Rhys O’Donnell created a score for prop, Callum Reid. Callum was put clear by Rhys and sprinted in from twenty five metres to touch down for the try. Joe Finnegan kicked the conversion to put his team into a 33-0 lead. Rhys O’Donnell then secured his “Man of the Match” performance when he scored two more unconverted tries to stretch the Belfast Inst score to 43-0. St Michael’s College managed a consolation unconverted try in the final minute of the game to leave the final score reading Royal Belfast Academical Institution 43 St Michael’s College 5.
Ballymena Academy hosted Campbell College, Belfast in a feisty encounter the Ballymena Academy won in the final minute of the game by 8-6. There were limited opportunities, in the course of the first half, for either team to score points. Campbell College did manage to take a 3-0 lead when Will Davis was successful with a penalty kick. Bruce Houston then converted a penalty for the Ballymena Academy team to see the teams turn round at half time with the scoreboard reading 3-3.
Campbell College then took a 6-3 lead when Will Davis converted a penalty kick midway through the second half. However, with the Ballymena Academy scrum starting to get the upper hand at set piece time through the good offices of Joel Gocher alongside Scott Agnew, allied to the leadership and power play of Alexander Clarke, all was not lost for the home team. Late in the game the Ballymena Academy pack forced the Campbell College pack into turning over possession in their 22m area. The ball was driven forward by the home forwards and then used well by their backline. This positive approach created the opportunity for Alan Small to scorch in for an unconverted try to ensure it was the Ballymena Academy team that finished the game as 8-6 winners.
