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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final Previews Tuesday 5th-Wednesday 6th March 2019.
Campbell College, Belfast and the Royal School, Armagh team will re-enact the 2018 final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final when the teams meet in the first semi-final of the 2019 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on Tuesday 5th March at the Kingspan Stadium. The Campbell College team survived a few scares in their 4th Round tie away to Sullivan Upper School and came through their quarter-final home tie against Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in a reasonably comfortable manner. Their grip on the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup has tightened and the Campbell College team appears to be keen to maintain, and indeed strengthen, that grip on the famous trophy. A recent run of very impressive results against renowned schools from Munster and Leinster, alongside their 4th Round victory at Sullivan Upper and quarter-final victory against Enniskillen RGS, would suggest the Campbell College, Belfast players are not going to give up easily their hold on the Ulster Schools’ Cup. They will see themselves happy with the mantel of favourites as they prepare to face the Royal School, Armagh team in the first semi-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 and directing operations with the Campbell College back division. 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. His calm assured leadership was evident in abundance in the course of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup games against Sullivan Upper and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. 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 and, in John Gildea, they have a young player who puts in a great deal of effort with his performances in the front row. The robust performances of these players against the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team in the previous round were central to Campbell College emerging as victorious from that game. One of the keys to unlocking the outcome of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Semi-Final game against the Royal School, Armagh team could be the battle of the respective back row trios! Danny Williamson, Rex Tinsley, Kieran Robertson, Dara Gaskin, Jack Boal and Ollie Ralston 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 Royal School, Armagh team recorded an impressive victory at home against Bangor Grammar School in their 4th Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup tie. They had a much more challenging game when they travelled to play, and defeat, a previously undefeated at home Ballymena Academy team in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. That game was played in very difficult overhead conditions and the result was in doubt right up until the final whistle. The game was a tribute to both teams and a fine advertisement for all the work that goes on to develop players involved in rugby in Ulster Schools. The Royal School, Armagh team scored two goals in the course of the game but had to put in a superb defensive performance in the final twenty minutes of that game to ensure they were the only team to come away from Ballymena Academy this season with a 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. Kenny’s wisdom and advice was evident with the performance of the Royal School, Armagh team against the Ballymena Academy team in the quarter-final game. However, the final outcome did seem to cause some internal family problems for Kenny as his Daughter-in-Law, Hannah, is a former pupil of Ballymena Academy!! 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. His performance in this semi-final game, alongside that of Jonny Agnew and Peter Taylor in the Royal School, Armagh back row, against their opposite numbers on the Campbell College team, will be watched with interest. 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 playing in the centre against Ballymena Academy while the return to play of Benji Boyd has been seen as a real boost for the Royal School, Armagh team. Peter Taylor is the leading try scorer and he, like Charlie Worth, has taken advantage of the clever play of Nicholas Jennings whose creativity has been central to the success of 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 semi-final game. A lot of these players were also central to the outstanding performances the Royal School, Armagh team put on against the Bangor Grammar School team in the 4th Round and Ballymena Academy in the quarter final games. 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 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final encounter against Campbell College, Belfast.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final game will be held at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 5th March at 2-30pm.
The Methodist College, Belfast team has come through their previous Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup games this season in a relatively comfortable fashion. They travelled to play Dalriada School in the 4th Round when they recorded a very positive victory. Next up was a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final game at Pirrie Park against their great rivals from Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Despite going 7-0 down in the opening stages of that game the Methodist College team recovered before going on to record an impressive 29-14 win. That win ensured the Methodist College team remains undefeated in any game played over normal time this season. 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. Ethan has been outstanding in his Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup performances this season. 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 have displayed with their performances in the 4th Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup against the Dalriada School team as well as their quarter-final performances against Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Once again they will all see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final game against Wallace High School 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 Ben 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 Semi-Final encounter against a very talented Wallace High School team.
Despite having lost against the Methodist College, team back in November the Wallace High School team will relish taking part in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final encounter in order to have the opportunity to “right” that November “wrong”! The Wallace High School team has had to travel to both their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup games this season. The Wallace team travelled to play Cambridge House Grammar School in the 4th Round and, having emerged from that game as convincing winners, travelled to play the Rainey Endowed School team in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final game. The Wallace High School team emerged from that game having recorded an impressive 36-12 victory and scoring five tries in the process. 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 capable of causing an upset as they finalise preparations for this intriguing Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final game against Methodist College, Belfast. 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. Reuben put in a superb performance against the Rainey Endowed School team and will be hoping for another positive result after this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final 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 as he has displayed in the course of the current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. 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. This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final game will be closely monitored by representatives from the Ireland Schools’, Ireland Schools’ and Clubs’ and Ireland U19 Management teams. These players were among the many Wallace High School players to impress with their performances against the Cambridge House Grammar School and Rainey Endowed School teams in the previous rounds. 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 Methodist College, Belfast team in the Semi-Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final game will be held at the Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday 6th March at 2-30pm.
