Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 11th March 2017
There were two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ finals and one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-final played midweek in the lead up to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final played on Saturday 11th March.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup final was played at Belfast Harlequin’s RFC on Wednesday 8th March when the Methodist College, Belfast 2ndxv defeated the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 2ndxv by 21-15.
After the game Wes Kettyle, a member of the Ulster Branch, congratulated both teams on reaching the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup final, thanked the players for all their hard work during the season and for their positive input to the game, thanked the coaches and the parents of the players for their all their hard work and support throughout the season, thanked the referee, John Adams, and his assistants for the manner in which they controlled the game, thanked Belfast Harlequin’s RFC for the provision of excellent facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support of Ulster Schools’ Rugby. Wes then presented medals to all the players and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup to the victorious Methodist College team.
Meanwhile, on the same afternoon at the Rainey Endowed School, Ballyclare High School defeated Dalriada School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate by 21-10.
After the game Graffin Parke, Senior Vice-President of the Ulster Branch, congratulated both teams on reaching the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate final, thanked the players for all their hard work during the season and for their positive input to the game, thanked the coaches and the parents of the players for their all their hard work and support throughout the season, thanked the referee, Graham Gibson, and his assistants for the manner in which they controlled the game, thanked Rainey Endowed School for the provision of excellent facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support of Ulster Schools’ Rugby. Graffin then presented medals to all the players and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate to the victorious Methodist College team.
Omagh Academy hosted Down High School in their postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-final game which was played at a very wet Campsie Playing Fields. The Down High School team won the game by 10-0 and will now meet Ballyclare High School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield which will be played at the Queen’s University Arena on Monday 13th March at 2-30pm.
The first half of the game was closely contested with both teams talking time to adapt to the difficult underfoot conditions. The Down High School defence had to withstand wave after wave of Omagh Academy attacks with Nathan Sides, James Longwell and Kyle Beattie all asking questions of the Down High School team. Five minutes before the interval the Down High School team took a 3-0 lead when Greg Hutley was successful with a difficult penalty kick.
In the final quarter of the game the 10-0 victory for the Down High School team was secured when a Ronan Patterson led attack ended with an attacking 5 metre lineout for the Down High School team. The set piece ball was secured and, following a series of attacking mauls, Claytan Milligan was released with the ball to power over the Omagh Academy line for a try. The conversion from Greg Hutley was successful and the Down High School team held out for the remaining period of time with their 10-0 lead intact.
On Saturday 11th March the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final was played at Osborne Park when the Sullivan Upper School Medallion team defeated their Belfast Royal Academy counterparts by 17-0.
After the game Mr Stephen Black, Principal of Ballymena Academy and a member of the Ulster Branch, congratulated both teams on reaching the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final, thanked the players for all their hard work during the season and for their positive input to the game, thanked the coaches and the parents of the players for their all their hard work and support throughout the season, thanked the referee, Richard Latimer, and his assistants for the manner in which they controlled the game, thanked Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and their ground staff, for the provision of excellent facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support of Ulster Schools’ Rugby. Such was the jovial atmosphere at the presentation ceremony Mr Black might have needed a megaphone before he presented the medals to all the players and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate to the victorious Sullivan Upper School team. This victory ensured that Sullivan Upper retained the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate which they won last season.
With the Ulster Schools’ season coming to a close there are still four competitions to be completed.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield final will take place at the Queen’s University Arena on Monday 13th March when Ballyclare High School will meet Down High School in a game scheduled to kick off at 2-30pm.
On Friday 17th March the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final will take place at the Kingspan Stadium when Royal Belfast Academical Institution will play Methodist College, Belfast in an eagerly anticipated game which will kick off at 3-00pm.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield final will be played at the Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday 22nd March when the Royal School, Armagh Medallion team will play Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game scheduled to kick off at 2-30pm.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Seven-a-Side Tournament will take place at Campbell College, Belfast on Saturday 25th March.
