Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 21st January 2017
There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup game played on Tuesday 17th January, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup and one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy replay match played on Wednesday 18th November and one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Final played on Friday 20th January in the lead up to one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup game, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate game, one postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 3rd Round game, three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Final games, eight Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round games and three friendly games scheduled to be played on Saturday 21st January.
In a delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup match the Wallace High School team travelled to play Limavady Grammar School at the Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt on Tuesday 17th January. The Wallace High School team won the game by 44-0.
On Wednesday 18th January Sullivan Upper School played Methodist College, Belfast in the last of the delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup games in a game the Methodist College team won by 44-5.
On the same afternoon Omagh Academy 3rdxv played Methodist College 4thxv in another of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Quarter-Final games. It was a very closely contested game in which the Methodist College team really only secured their 21-12 victory in the final five minutes. Jake Liggett scored two tries for the Omagh Academy team with Morgan Bird adding one conversion.
Meanwhile, further up the A5 the Strabane Academy and Antrim Grammar School Medallion teams were playing a re-run of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate fixture. The Strabane Academy team won the game by 31-10.
On Friday 20th January the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Final games took place when Cambridge House Grammar School played Banbridge Academy under the floodlights at Eaton Park, home of Ballymena Rugby Football Club. There was a good crowd in attendance to witness a closely contested game the Banbridge Academy team won by 20-17. Banbridge Academy took an early 7-0 lead when Troy Pinion ran in for a try which was converted by Tom Flanagan. Despite missing the influential Ross Cartmill, missing through injury, the Bambridge team increased their lead to 12-0 when Robbie Mathers touched down for a try with just ten minutes on the clock. The Cambridge House team seemed to put these early setbacks behind them and were not afraid to take the game to the Banbridge team. Spurred on by their impressive halfback pairing of Tom Wharry and James Bovill they reduced their arrears to 12-5 when Tom made a great break before sending James in for the unconverted try close to the end of the first half. Banbridge then increased their lead to 15-5 at the end of the first half when Tom Flanagan successfully converted a penalty opportunity.
A Troy Pinion break in the first minute of the second half finished when his fellow centre, Andrew Denver, ran in for an unconverted try to increase the Banbridge Academy lead to 20-5. The Cambridge House team seemed stunned but went on to regain their composure and take control of the game for large parts of the second half. They got some reward for their efforts when their captain, Reuben Russell, crashed over the whitewash for a try. James Bovill added the extras to reduce the deficit to 20-12 midway through the second period of play. Further Cambridge House pressure was rewarded when James Bovill ran a great line and finished off with an unconverted try to leave the scoreboard reading 20-17 in favour of the Banbridge team with just minutes remaining. With the last kick of the game a penalty opportunity was missed by the Cambridge House team to leave the Banbridge Academy team as 20-17 winners of this entertaining game.
Both teams would like to thank the Ballymena Rugby Football Club for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
On Saturday 21st January Methodist College, Belfast lost by 21-17 against Royal Belfast Academical Institution Colts in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate game involving Banbridge Academy 3rdxv and Ballymena Academy 3rdxv was postponed due to frost.
The draws for the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup and Plate competitions took place on Saturday 21st January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Semi-Finals
Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4thxv v Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv
Methodist College 4thxv v Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv
Semi Final 3rdxv CUP Matches must played on or before Wednesday 1st February 2017
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Semi-Finals
Banbridge Academy 3rdxv/Ballymena Academy3rdxv v Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5thxv
Coleraine Grammar School/Wallace High School v Portadown College 3rdxv/Campbell College, Belfast
Semi-Final 3rdxv PLATE Matches must be played on or before Wednesday 1st February 2017
In a postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 3rd game Ballymena Academy lost by 29-22 at home to Bangor Grammar School. Bangor Grammar School will now travel to play Limavady Grammar School in the next round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield.
In the three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy games played on Saturday 21st January Antrim Grammar School defeated Strabane Academy by 38-7, Wellington College lost by 43-3 at home to Foyle and Londonderry College and Belfast High School lost by 12-11 at home to Larne Grammar School.
