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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final Previews Saturday 23rd February 2109
Those members of the current squad of the renowned Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigners from the Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt have found themselves in the fortunate position of having been drawn at home for the third time in the course of this season’s competition. Having seen off the Portadown College team with a comprehensive victory in the third round, and the Ballyclare High School team in the 4th Round, the Rainey Endowed School team now has the pleasure of hosting one of the clear favourites for the competition, Wallace High School. The Rainey Endowed School team had to dig deep, coming from behind in that game, before they were able to record a hard earned 15-12 victory in that Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4th Round game. Over the course of many years the Rainey Endowed School teams have developed a proud tradition of stepping up to the mark when it comes to Ulster Schools’ Cup time. The current squad will realise they will have to raise the bar even higher when they meet the Wallace High School team in the Quarter-Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Rainey Endowed School team is coached by Chris Campbell, a former winner of the competition when he was a pupil at the school. Chris is assisted by Charlie Simpson and Stu McCalmont as well as Tommy O’Hagan, a current member of the Ulster Senior Rugby squad. Ulster Schools’ and U19 player, Bryn Davies, is the team captain and Bryn has led his team through to a great deal of success this season. Recent morale boosting victories, especially their 3rd and 4th Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup victories against Portadown College and Ballyclare High School, as well as a training camp in Portugal prior to Christmas, have put the Rainey Endowed School squad into a very positive frame of mind as they finalise preparations for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/4 Final game against Wallace High School. There are three sets of brothers playing in the Rainey Endowed School squad this season. Twins, Ryan and Matthew Brown are joined in the Rainey pack by Daniel and Sam Clarke. In the back division, David and Matthew Dripps feature regularly with their try scoring exploits. The vital link between the Rainey Endowed School forwards and backs is Tim Campbell who is a son of the Rainey coach, Chris Campbell. Jonathan Drennan and Harry Evans top the Rainey point’s scorers this season with their ability to score tries as well as kick for points. These players, alongside team captain, Bryn Davies, and the hard working Brian Hall, all shone with their performances in their last Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ outing against the Ballyclare High School team. The Rainey Endowed School squad contains a group of players who are hard-working and committed to improving themselves as players as well as individuals. They have all made great progress in the course of their current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. They are all really looking forward to welcoming the Wallace High School team to the Rainey Street venue for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final encounter.
The Wallace High School players, having travelled to Cambridge House Grammar School for their 4th Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game, find themselves on the road once again for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Quarter-Final game against the Rainey Endowed School team. The Wallace High School team emerged unscathed from the previous round having recorded an impressive 55-7 victory in the course of that game, scoring some nine tries. The Wallace High School team has recorded some other impressive results this season and contains some very talented players in the squad. They will see themselves as firm favourites to win this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final game despite having to travel to Rainey Endowed. The Wallace High School squad is coached by Derek Suffern who receives great assistance from David Chambers and Neil Hinds. Reuben Crothers, an outstanding No 8, is the team captain. Reuben has led his team well throughout what has been a very successful season results wise thus far. He will be hoping for another positive result after this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/4 Final game. Nathan Doak, a very talented scrum half, is the leading point’s scorer on the Wallace High School team this season. Nathan has an eye for the whitewash as well as being a very accurate kicker out of hand and off the tee. The talent of many of the players available to the Wallace High School coaching staff has been recognised by the management teams of Ulster Schools’, Ulster U19’s and Ireland U18 Schools’ squads. Nathan Doak has been involved with all three squads with Reuben Crothers, Ben Carson and Joel Dundas having represented the Ulster 18 Schools’ team as well as the Ulster U19 team. Peter Heasley, Charlie Irvine and Harvey Patterson have been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 set up. Peter McRoberts, one of the leading try scorers on the Wallace High School team this season, is also Head Boy of the school. Jack Dillon is another Wallace High School player who could attract the attention of the Ulster Rugby Age Grade Talent ID Department.These players were among the many Wallace High School players to impress with their performances against the Cambridge House Grammar School team in the last round. This Wallace High School team has been described as being a very hard working group of players by the coaching staff. They will be hoping their hard work will pay off as they finalise their preparations before they meet the Rainey Endowed School team in the 1/4 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final draw has thrown together a draw that will whet the appetite of the followers of rugby football when Methodist College, Belfast and Royal Belfast Academical Institution, two of the biggest names in the Ulster Schools’ game, meet on the pristine Pirrie Park Paddock Pitch. The Methodist College team started their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign with a trip to Ballymoney where they met a very committed Dalriada