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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 Previews Saturday 26th January 2019
There are eight Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 games scheduled to take place on Saturday 26th January 2019.
Friends’ School, Lisburn will host Ballyclare High School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on Saturday 26th January. The Friends’ School team will be delighted to be playing at home as they had travelled in the previous round to Grosvenor Grammar School. The Friends’ School team had to work hard in that game before emerging as winners. They will need to work even harder if they are to overcome the not insignificant challenge the Ballyclare High School team will provide. The Friends’ School, Lisburn team is coached by Stephen Robinson, who continues to receive assistance from Norman Gamble, now in his 37th season of coaching senior rugby in the school, and Aaron Cairns who looks after the Skill Development and S&C aspects of preparing the players for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup games. The Friends’ School team is captained by Matthew Chapman who forms an exciting centre partnership with Jack Harte, a player who has had his abilities recognised by the Ulster Schools’ U18 Management team. Stuart Patterson played for the Ulster U18 squad during the summer period and, in Reece Malone, the Friends’ School team has one of the most influential outhalves currently playing rugby in an Ulster School at the minute as he proved with his calm performance in the previous round. Reece is the top point’s scorer for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team this season due to his attacking flair and eye for the line accompanied by his kicking excellence off the tee. Max Gillespie is another Friends’ School player the Ballyclare High School defence will need to monitor closely due to his ball carrying skills. Max Gillespie, Reece Malone, Ryan McGucken and Jack Harte were the point’s scorers against the Grosvenor Grammar School team and they will be hoping for more of the same when it comes to the game against the Ballyclare High School team. The Friends’ School, Lisburn squad is continuing to develop and is a squad of players eager to learn. They will see their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round 3 game against Ballyclare High School as a difficult hurdle to overcome but they will be looking forward to the many challenges the game will provide.
The Ballyclare High School team will be seen as clear favourites to win this 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Friends’ School, Lisburn. Back in December they travelled to Lisburn and recorded an impressive victory in that game against the Friends’ School team. Since then some recent excellent performances have really seen a boost of confidence spread throughout the entire Ballyclare High School squad. Michael Orchin-McKeever continues in his role as Director of Rugby and 1stxv coach in the school. He continues to receive assistance from Aaron Playfair, Matthew Coulter and Gary Clotworthy with Gareth Lenaghan taking on the responsibilities as Team Manager. The team is captained by Adam Clarke, an outstanding back row player, who is equally adept playing as an openside flanker or as a lock forward. Adam has two vice-captains supporting him on and off the pitch in Adam Clarke and Matthew McCullough. Mark Jackson is the top point’s scorer for the Ballyclare High School team with Matthew McCullough the top try scorer. These two players, alongside Ewan Wasson, James Logan, Josh Cowan and Stuart Hull in the Ballyclare High School back division have been regular try scorers throughout the season and the Friends’ School defence will need to monitor them closely. Forwards such as Robert Reid, Jack Gamble, Adam Barron, Brian Weatherup, Taylor Mitchell, Adam Campbell, Callum Mc Connell and David McCleary, who is also Head Boy in the school, are encouraged to provide first class set piece ball as well as quick phase possession so that the talented Ballyclare back division can launch attacks from all areas of the pitch. Adam Campbell was involved with the Ulster U19 squad earlier in the season while Jack Gamble, Robert Reid and Mark Jackson were involved at Ulster U18 level. Jack Gamble is a very powerful ball carrying No 8 from which players such as Adam Campbell and Ethan Crawford benefit enormously. Adam Clarke is entering his 3rd Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign as the outhalf and Matthew McCullough has been a threat to all opposition defences throughout the season. The return of Josh Cowan from a period of injury is seen as a major boost to the Ballyclare High School team. This Ballyclare High School squad has developed into a group with a superb understanding of the game with strong game appreciation. The success of the previous two years reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield competition and winning last year’s final has aided greatly in developing their confidence. However, this Ballyclare High School team fully believes they will not be defending their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield title this season. That will all start with a victory against the Friends’ School, Lisburn team in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am
The Omagh Academy team has been without a permanent home this season due to the refurbishment of their normal base at the Campsie Playing Fields. They will play their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game against Down High School at the Mellon Playing Fields, home of Omagh Academicals RFC. Ross Hunter is the coach of the Omagh Academy team and he continues to receive assistance from Jonny Lagan, Ryan Mitchell and the experienced Alistair Brown. The team captain is Robbie Sproule who receives great support from his Vice Captains, Jake McCay, Michael Marechaux and Ryan Armstrong, who is also Head Boy at the school. It has been a mixed season so far for the Omagh Academy team in terms of results. In part this has been due to the fact the team has not had a permanent home but also the fact that the coaches have only been able to field what they consider to be their strongest starting xv just once. However, with a number of injured players, including Will Stewart, Oisin McBride and Peter McKelvey, rehabbing well there is a degree of confidence emerging from the Omagh Academy camp as they prepare to launch their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Ryan Armstrong is the leading try scorer for the team with Will Stewart an outstanding place kicker. Jake McCay and Robbie Sproule have benefitted greatly from having had previous involvements with Ulster Rugby Age Grade squads. Joel Smith and David Braden have been involved in the course of the current season as well. The Omagh Academy team, with all these talented players on board, will look forward with confidence to their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game against Down High School.
