Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 11th November 2017
With all the schools having re-started after the half term break there were six midweek games played in the lead up to a full list of fixtures on Saturday 11th November.
On Wednesday 8th November Ballyclare High School hosted Bangor Grammar School in a game the Ballyclare team won by 31-10. Despite the wet and windy conditions both teams displayed a determination to play the game in a positive manner. The Ballyclare team had built up a 7-5 lead by the break with Adam Campbell scoring a try which was converted by Adam Clarke. Zach Kerr scored an unconverted try for the Bangor Grammar School team.
A Josh Cowan try early in the second half increased the Ballyclare High School lead to 12-5. This became 19-5 when Adam Campbell ran in for his second try of the game which was converted by Adam Clarke. Aaron Sexton then set up Daniel Young for unconverted try for the Bangor team which reduced their deficit to 19-10. Jamie Cross and Matthew Clarke then touched down for Ballyclare High School and one more Adam Clarke conversion secured the 31-10 victory for the Ballyclare High School team.
Banbridge Academy recorded a morale boosting 35-10 victory against Belfast High School. The Banbridge team had built up a 28-0 lead by the interval with tries from Troy Pinion, who touched twice, and one each from Andy Denver and Tom Flanagan. Tom was successful with all four conversions.
The Belfast High School team staged something of a revival in the second half. They scored an unconverted try through Ryan Gibson to reduce the arrears to 28-5. Matthew Robinson scored a try for the home team, which was converted by Tom Flanagan, to increase the Banbridge lead to 35-10. Then Jack Love capped a fine personal performance for the Belfast High School with an unconverted try to leave the final score reading 35-10 in favour of the Banbridge Academy team.
Carrickfergus Grammar School hosted Friends’ School 2ndxv in a closely contested game from which the Friends’ School team emerged as 15-14 winners. A first half Joe Anderson penalty had given the Friends’ School team a 3-0 by the interval.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team then ran in two tries from Craig Lindsey and Daniel Curley, both of which were converted by Daniel. Friends’ School responded with tries from Chris Kane and Edward Kyle. Joe Anderson added one conversion which secured the 15-14 victory for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Coleraine Grammar School hosted Ballymena Academy in a midweek game the Ballymena Academy team won by 54-0. Stewart Moore put in a “Man of the Match” performance with five tries for the Ballymena team with Jordan Foster, Tiarnan Martin and Alex McKinney each scoring one try. Bruce Houston was successful with seven of his conversion kicks.
Larne Grammar School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rd xv in a game the Larne team won by 21-0. Aaron Gallagher scored an early try, which Euan Glenn converted, to give the Larne Grammar School team a 7-0 lead. Jack Withers then broke from his 22m area and ran almost the length of the pitch, leaving a trail of defenders in his wake, before touching down for a try. Euan Glenn added the extras to give the Larne Grammar School team a 14-0 lead at the break.
Despite the inclement conditions both teams were playing enterprising rugby. Liam Slaughter took advantage of some clever play from the Larne Grammar School back division before running in for a try. The conversion from Euan Glenn secured the 21-0 victory for the Larne Grammar School team against the very spirited Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv.
Rainey Endowed School played the Royal School, Dungannon team in a game the Rainey team won by 19-7. The game was played in difficult conditions which got worse as the game progressed. The Rainey team had built a 14-0 lead by the end of the first half through tries from David Dripps and Bryan Hall, both of which were converted by Harry Evans.
The Royal School, Dungannnon team started the second half strongly and found themselves encamped on the Rainey ES line for long periods of time. However, at this stage, they could find no way past a resolute Rainey defence. On a rare excursion out of defence Ciaran Doyle finished off a flowing Rainey ES attack with an unconverted try to increase the Rainey Endowed School lead to 19-0. The Royal School, Dungannon team did get some reward for their endeavours when James Wilson capped a fine individual performance with a try, which Luke McMullan converted, to leave the final score reading Rainey Endowed School 19 Royal School, Dungannon 7.
On Friday 10th Sullivan Upper School played Methodist College, Belfast in a game the Methodist College team won by 33-5. The Methodist College team had built up a 21-0 lead by half time through tries from Conor Kelly, Max Lyttle and Ben Gourley. Ethan McIlroy was successful with all three first half conversions.
Sullivan scored an unconverted try through Shay Storey early in the second half to reduce their arrears to 21-5. However, The Methodist College team went on to secure their 33-5 victory with tries in the second half from Thomas Armstrong and Ethan McIlroy, one of which was converted by Ethan.