School team. The Methodist College team recorded a comfortable win in that game but know they will now have to put in an even bigger performance if they are to overcome their cross town rivals in this game. Not for the first time will the Methody team carry the mantel of favourites to win the competition but their results this season against all-comers from schools in Ulster, Munster and Leinster would suggest the tag as favourites is fully justified. The Methodist College, Belfast team is coached by the experienced duo of Nicky Wells and Stephen Lindsay. Kevin McNaboe is the team captain who has led his players to great success in the course of the current season. Undefeated in normal game time their successful season has seen victories against the mighty Blackrock College, when the Methody team won the McIntosh Shield, as well as a training camp in Portugal which finished off with a win against a strong Portugal U19 team. The top point’s scorer for the Methody team is Ethan McIlroy, a talented player who is equally at home playing as a full back or on the wing. Not only has Ethan an eye for the line but he is a top class place kicker as well. Ethan has achieved representative honours with the Ulster U19 team this season and has been involved in Ireland U19 training camps. Thomas Armstrong, Robbie Armstrong and Chris Larmour have also gained representative honours with the Ulster U19 team this season. These four players are responsible for scoring a high percentage of the Methodist College tries this season as they displayed with their performances in the 4th Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup against the Dalriada School team. Once again they will all see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Royal Belfast Academical Institution as an opportunity to add to their impressive try and points scoring tallies. Their performances in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game will be watched closely by members of the Ulster Talent ID Department as well as the Ireland U19 Management team. Traditionally the basis for any Methodist College success has been with their pack. In Players such as Kevin McNaboe and Thomas Crangle, both of whom have been involved with previous Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squads, they have two of the finest forwards playing schools’ rugby at the minute. They are joined in the hard working and efficient Methodist College pack by players such as Daniel Humphries, Ted Linton, Ben Gourley and Adam Reid. This is a very balanced Methodist College team with a great deal of character being displayed by all the players and the Methody players will all be looking forward to this exciting Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/4 Final encounter against, perhaps, their biggest rivals.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team was at home against those renowned Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigners from the Royal School, Dungannon in the 4th Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Having successfully come through that game the thoughts of the Belfast Inst players and staff have now turned towards Pirrie Park as they finalise their preparations for their eagerly anticipated 1/4 Final encounter against the Methodist College team.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team has struggled at times this season due, in no small part, to the extensive injury list the squad has had to endure. However, recent positive results would suggest that the squad is starting to hit some form at just the right time. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup seems to bring the best out of Royal Belfast Academical Institution teams and the squad of 2018/19 has certainly preparing itself for another successful campaign. They finished their 4th Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter against those renowned Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigners from the Royal School, Dungannon with a comprehensive victory. That win will have given the Royal Belfast Academical Institution players a great deal of confidence as they look forward to this quarter-final encounter. The team is coached by Jason Morgan, the Director of Rugby at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Jason can rely on the experienced Michael Bentley as forwards’ coach with Richard Hedley fitting in seamlessly as Backs and Defence Coach. The team is captained by Angus Adair who has, unfortunately, missed quite a few games due to an injury. It will be seen as a major boost to the hopes of his squad if Angus is able to make it back for this 1/4 Final Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against the Methodist College, Belfast team. Angus has gained representative honours at the highest level for a schoolboy having played for the Ireland Schools’ team last season. He is a powerful runner who leads from the front and is equally at home playing in the centre or the back row! Robin McIlveen, an Ulster Schools’ U18 Centre, is an exceptional player with pace, great defence and the vision to read the game well. A natural leader, Robin has been filling in as captain in the absence of Angus Adair. Robin is also the team’s goal kicker and the leading the point’s scorer for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team this season. The Royal School, Dungannon defence found out to their cost just what a fine player Robin is and the Methodist College will need to monitor him closely as they will have to with Jude Postlethwaite. Jude is an Ulster Schools’ U18 winger who has recently moved into the inside centre position for his team. He is an extremely athletic individual who is dangerous with ball in hand and possesses great distribution skills as well as being strong defensively. Paddy Eames is in his first year of 1stxv Rugby at the school having broken through with some fine performances on the 2ndxv. Paddy is involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 squad and will be looking to continue his development with Ulster Schools’ representative squads. Paddy is an athletic individual who possesses great jumping prowess and he has the ability to dominate the battle in the air at lineout time. His forward partner, Daniel Eakin, is the workhorse of the pack. Daniel is just back from a lengthy layoff due to injury and is hoping to make his final year at Royal Belfast Academical Institution count with a positive Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Both these players showed great ability with their performances in the previous round. Alex Weir is an exceptionally clever player who is very physical and always manages to make a nuisance of himself at break down time. Bradley McNamara is a very dangerous runner and will be only too happy to show his attacking abilities from either out half or full back. All these players are backed up by other talented players such as Rory Adair, Callum Stewart, Jared Waite, Marco Manso, Josh Patterson, AJ Hussell, Zac Davidson, Max Preston and Jack Leathem. No stone will be left unturned as the Royal Belfast Academical Institution players and coaches finalise preparations for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/4 Final show down against the Methodist College, Belfast team.