Not many schools travel to Omagh and come away with a victory. That is exactly what the Down High School team did back in September and that win could see the Down High School team enter this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game as slight favourites to win. The Down High School team was on the road in the previous round when they overcame the challenge provided by a very committed Carrickfergus Grammar School team. The Down High School team is coached by the experienced duo of Charlie Knox and John Gunston with James McBriar looking after the Strength and Conditioning aspects of the preparation for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. The team is captained by their hard-working open-side flanker, Reece Hagan, a player who leads by example, both on and off the pitch. His work rate in the game against Carrickfergus Grammar School was outstanding. The work load of vice-captain is shared between Greg Hutley and Charlie Marshall. Both these players offer great support to Reece and are regularly among the points scorers for the Down High School team as they showed in the last round against Carrickfergus Grammar School. Greg, an Ulster U18 Schools’ and U19 player, is the leading point’s scorer for the Down High School team. Greg can play effectively as an outhalf or centre and is a very fine striker of the ball out of hand or off the tee. Greg has had his talents recognised from further afield and he was recently an attendee at an Ireland Age Grade Camp. Charlie is a very hard-working No 8 who has scored quite a number of tries this season following dynamic plays from the base of the scrum. Joe Charles has been involved with the Ulster U17 Schools’ Development squad and should see the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign as an opportunity to further impress the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department. Andy McCoubrey, Jonathan Graham, Jakob Cross, Conor Gibson and Stuart Campbell, the Head Boy in Down High School, are other players in this hard-working squad the Omagh Academy team will need to monitor closely in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-45am
Coleraine Grammar School will play their near neighbours and close rivals from Dalriada School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. This “derby” game has really caught the imagination of the followers of the schools’ game and set the scene for what will be a very interesting game of Schools’ Cup rugby. The Coleraine Grammar School team is coached by Richard Boyd who is assisted by Benji Van Der Byl. Alan Clark looks after the S&C aspects of squad preparation for their forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. The team captain is prop, Oscar Egan, who has gained representative honours with Ulster U18 Schools’ and Ulster U19 teams. Oscar was also an attendee at a recent Ireland U18 Schools’ Camp. Other key members of the Coleraine Grammar School team included David Brown, who has been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team as well as the Ulster U19 team. The leading point’s scorer for the team this season has been inside centre, Pierce Crowe. His kicking accuracy off the tee has been outstanding and he has touched down for a number of tries as well. However, the leading try scorer is Conor Potts who is also an Irish Schools’ Sprinter. Conor is in his third season on the Coleraine Grammar School 1stxv and his performance will need to be monitored closely by the Dalriada School defence. Another threat with the ball in hand is Marcus Poskitt who has gained big game experience as an Irish Schools’ Cricketer. The return to play of the Head Boy of Coleraine Grammar School, Daniel McConaghie, will be seen as a great boost for the Coleraine team as they prepare for this intriguing game. There are twin brothers in the Coleraine Grammar School with scrum half, Cameron Wallace, expected to supply a steady stream of quality ball that could be used positively by Callum Wallace on the wing. Team captain, Oscar Egan, has stated “The boys have trained hard and are really looking forward to the cup again this season. The coaches have set high standards and ensured we are well organised. We have fronted up against some of the fancied sides this year and on our day could beat anyone. We must take confidence from our performances and enjoy every minute of the cup. Hopefully we can get a big crowd to support us and help push us on.” While team coach, Richard Boyd, suggests “The squad has been very competitive this season and pushed a number of the top sides all the way. Results maybe haven’t been a fair reflection of the effort and performances put in by the players but we have developed into a really tough side to beat and played some excellent rugby. The boys should go with no fear into the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition and embrace the pressure of cup rugby.”