The Antrim Grammar School points came through tries from JJ McKee, who scored twice, Ryan Taylor, Ben McKnight, who scored twice and Dean McCrory. Ben McKnight added three conversions with Callum Hull adding one. The Strabane Academy points came from a Jamie Brown try which was converted by Ralph Mealiff.
Foyle and Londonderry College scored their points through tries from Josh Cole, Keelin Coyle, Jake Quinnell, who scored twice and Killene Thornton, who also touched down twice. Killene was also successful with two conversions. The Wellington College penalty was converted by Eoghan White.
Larne Grammar School had Jack Hill and Micah Stevenson to thank for their tries against Belfast High School with Jonny Farquhar adding one conversion. The Belfast High School points came through two penalties from Simon White and an unconverted try from Scott McDowell.
The draw for the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy took place at the Kingspan Stadium during the interval at the Ulster v Begles Bordeaux EPRC game. The results of the draw are as follows:-
Foyle and Londonderry College v Larne Grammar School
Banbridge Academy v Antrim Grammar School
These games are scheduled to take place on Saturday 4th February.
There were seven Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 games played on Saturday 21st January. The game involving Rainey Endowed School and Regent House School was postponed due to frost. This game should be rescheduled for Wednesday 25th January.
Dromore High School, in their first year of playing in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, hosted Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in this 3rd Round game at the Barban Hill venue. Despite taking an early 7-0 lead, through a second minute try from Aaron Lyttle, which was converted by Ben Martin, the valiant Dromore High School team lost the game by 25-7. The Dromore High School team, with Ben Heath to the fore, was in control but they could find no way through a resolute and well-organised Enniskillen Royal Grammar School defence. It was the Enniskillen team that rode the storm and broke out of defence midway through the first half. William Dowson was on the end of a well-constructed passage of play to touch down for an unconverted try to reduce the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School deficit to 7-5. Further Enniskillen Royal Grammar School pressure forced the Dromore High School team into conceding a penalty. Up stepped Reece Smyton to slot the kick and give his team an 8-7 lead at the halftime break.
The second half saw the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team gain more territory and possession than they had in the first half. They began to wear the Dromore High School defence down and this enabled the visitors to find space. Andrew Dane, Jack Wilson and Jack Rutledge took good advantage of this and they ran in three tries. Reece Smyton added two successful conversion kicks, as well as one successful penalty kick, to secure a hard-earned, but ultimately well-deserved, 25-7 victory for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team.
The Grosvenor Grammar School team was the only team to win a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game at home when they hosted Bangor Grammar School at the Cameronian Drive venue. The Grosvenor Grammar School team won the closely contested encounter by 11-10.
The Grosvenor Grammar School team took an early 3-0 lead when their influential centre, Jos McConkey, slotted a penalty from directly in front of the posts. The Bangor Grammar School team responded positively but one good attack was turned over by the Grosvenor Grammar School backrow and play ended up close to the Bangor Grammar School line. From the resultant lineout the Grosvenor pack won the ball. The ball was well controlled from the driven mauls which ensued and, eventually, Ben Davidson crashed over the Bangor Grammar School line to touch down for an unconverted try. This try gave the Grosvenor Grammar School team n 8-0 lead at the interval.
This setback seemed to spur the Bangor Grammar School team into action in the early parts of the second half. Their pack, with Matty Agnew to the fore, started to produce some quality possession. Zach Kerr converted a penalty opportunity to reduce the Bangor Grammar School deficit to 8-3. Then Zach outwitted the Grosvenor Grammar School defence to touch down for a try, which he also converted, to put the Bangor Grammar School team into a 10-8 lead. With ten minutes of the game remaining Jos McConkey kicked a penalty to put the Grosvenor Grammar School team into an 11-10 lead. Despite the best intentions of the Bangor Grammar School attack they could find no way through and it was the Grosvenor Grammar School team that celebrated their narrowest of victories when the no-side whistle sounded.
Portadown College hosted Belfast Royal Academy in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and it was the Belfast Royal Academy team, having built up a 15-8 lead by the break, that went on to win the game by 41-8.