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1/4 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am
The Ballymena Academy team was made to work hard for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4th Round victory against the Belfast Royal Academy team. That hard work will have continued in the course of the Ballymena Academy squad preparations as they look forward to welcoming the Royal School, Armagh team to the Galgorm Road venue for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final encounter. The Ballymena Academy team will be hopeful of maintaining their undefeated record at home this season and, because of that impressive record, could see themselves as favourites to progress to the 1/2 Final stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Ballymena Academy team has experienced coaches at the helm with the dream team of John Andrews and Gavin Murray, aka Sir Alex and Arsene, in charge. They receive great assistance from Stephen Johnston who coached the Ballymena Academy Medallion team to Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield success last season. Stephen takes great pride in the fact that so many of that victorious Medallion team have made the transition to 1stxv rugby in a very successful manner. Stephen Black, Principal of Ballymena Academy, has been known to act as one of the coaching staff as well on an occasional Saturday morning! Patrick Hargy, as team captain, has led his team well in the course of a season that has seen a lot of re-building going on in the ranks of the Ballymena Academy squad with only five Year 14 players being regular starters. Patrick has received great assistance from his vice-captains, Alex McKinney and Harry Cooke, and this trio has set high standards on and off the pitch for their squad members. Ryan Keating and Nikki Andrews take care of the S&C aspects of preparation for the Ballymena Academy players. While Patrick Hargy and Alex McKinney are two of the key players in the Ballymena Academy set up others to watch include Harry Andrews, Frankie Andrews, Joseph Mawhinney, Ross McKay, Patrick Browne, Adam Lamont, Joshua Drain, Matthew French, Jonathan Cochrane, Paul Gocher, Timothy Douglas, Dean Millar and James Wright. These players have all had a major input to the success of the Ballymena Academy team this season and have attracted the interest of the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department. The young half back pairing of James Wright and Ross McKay displayed great game management skills with their displays in difficult conditions against the Belfast Royal Academy team in the last round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup while Matthew Corr had an outstanding game at full back in that game. They will all be hoping that continued good performances in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup will present them with the opportunity to further their chances of involvement with the Ulster Schools’ Age Grade squads later in the season. Prior to their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign the Ballymena Academy senior squad had just returned from a training camp at the National Sports Centre in Inverclyde in Scotland. The coaches will be hoping that the learnings that took place in Scotland, as well as in the course of their 4th Round encounter against the Belfast Royal Academy team, will stand the players in good stead as they finalise preparations for their 1/4 Final Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter against Royal School, Armagh.
The Royal School, Armagh team will travel to play Ballymena Academy in the quarter-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup with a great deal of confidence. In the 4th Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup they defeated a very talented Bangor Grammar School with a most comprehensive way victory. The Royal School, Armagh coaching staff, with Willie Faloon and Chris Parker, at the helm, know they are in the fortunate position of being able to call upon the sage advice and wisdom of Kenny Hooks when the going gets tough. Kenny acts almost in a grandfatherly fashion when it comes to mentoring the young coaches at the Royal School, Armagh. Aaron Woods leads his team from the back row and has seen his team mates put in some great performances in the course of the current season. However, there is a feeling in the Royal School, Armagh camp that there is a deal more to be done to improve consistency in the performances and an overall improvement in results. Charlie Worth, a young exciting scrum half who has played for both the Ulster Schools’ U18 and the Ulster U19 teams earlier in the season, is the leading point’s scorer for the Royal School, Armagh team with his eye for the whitewash and his very accurate kicking skills. Charlie shone with his performance against Bangor Grammar School while the return to play of Benji Boyd was seen as a real boost for the Royal School, Armagh team in the course of that game. Peter Taylor is the leading try scorer and he has taken advantage of the clever play of Nicholas Jennings whose creativity has been central to the Royal School, Armagh team this season. Nicholas is a son of John Jennings who scored the winning try for the Royal School, Armagh team in the 1977 Ulster Schools’ Cup Final. Sam Rainey, Jude Roberts and Jonny Agnew have been involved with the Ulster U18 Schools’ squad while Josh King and Ryan Finlay have played with the Ulster Schools’ U17 squad. Ross Taylor has been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U16 training squad and all these players will be hoping to enhance their reputations with good performances in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game. These players were also central to the outstanding performance the Royal School, Armagh team put on against the Bangor Grammar School team in the previous round. There are family connections in the Royal School, Armagh squad with Peter Taylor and Ross Taylor being brothers and Romain Morrow, another excellent place kicker, and Jonny Agnew being cousins. Quite a number of the Royal School, Armagh players are returning from last year and are eagerly looking forward to the competition which continues with this 1/4 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter against Ballymena Academy.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am