The Dalriada School team has had a very successful season so far, having won 11 out of 14 games played. These positive results will have generated a great deal of confidence as they prepare for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game at Coleraine Grammar School. The Dalriada School team is coached by Rab Gregg and former Ulster and Ireland prop, Bryan Young. The coaching staff see the squad as having made steady progress in the course of the current season and playing with a great deal of confidence as they finalise preparations for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. The squad has been encouraged to play positively with the ball in hand and this is unlikely to change come Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup time. The Dalriada School team is captained by their out half, Paddy Carson. Paddy has shown great maturity this season in his play and, when under pressure, is someone the team can look to for a calm head and reassurance. His experience from playing representative and Senior League cricket obviously helps him in these pressure situations. He is ably supported by those around him such as Luke Pollock, James McCormick and Peter Wright all of whom have represented Ulster at Age Grade and RDS level. James McCormick has many strings to his bow. As well as being a first class schoolboy hooker, who has touched down for quite a few tries this season, James has the ability to kick vital points whenever the opportunity might arise for him to do so.. However, these players are not the only reason for the success of the Dalriada School team this season. They are only part of an entire squad of players that play well together and always attempt to play an exciting style of rugby. With eleven Year 14 boys on the starting team it is one of the more experienced Dalriada School teams the school has fielded for many years. The members of the coaching staff, as well as the players, are positive in their outlook and hopes are high that they can do themselves justice and reach their potential in the course of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am
Another potentially intriguing Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round “derby” game will take place at the Circular Road venue in Newtownards when Regent House School will entertain their near neighbours from Bangor Grammar School. The Regent House School team was made to work hard before they managed to overcome the challenge provided by the hard working Dromore High School team in the previous round. They will need to raise the bar even higher as they prepare of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Bangor Grammar School. The Regent House School team is coached by Nick Gamble, Mervyn Tweed and Budge Poutney, with Neil Dougan providing the Strength and Conditioning input. The Regent House team has achieved some great results this season and will be looking for another one against Bangor Grammar School.. The team captain is Keir Edgar, a player who is equally at home playing as a loose head prop or playing in the second row. Stuart Martin is the top point’s scorer in the squad and he is a player who will be only too willing to punish any indiscretions from the Bangor Grammar School team with his deadly accurate kicking skills off the tee. Will Hopes is a very clever lineout forward who has gained representative honours earlier in the season with both the Ulster Schools’ U18 team and the Ulster U19 team. Other Regent House players the Bangor Grammar School team will need to monitor closely include Mattie McFarland, Josh Heron, Kristian Wallace McKimm, Callum Dawson, Samuel Attipoe and Ethan McFerran. All these players have been regular try scorers throughout the season. It was the combination of a Samuel Attipoe try linked to a penalty and conversion from Stuart Martin that accounted for the Regent House points against Dromore High School. As well as being an outstanding rugby player Stuart Martin plays elite level hurling for Co Down and is the holder of two All-Ireland Age Grade Hurling Medals, Mattie McFarland is the current Ulster Schools’ Javelin Champion, Samuel Attipoe has represented Ulster Schools’ Athletics in the Shot Putt Inter-Pro competition and Adam McGrath is a Grade 8 Flute player. The Regent House School squad enjoyed a tour to Bordeaux at Halloween where they played against two teams- one a local town team and the other an area select team. They were also coached by British and Irish Lions legend, Tom Smith, and did a fitness session on the biggest sand dune in Europe-the Dune de Pilat. This highly committed and hard- working team will be hoping to take everything they have learnt so far this season into their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game against Bangor Grammar School when the teams meet at Regent House on Saturday 12th January.