On Saturday 11th November quite a few games were played.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Campbell College team won by 42-0. The Campbell College team scored three tries in the first half through Rex Tinsley and Jamie Macartney who touched down twice. Conor Rankin was successful with all three conversions to give his team a 21-0 lead at the interval.
The Campbell College team continued with their attacking prowess in the second half and scored three more tries. Oscar Yandall touched down for the first, Ben Power for the second and Rex Tinsley sent Conor Rankin in for the third. Conor converted all three second half tries to secure the 42-0 victory for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
Coleraine Grammar School foisted the first defeat of the season on to the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team when they met on Saturday 11th November. The game was a closely contested affair from which the Coleraine team emerged as 20-19 winners. Oscar Egan, Mark Lamont and Max Bailie scored the Coleraine Grammar School tries with Max adding one conversion. Pierce Crowe was successful with one penalty for the Coleraine team.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School points came through tries from Alex Parke, Christopher Balfour and Reece Smyton. Reece was also successful with two conversions.
Down High School got back to winning ways when they defeated Belfast Royal Academy by 45-10. The Down High School team scored seven tries in the course of the game. Lewis Finlay with two, Robin Wilson with two, Andrew McCoubrey, Alexander Martin and Ronan Patterson were the Down High School try scorers and Greg Hutley was successful with five conversions.
The Belfast Royal Academy points came through tries from Phil O’Callaghan and Harry Warke.
Dromore High School played against the Rainey Endowed School team that featured a number of fringe players when the teams met at the Barban Hill venue. Dromore HS took an early 5-0 lead when Tom Doloaghan ran in for an unconverted try. This was increased to 8-0 when Reuben Cobb converted a straightforward penalty opportunity. Rainey responded with a Harry Evans penalty to leave the Dromore team with an 8-3 lead at the break.
Rainey started the second half strongly and David Dripps made a telling break before touching down for an unconverted try to draw the scores level at 8-8. The remainder of the game was fairly evenly contested until Richard Dickson ran in for a Dromore High School try. Reuben Cobb added the extras to secure the 15-8 win for the Dromore High School team.
Omagh Academy took themselves of to Barcelona where, as well as playing two games, they took the opportunity to visit the Nou Camp, take part in training sessions and pay a visit to Port Aventura.
During the second day of the Omagh Academy Senior Squad tour to Barcelona, the team played their first game, against a big CEU RFC U18 side. Oisin Shiels opened the scoring after a perfect box kick from scrum half, Matthew Gillis, fell straight into his hands, Will Stewart converted from between the posts to put the Omagh Academy team into a 7-0 lead. Jake Liggett then took advantage of a break from Oisin Shiels to secure the ball and storm over the line for an unconverted try to increase the Omagh lead to 12-0. Troy Booth was next to secure a score when, after making a strong break from just inside his half, he forced the opposition into conceding a penalty. Troy was the first to act and took a quick tap before thundering over the line to touch down for an unconverted try and increase the Omagh lead to 17-0. Ryan Armstrong then pressed up to steal the ball from the opposition winger before finishing with a try under the posts. Will Stewart kicked the conversion to make it 24-0 in favour of the Omagh team at the interval.
Omagh scrummed well against a big CEU pack with front row Nathan Kilfedder, Jordan Brolly and Matthew Bell working well with the second row partnership of JP Murray and Phillip Rainey. Phillip Rainey had a stereotypically good day at the rucks as well. Outhalf, Will Stewart, then made a break of his own and shifted a lovely offload to the oncoming Adam Porter who went over from close range to increase the Omagh lead to 29-0. The Omagh team then made changes with Robbie Sproule and Michael Marechaux coming off the bench. Jake McCay also came off the bench and made a quick impact, scoring next from a quick tap and go from deep inside the home sides ’22’ m area. Will Stewart added the extra two points to give his team a 36-0 lead. Replacements, Scott Ballantine and Glenn McKinley, worked well together as Glenn McKinley gained vital yards off some fine play by Scott Ballantine. Oisin Shiels eventually got his second try of the game when he took advantage of some good play from Jake McCay, Robbie Sproule and Peter McKelvey. Taine Lagan kicked the conversion to see his team into a 43-0 lead. Taine Lagan was close to scoring himself during the last play but, running at the defence, he was tackled just short of the line, Jake McCay picked the ball up and burst over the line to touch down for his second of the game. Taine Lagan added the conversion which secured the 50-0 win for the Omagh Academy team.