The Campbell College, Belfast team travelled to play their close neighbours from Sullivan Upper in the 4th Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Campbell College team, the current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, might have thought that, at one stage of that game, their grip on the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup was loosening. However, the players re-grouped in the course of that game and they came away eventually from Sullivan Upper with their grip on the Ulster Schools’ Cup still tight! A recent run of very impressive results against renowned schools from Munster and Leinster, alongside their 4th Round victory at Sullivan Upper, would suggest the Campbell College, Belfast players are not going to give up easily their grip on the famous Ulster Schools’ Cup. They will see themselves happy with the mantel of favourites as they prepare to face Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in the 1/4 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Campbell College team is coached by the experienced Brian Robinson who can call upon the youthful exuberance of Jonny Cupitt to assist him. Neil Doak continues to act in an advisory capacity to Brian and Jonny and his experience as a coach is off great value to the Campbell College players and staff. The team is captained by Rex Tinsley who brings great leadership qualities to the role. As well as being a very astute captain on the pitch Rex is also a calming influence when playing in the centre. Rex is also Head Boy at Campbell College and was a member of the Ulster U19 squad that defeated the Australian Schools’ team back in December. Campbell College players such as Jack Stinson, Conor Rankin, Paddy McAlpine, Jack Boal, Finlay Parks and Luke Collins have been involved with various Ulster and, in some cases, Ireland Age Grade squads. Conor Rankin is the leading point’s scorer on the Campbell College team and he has caused untold problems for opposition teams this season with his eye for the line as well as a deadly accurate boot off the tee. Tobi Olaniyan, Ben Rainey and James Johnston form a dynamic break away trio in the Campbell College back row. Their robust performances against the Sullivan Upper team in the previous round were central to Campbell College emerging as victorious from that game. Danny Williamson, Rex Tinsley, Kieran Robertson, Dara Gaskin and Jack Boyle have all been regular try scorers for the Campbell College, Belfast team this season. They will all be hoping to add to their totals when it comes to the defence of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup winner’s title.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team seemed to have played well within themselves in the course of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4th Round encounter when they recorded a relatively comfortable win against Down High School. Things will need to be stepped up as they prepare to travel to play Campbell College, Belfast in the Quarter-Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team is coached by Ashley Finlay who has a new member of staff in Stuart McCain to assist with the backs and Alistair Keys working with the forwards. Roci Allan fulfils the vital role as team manager with the Enniskillen RGS squad. The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team is essentially a young squad featuring some ten Year 12 players as regular starters. Team Captain, Alex Parke, who is also Head Boy in the school, has led his young charges to fourteen victories this season and will be looking for a fifteenth victory at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/4 Final game against the Campbell College, Belfast team. Alex gets great support, on and off the pitch, from his scrum half, Matthew McConkey, who is his Deputy Head Boy. Eddie Keys, son of forwards coach, Alistair, has been central to the success of the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team this season with his ability to score tries as well as kick points. Callum Smyton is a hardworking back row forward whose explosive play has seen him top the try scoring list for his season and he will be only too pleased to add to his impressive total against Campbell College as he did against Down High School. Callum’s battle with his opposite number on the Campbell College team, Tobi Olaniyan, could be seen as central to the outcome of this game. Callum, along with Justin White, was part of the Ulster U17 Schools’ squad earlier in the season. They will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game as an opportunity to push for further representative honours. Likewise, players such as David Stinson, Stuart Brown and Alex Parke have been part of Ulster Regional Development Squads and will wish to push on to be included in the Ulster Schools’ Age Grade representative squads later in the season. Andrew and Harry Dane are twin brothers who are vital members of the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School pack while Eddie Keys can look to his twin brother, Henry, a back row forward, to provide him with some protection at critical times in the game. Alex Parke forms a formidable centre partnership with Robbie Mills who is an Irish Rowing Champion. This young Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team is seen by their coaches as having a great work ethic. That work ethic will be put to the test in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools Cup 1/4 Final game against the Campbell College, Belfast team.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am.