The Bangor Grammar School team has had a mixed season in terms of results so far having won six out of seventeen games played. However, there is a feeling around the Bangor Grammar School camp that if they were in a position to select their strongest starting xv then they should be able to make a few teams sit up and take notice. Colin Hunter and David Kennedy are responsible for coaching the Bangor Grammar school team and they receive great help from Mattie Agnew, a member of the Ulster Academy, and Stuart McCloskey, the Ulster and Ireland centre. The Bangor Grammar School captain is their fly half, Rhys Larmour. Rhys, a nephew of former Bangor Grammar School, Ulster and Ireland Flanker, Kieran Dawson, is the leading point’s scorer for the Bangor Grammar School team this season. He has touched down for a number of tries but it is his accuracy off the tee that has been really impressive. Conor Lusty and Ben McCrossan are the leading try scorers on the Bangor Grammar School team with both players in double figures for the season. Ben McCrossan has played with both the Ulster Schools’ U18 team as well as the Ulster U19 team. Riley Westwood has been involved with Ulster U18 Schools, Ireland U18 Schools and the Ulster U19 team. Gareth Wells has been with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team and a squad member with the Ulster U19 team while Robbie Grant has been involved with an Ulster U16 Schools’ Training squad. In Aaron Sexton the Bangor Grammar School team has a prodigious talent and a young man who handles all his accolades in a very modest manner. He has played for the Ulster team in a pre-season friendly, starred for the Ulster “A” team in their Celtic Cup games and played with the Ireland U19 team earlier in the season. Aaron is also an internationally renowned sprint Athlete. If the Bangor Grammar School team has all these players available for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign the opposition teams will have to monitor them all carefully. The squad has a good mix of Year 13 and Year 14 players this season all of whom have experience of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign from last season. These experienced players are ably supported by a number of Year 12 players who have adapted well to the rigours of senior rugby in the course of the current season. The players like to try and play an open game of rugby and get everybody playing with their hands on the ball. These are the tactics the players will hope to use in the course of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game against the Regent House School team.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am
Lurgan College had to work hard before overcoming the Foyle and Londonderry College team in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. They are delighted to be playing at home, once again, when they meet Cambridge House Grammar School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Everyone associated with the Lurgan College team realises they will need to take their game to another level if they are to progress in the competition after this game and the Lurgan College team players are keen to progress to the last sixteen of the competition. The Lurgan College team is coached by Kyle McCallan who is assisted by Rob Logan. The team is captained by Jon Woods who is also the Head Boy in Lurgan College. His successful return to play following a wrist injury has been a major boost to the Lurgan College squad as preparations for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game are finalised. Jon is equally adept at playing in the 2nd Row or back row but it is his return to fitness that has meant so much to his team mates. The team has had a 50/50 season in terms of results with injuries at critical times impacting on what is a relatively small squad of senior players. The season started well then the injuries impacted in the November/December period. However, some recent positive results, especially against the Foyle and Londonderry College team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, have given the Lurgan College squad a great boost as they prepare for the continuation of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Luke Forsyth, Ewen Mulligan, Ben Marsden, Peter Hutchinson, Harry Bird and Josh Best are other key players in the Lurgan College squad who seem to be hitting top form at just the right stage of the season as they displayed in the last round. Whilst small in number this year, the Lurgan College players have come through a difficult period of their season and have become a tight knit group. With all players available for selection, linked to some recent good results, it is felt this will further boost team spirit and there is a great deal of excitement going into the next stage of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team recorded the narrowest of victories when they defeated Banbridge Academy by 11-10 in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. They now prepare to travel to play Lurgan College in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup fully aware of the fact that a win in this game will put them into the draw with the last sixteen of the competition. The Cambridge House team is coached by John Nicholl who is assisted by Timmy Small, former Ulster player, Jamie Smith, and Michael Stevenson. The team is captained by Kane McIlroy, a player who was involved with the Ulster U19 squad when they won a blitz competition involving Sale RFC and Newcastle RFC U19 teams at Barnard Castle School back in August. Kane has led his team to good effect this season having played seventeen games and winning more than they have lost. The top point’s scorer for the Cambridge House team has been Rory McCandless, who was deadly accurate with his boot in the previous round, with players such as Kane McIlroy, Ethan Crawford, James McNabney, Tom Wharry and Josh Mark regularly among the try scorers as well. James has also been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 squad and will be hoping a good run in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup will propel him further along the representative route in Age Grade rugby. James, like Josh Mark, has gained representative honours in Northern Ireland Equestrian Sports. Earlier in the season a squad on ten Year 12 players, six Year 13 players and ten Year 14 players travelled to Portugal for a training camp which proved to be a great success for everyone concerned. It is hoped the learnings that took place at Brown’s Camp on the Algarve, as well as in the games the team has played since, will be put into place when the team meets Lurgan College in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am