Day Three of Omagh Academy’s senior rugby tour to Spain brought the excited squad to the mountains to play a newly founded Nova Olivella RFC U19 squad. Upon arrival Omagh were greeted in the beautiful valley by a friendly and excited opposition. The Omagh players played to their strengths and dominated from the off with a vast array of skills on show. This domination continued with the inexperienced side still putting up a fight against the Academy boys. However, the scoreline continued to grow in Omagh’s favour. In the third quarter the coaches agreed to mix things up and swap some players around. Jake McCay, Will Stewart, Michael Marechaux, Phillip Rainey and Bailey Irvine joined the Spanish squad and added some experience which finally enabled the Spanish team to put some points on the board as five tries were then scored against the Omagh side.
Try scorers for Omagh in the game against Nova Olivella were Peter McKelvey with three, Will Stewart with one try as well as three conversions, Phillip Rainey with one try, Nathan Kilfedder with two tries, Oisin Shiels with three tries, Troy Booth with one try as well as three conversions and Taine Lagan with two tries as well as one conversion.
Will Stewart, Phillip Rainey, Jake McCay, with two, and Brian Irvine scored tries when playing for the Nova Olivella with Brian contributing one conversion as well.
The Omagh Academy team was delighted with the reception they received from both clubs they played and are grateful for the outstanding hospitality they received whilst on tour.
Portadown College played Antrim Grammar School in a game the Portadown team won by 45-0. Dylan Nelson scored a hat trick for the Portadown team with Ross Gilmore, Brett Fleck, Christopher Thornberry and Daniel Moorcroft running in for one try each. Adam Speers was successful with five conversions.
Regent House played Dalriada School in a game the Ballymoney team won by 21-12. Luke Pollock scored two tries for the Dalriada team with Paddy Carson adding a third. Paddy was successful with all three conversions.
For the Regent House team Robbie Johnston and Ethan McFerran each scored a try with Robbie adding one conversion.
The “Match of the Day” was played at Osborne Park when the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team hosted Blackrock College, Dublin in a close encounter. The Belfast Inst team won the game by 17-15 Year 12 winger, Jude Postlewaite, touched down for an unconverted try in the first half to give the home side a 5-0 lead. Blackrock replied with a penalty kick to leave the scoreline reading 5-3 in favour of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team at the break.
Tries in the second half from David McCann and Jamie Mullan, one of which was converted by Angus Adair, put the Belfast Inst team into a 17-3 lead going into the final quarter of the game. The Blackrock College team scored two tries, as well as one conversion, in the final quarter but it was not enough to stop the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team holding on for a hard earned but well-deserved victory.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution Colts played Limavady Grammar School in a game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won by 24-10. Robbie Hunter and Brandon Maxwell were the try scorers for the Limavady Grammar School team.
Royal School, Dungannon defeated Lurgan College by 24-5 when the teams met on the WK Armstrong pitch at the Royal School. Lewis Connolly displayed some deft skills, both in the air and on the ground, before he touched for a try for the Royal School team. Luke McMullan added the conversion to see the RS Dungannon team into a 7-0 lead. The Lurgan College team displayed great commitment throughout the game and pegged the score back to 7-5 at the break when Peter Hutchinson outwitted a static home defence and touched down for an unconverted try.
The Royal School team went on to dominate proceedings in the second half. Dylan Burton and Nicolas Graham scored early second half tries, one of which was converted by Luke McMullan, to increase the Royal School, Dungannon lead to 19-5. With just a few minutes of the game remaining Jack Girvan scored a fourth RS Dungannon try to leave the score board reading 24-5 in favour of his team at the end of the game.
Wallace High School defeated Royal School, Armagh by 19-13 at the end of a closely game. The Wallace High points came through tries from Sam Cardosi, Ben Smyth and Ben Carson. Nathan Doak added two conversions.
For The Royal School, Armagh team Nicholas Jennings scored a try and Zac Thompson added two penalties as well as one conversion.
Wellington College, Belfast, Cambridge House School and Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv played a Round Robin series of games at Wellington College. The Cambridge House team defeated Wellington College by 33-0 and the Methodist College 4thxv by 21-0. Peter Munce, Robbie Gray, Kane McIlroy, Thomas Bovill and Jack Wilson scored tries in the first game with Rory McCandless adding four conversions.
In the second game Adam Brannigan, Tom Wharry and Rhys Ervine scored the tries with Rory McCandless adding three conversions.