The first half saw the Belfast Royal Academy team take an early 3-0 lead when Conor McAuley converted a penalty opportunity. Portadown College drew the score level when Matthew Neill was successful with his own penalty kick. Matthew Dalton then scored a try for the Belfast Royal Academy team, which was converted by Conor McAuley, to give the visitors a 10-3 lead. This became 15-3 when the elusive Brandon Hasson outpaced the Portadown College defence before touching down for an unconverted try. The Portadown College team finished the first half on a high when a Dylan Nelson break in midfield presented Brett Fleck with the opportunity to run in for an unconverted try which left the Belfast Royal Academy team with a 15-8 lead at the break.
The second half saw the Belfast Royal Academy team control most aspects of the game. They scored four more tries through Matthew Dalton, the hard-working Bradley Luney, who touched down twice, and Abullah Sabri. Conor McAuley was successful with three conversion kicks which secured the comprehensive 41-8 victory for the Belfast Royal Academy team.
Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted a much heralded Coleraine Grammar School team, at the Magheralave Road venue, in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game that finished with honours even as a 10-10 draw. The Friends’ School team started strongly but aggressive defence from the Coleraine Grammar School team kept their hosts at bay. The Coleraine Grammar School team then had their forwards to thanks for getting their points on the board. Daniel McCreadie took advantage of turnover ball won at the breakdown before off-loading to James Millsopp who finished with an unconverted try to give his Coleraine team a 5-0 lead. Ten minutes later and the Coleraine Grammar School team had increased their lead to 10-0. Peter Weisener won a lineout ball which was then taken forward by Hugo Mawhinney. Hugo beat three defenders before touching down for an unconverted try. Just before the halftime break the Friends’ School team got three points on the board when the ever reliable Ben McCaughey converted a penalty opportunity to reduce the Friends’ School deficit to 10-3 at the break.
The second half saw the Friends’ School team enter the fray with a renewed sense of confidence. Their pack started to produce some quality possession which was well used by their back division. Midway through the half the ball was well moved to Bradley Mulholland who displayed a clean pair of heels to the Coleraine Grammar School defencve before running in for a try. Ben McCaughey successfully converted the try to draw the scores level at 10-10. Both teams went all out for the winning points but both defences held firm.
The replay for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game has been scheduled for Wednesday 25th January at 2-30pm.
Limavady Grammar School hosted Dalriada School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Dalriada School team emerged from the game as 13-5 winners. The first half saw Dalriada dominate territory but try to run the ball from everywhere on the pitch. However, too often their passing was not good enough and that allowed Limavady off the hook on a number of occasions. From one such loose passes Limavady kicked the ball downfield and, only for a last ditch effort from the Dalriada fullback, Luke Pollock, the home team might have scored. From a lineout the Limavady Grammar School pack produced quality possession which enabled their impressive No. 8, David Brown, to force his way over the whitewash. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but this was enough to give the home side a 5-0 lead at halftime.
The Dalriada coaches had some stern words at halftime and their team started the second half with more purpose. They were rewarded quite quickly with a penalty when a Limavady player failed to release the ball. Second row, Paddy Elliott, struck the ball confidently to reduce the Dalriada deficit to 5-3. It was now a case of game on! Dalriada tried to play an expansive game but Limavady frustrated them and forced the visitors into making mistakes. In one of the few instances when Dalriada maintained possession they drove the ball deep into the Limavady half. After recycling the ball through several phases Scott Gamble burst through to score an important unconverted try to give his Dalriada School team an 8-5 lead. With only ten minutes remaining Thomas Hunter playing added to his tally for the season when he broke a tackle and made it to the line to touch down for an unconverted try to take the score to 13-5 in favour of the Dalriada School team. The eight point deficit was enough to force Limavady Grammar School to go for broke. Dalriada kept their defensive organisation and held out until the final whistle to celebrate their hard-earned 13-5 victory.
Lurgan College hosted Ballyclare High School in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game the Ballyclare High School team won by 35-18. The Lurgan College team had taken an early 6-0 lead through two Scott Wilson penalties. Aaron Playfair then scored an unconverted try to reduce the Ballyclare High School deficit to 6-5. An Adam Clarke penalty then gave the Ballyclare High School team an 8-6 lead. Adam Kirk then ran in unopposed for an unconverted try to give the Ballyclare High School team a 13-6 lead at the interval.