Over the years the Royal School, Dungannon teams have built up a reputation of being hard to beat at home when it comes to Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup time. That reputation is well deserved and undoubtedly the current squad of Royal School Dungannon players will have this to the front of their minds as they prepare to host the Larne Grammar School team in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Gareth McClintock, Head Coach of the Royal School, Dungannon team, is assisted in his coaching duties by the experienced duo of Gareth Lucas and Richard Chambers. The team is captained by Luke McMullan, a young full back who had his considerable talents recognised when he was selected as a schoolboy player on the Ulster U18 Club team back in August. Luke captains a squad of players that is a mixture of youth and experience. There are players such as Luke, as well as Jack Girvan, another Ulster U18 Clubs’ player, who have the ability to bring flair to the performance of the team. Their control of the Royal School, Dungannon backline has helped make it a force to be reckoned with in the course of the current season. Luke Connelly and Jordan Redmond form a strong ball carrying centre partnership and they have created the space for other team mates to finish their hard work off with tries. Stephen Black, Head Boy of the school, and Matthew Watt, Deputy Head Boy of the school, are the only Year 14 players to consistently start games in the Royal School, Dunganon pack this season. Year 13 players have been using their experience of senior rugby last season, as well as the tour to South Africa in the summer to stand up to, and successfully compete with, more experienced packs. Players such as Peter Nicholl, Joshua Clarke, Adam McFarland, Louis Johnston and Logan McIlravie have a big presence on the field and have been leaving their mark on teams with their ability to carry ball and maintain possession for a number of phases before unleashing the back line attack. New recruit, Peter Busby from Aughnacloy College, has claimed his place in the back row with his confident tackling and poaching for opposition ball. Scrum Half, Adam Junk, has developed in to a very tidy young player. He is a dangerous link player who has sniped around the ruck a number of times this season so far to score quite a few of the Royal School, Dungannon tries. Luke McMullan and Jack Girvan, son of Andrew Girvan and nephew of Ian Girvan, both of whom played for Ulster and Ireland Schools’ teams, have been the leading try scorers for the Royal School, Dungannon team this season. Luke is the leading point’s scorer due to his accuracy with his trusty boot. The Larne Grammar School team will need to monitor all these Royal School, Dungannon players closely in the course of their 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game.
The Larne Grammar School team has endured a mixed season in terms of results. However, they will approach their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game at the Royal School, Dungannon with a degree of confidence following their morale boosting win in the previous round at Limavady Grammar School. Having been on the road in the previous round and recording a win the Larne Grammar school team is unlikely to be fazed having to travel to Dungannon for their next Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game. Coached by Nicholas Stirling and Marke Lambe the Larne Grammar School squad will realise this game presents them with the opportunity of continuing to turn their season around. The team is captained by Jordan McIlhinney, a player who is equally at home playing at tight head prop or in the back row. Players such as Jason Ward, Andrew Herron, Jack Lough, Jack Withers and Aaron Gallagher have been regular try scorers this season and, in Euan Glenn, they have a very fine place kicker. Euan will be only too happy to add to his impressive kicking performances in the course of this game. Euan Glenn, Jordan McIlhinney and Aaron Gallagher put in performances in the game against Limavady Grammar School that were impressive and if they are able to bring more of the same to the game in Dungannon then a shock result could be on the cards. In Steven Dickey the Larne Grammar School team has a hard working backrow player who has attracted the attention of the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department. The Royal School, Dungannon team will have to monitor all these Larne Grammar School players closely in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 11.00am
Over the 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 once again when they meet Portadown College in the 3rd Round 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, 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, 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 their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Portadown College-one of the few teams to have defeated the Rainey Endowed School team this season. 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. 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 are all looking forward to welcoming the Portadown College team to the Rainey Street venue for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round encounter.