Shortly after half time that Ballyclare High School lead was extended to 20-6 when Owen Kirk ran in for a try, which Adam Clarke converted.Lurgan College then mounted something of a comeback and good work from Reuben McCreery and Victor MacKenzie paved the way for a Stan Boulos try. Scott Wilson added the extras to reduce the Lurgan College arrears to 20-13. Owen Kirk then scored an unconverted try for the Ballyclare High School team to increase their lead to 25-13. Back came the Lurgan College team with an unconverted try from Scott Wilson to take the scoreboard to 25-18 in favour of the Ballyclare High School team. The Ballyclare High School team then went on to seal their 35-18 victory with two unconverted tries from Adam Clarke and Owen Kirk in the final seven minutes of the game.
The Royal School, Dungannon hosted the Royal School, Armagh team on the WK Armstrong pitch in a game the Royal School, Armagh team won by 17-7. The Royal School, Armagh team took an early 5-0 lead when Zac Thompson made a telling break in midfield.Zac found Christopher Jennings in support and Christopher released Peter Wilson on a run down the left wing. Peter fended off his opposite number and dived in at the corner flag to touch down for unconverted try to give his team their 5-0 lead. The Royal School, Armagh team then provided Dungannon with footholds back into the game and the home side started to get their strong mauling game on the go. However, the Armagh team managed to nullify that aspect of the home side’s game. That was until a play close to the end of the first half when a strong RS Dungannon maul paved the way for an Adam Evans try. Adam converted the try to see his team into the interval with a 7-5 lead.
The start of the second half saw the game dominated by the defences with both sides struggling to break each other down. In the last fifteen minutes Armagh began to find holes in the home side’s defence with Ryan O’Neill making telling breaks. The Armagh pack then got go forward ball and Glen Faloon ran a fine line to run in for a try. Glen converted the try to give his Royal School, Armagh team a 12-7 lead. The RS Dungannon team then threw everything at the RS Armagh team but their defence held firm. The Royal School, Armagh team then forced an error and, from the resultant ruck, Nicholas Jennings powered over the line with two despairing defenders in tow. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but was the Royal School, Armagh team that celebrated their 17-7 victory as the referee blew his whistle for full time.
When all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Trophy results came through the draws for the 4th Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, the quarter-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl and the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy took place at the Kingspan Stadium.
The draws were organised by Mr Stephen Black, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee and Chris Webster Ulster Domestic Rugby Manager, assisted by Anita Bayne, Audrey Robinson and Isaac Webster. The draw for the 4th Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup was made by John McKibbin, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, and Richard Caldwell representing the Danske Bank.
The results of the three draws are as follows 🙂
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 4 draw:
Friends’ School, Lisburn or Coleraine Grammar School v Grosvenor GS
Dalriada School v Ballymena Academy
Down High School v Methodist College, Belfast
Belfast Royal Academy v Rainey Endowed School or Regent House School
Wallace High School v Omagh Academy
Campbell College, Belfast v Sullivan Upper School
Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Ballyclare High School
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Royal School, Armagh
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl quarter final draw:
Royal School, Dungannon v Portadown College
Rainey Endowed School or Regent House School v Friends’ School, Lisburn or Coleraine Grammar School
Lurgan College v Dromore HighSchool
Limavady Grammar School v Bangor Grammar School
Danske Bank Schools’ Trophy
Foyle and Londonderry College v Larne Grammar School
Banbridge Academy v Antrim Grammar School
All these games are scheduled to take place on Saturday 4th February
Two schoolboy friendly games took place on Saturday 21st January.
Ballymena Academy scored three tries and one conversion in their 17-0 defeat of Methodist College, Belfast. Angus Kernohan scored two of the tries with Michael Stronge scoring the third. Bruce Houston added one conversion.
Down High School recorded a hard-earned 9-7 win against Omagh Academy. Marcus Graham kicked three penalties for the Down High School team. Nathan Sides scored a try for the Omagh Academy team with Kyle Beattie adding one conversion.
Terenure College called off the game they were scheduled to play against the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