The Portadown College team, having already recorded a win against the Rainey Endowed School team this season, could see themselves entering this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game as favourites to win. The Head coach of the Portadown College team is Paul Heasley who relies heavily on the experience of Andrew Symington for assistance. The team is captained by Dylan Nelson, a centre who brings great leadership qualities to his team as well as the ability to score tries on a regular basis. The Portadown College squad is comprised of nine Year 14 players, twelve Year 13 players and three Year 12 players. To date the team has won over 60% of the games played including that victory against Rainey Endowed School team back in October. Having lost against the Rainey team at the same stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup last season there appears to be the extra incentive for the Portadown College players to ensure there is no repeat performance this season. Dylan Nelson and Jordan McAteer form a dynamic centre partnership for the Portadown College team while Adam Speers, Ethan Williamson, Jordan Robb, Christopher Thornberry, Joe Orr, Elliott McKew and Drew Fleck are among other attack minded Portadown College players the Rainey Endowed School team defence will need to monitor closely in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round encounter.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am.
Belfast Royal Academy will enter their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign against Belfast High School in a very positive frame of mind. Recent excellent results against some of the leading schools’ teams in the Province would suggest the Belfast Royal Academy squad has hit an excellent run of good form at just the right time. The season started with the Belfast Royal Academy team winning the Ian H Graham Trophy at the Grosvenor Grammar School Festival and an excellent outing at the Methodist College, Belfast 150th Anniversary Tournament in October saw this talented group of Belfast Royal Academy players start to merge as a squad with a great deal of potential. Brian McLaughlin and David Creighton share the responsibilities of the coaching the squad and in their team captain, Tom Stewart, they have a player who seems to be destined to go far in the game. Tom has played with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team, the Ulster U19 team and is figuring highly in the thoughts of the current Ireland Schools’ U18 Management team. Brandon Hasson is another player who has benefitted from his involvement with Ulster Age Grade squads in the recent past. Tom and Brandon are joined by players such as Harry Warke, Daniel Logan, Adam Keed, Rob Sturgess, Ollie Parkes and Ryan Jameson when it comes to scoring points for the Belfast Royal Academy team. They have all been doing so on a regular basis in the course of the current season. The Belfast Royal Academy players are a great group to work with according to the coaching staff. The players seem to be hitting very good form at just the right time as they prepare to launch their forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign against Belfast High School.
The Belfast High School team had to work hard before they were able to overcome the significant challenge provided by a very spirited Strabane Academy team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. However, they emerged eventually from that encounter as worthy winners and that victory will have boosted the Belfast High School players greatly as they prepare for their forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game against Belfast Royal Academy. Michael Rainey and David Scott form the Belfast High School coaching team and both these men bring a wealth of experience to their roles. The Belfast High School team is captained by Jay Doyle, a player who leads his team effectively and efficiently from the hooker position as he displayed in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup against Strabane Academy. He will not allow his team mates to underestimate what an occasion the game against Belfast Royal Academy will be. Jay will look to the try scoring abilities of players such as Cameron McKimm, Andrew Huey, Ross Gray, Jack Ferguson and Thabiso Madlala to assist their team in overcoming the challenges the Belfast Royal Academy will present on the day. The place kicking skills of Aaron Douglas could be vital as well against the Belfast Royal Academy team. While it has been a difficult season thus far for the Belfast High School team they got their morale boosting win in the previous round. The Belfast High School coaches and players will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game as another opportunity to get the new term of to an even better start results wise.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
