Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 12th March 2016
There were three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ finals, as well as one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ semi-final, played midweek in the lead up to a full day of “Sevens” action at the annual Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Seven-a-Side Tournament which was played at Campbell College on Saturday 12th March.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield final took place at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 8th March when the Royal Belfast Academical Institution Medallion team defeated Wallace High School by 22-8 to clinch the Danske Bank Medallion Shield for the third consecutive year.The final was a repeat of last season’s showpiece, which RBAI won 13-5. It was another close affair and the final scoreline somewhat flattered the Belfast Inst team who were second best for large periods of the game. The opening quarter was particularly even with neither team able to penetrate the opposition defence. That was until the eighteenth minute when the Belfast Inst centre, Robin McIlveen, weaved through the Wallace defence to dot down to the left of the uprights. The same player converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead.The Wallace High School responded immediately with a try from their impressive left winger, Dillon Jones. Dillon crossed the whitewash for a try after a sweeping backline move which followed a series of close drives by the Wallace High School forwards. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Wallace team had reduced the deficit to 7-5. Both teams went looking for more points before the interval but the defences were on top which ensured the Belfast Inst team went into the break with their 7-5 lead intact.
Wallace High School completely dominated the early stages of the second half and made a number of line breaks but, due to some excellent Belfast Inst defence, was unable to force their way over the whitewash. Eventually the pressure was rewarded in the form of a penalty which the excellent Conor Rankin slotted over with ease to put his side into a deserved 8-7 lead. However, that lead was short lived. The Belfast Inst team now seemed to spring into life and Sam McIlveen notched a penalty of his own to bring the score to 10-8 in favour of the Belfast Inst team. The Inst team stepped up another gear and tighthead prop, Reece Anderson, capitalised on good work by his fellow forwards to crash over from close range. Sam McIlveen again converted to extend the Belfast Inst lead to 17-8. RBAI then scored their third try of the game at the death. With the last play off the game fullback, Simon Jackson, who threatened with ball in hand on a number of occasions during the game, finally got onto the scoresheet. His balanced running evaded several tackles on his way to touching down for an unconverted try in the left hand corner. This score ensured the Royal Belfast Academical Institution won an exciting encounter by 22-8.
Post-Match, Bobby Stewart, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, and Ivan McMinn, representing the Danske Bank sponsors, presented medals to the finalists and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion shield to Angus Adair, captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield replay, featuring Wallace High School and Coleraine Grammar School, was played in Lisburn on Wednesday 9th March. The Wallace High School team recorded a convincing 22-7 victory and will now meet Down High School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield on Monday 14th March at the Kingspan Stadium with a 2-30pm kick off. The Wallace High School team controlled all aspects of the game for long periods of time. They scored tries through Toby Kerr, Ben Finlay and Jonny Stewart. Jonny capped a fine personal performance with two successful conversions as well as a penalty kick. The Coleraine Grammar School points came from a Matthew Norris try which was converted by Callum Smyth.
In the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl, played at Royal School, Dungannon, Portora Royal School defeated Grosvenor Grammar School by 20-7. The Portora RS team outscored their Grosvenor Grammar School rivals by three tries to one at the end of this entertaining game. Second Row, Ryan Egerton, fullback, Robert Baloucoune, and flanker, Jack Rutledge, scored Portora’s tries in a dominant display at Royal School Dungannon on Wednesday afternoon. A period of sustained pressure early in the first half was rewarded when Ryan Egerton powered over after a series of close drives by the forwards. Outside centre, Connor Keys, kicked the conversion to put his Portora team into a 7-0 lead. Robert Baloucoune, who has represented Ulster U19s, was dangerous all afternoon with his open field running and sliced through the Grosvenor defence to earn his side’s second try. Connor Keys was unable to convert but the Co Fermanagh school brought a 12-0 lead into the interval.
Portora, playing with a strong breeze in their favour after the break, continued to dominate proceedings and Connor Keys knocked over a penalty to increase the Portora RS lead to 15-0. Then Jack Rutledge crossed the whitewash midway through the second half after some fine interplay between his fellow forwards and the talented backline. Connor Keys’ resultant kick was off target but his team now held a comfortable 20 point advantage. There was still time for Grosvenor, who fought hard throughout the game, to score a try of their own. Mark Courtney’s lovely delayed pass put Daniel Martin through a sizeable gap in the defence and the captain dotted down under the posts. Scrumhalf, Adam Skelton, added the extras to reduce the deficit to 20-7.The Belfast boys pushed tirelessly for another score late in the game, with left wing, Ben Stevenson, particularly prominent in attack but the Portora defence was resolute. Richard Latimer’s final whistle was greeted with jubilant scenes as the Portora Royal School captain, Josh Kennedy, and his team celebrated a memorable win.
At the post match presentation ceremony Graffin Parke, Junior Vice President of Ulster Rugby, congratulated both teams on their performances during the game, thanked the coaches for all their hard work throughout the season, thanked the referee and his assistants for their control of the game, thanked the Royal School, Dungannon for hosting the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl final and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of Ulster Schools’ Rugby. Graffin then presented both teams with their medals and presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl to Josh Kennedy, captain, of the victorious Portora Royal School team.
Meanwhile at the pristine Pirrie Park Paddock Pitch the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate took place. Sullivan Upper defeated Campbell College, Belfast by 12-10 in what was a closely contested final and a great game of Medallion Rugby.
At the post match presentation ceremony Barney McGonigle, Ulster Schools’ PRO, congratulated both teams on their performances during the game, thanked the coaches for all their hard work throughout the season, thanked the referee and his assistants for their control of the game, thanked the Methodist College Principal, Governors and Nicky Wells and the MCB groundstaff for the provision of facilities and hosting the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of Ulster Schools’ Rugby. Barney then presented both teams with their medals and presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate to the captain of the victorious Sullivan Upper School Medallion team.
Ballyclare Secondary School played Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate. The Ballyclare Secondary School team won the game by 33-5. This result sets up a local Ballyclare derby in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate when the Ballyclare Secondary School team will meet the Ballyclare High School 3rdxv. Both teams have agreed to play the final at Ballyclare High School on Wednesday 16th March at 2-30pm.
The end of each season brings with it a number of tournaments organized by different schools throughout the province.
On Saturday 5th March Royal Belfast Academical Institution organized an U14 tournament which had players from sixteen schools involved. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team defeated a gallant Royal School, Dungannon team in the final play-off game.
The annual Coleraine Grammar School U12 tournament took place on Saturday 12th March when twenty four teams from all over Ireland participated in “A” and “B” Tournaments. There were sixteen teams competing in the “A” section with eight in the “B” section. Willow park “A” team defeated Royal Belfast Academical Institution to win the U12 Cup with Balyclare High School defeating Wallace High School to win the U12 Plate. Willow Park “C” team defeated Royal Belfast Academical Institution “C” team to win the “B” section Cup and the “B” section Plate was won by Willow Park “D” team who defeated Ballyclare High School “B” team in the play-off game.
The O’Kane U14 tournament, held at Ballymena Academy, was won by Wallace High School. Wallace defeated teams from Royal School, Armagh, Cambridge House and Ballyclare High School on their way to defeating Belfast Royal Academy by 28-0 in the final.
Thanks are due to Dan Soper and the staff at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Richard Boyd and the staff at Coleraine Grammar School and Stephen Johnston and the staff at Ballymena Academy for organizing these tournaments which were greatly enjoyed by the many hundreds of young players who participated in them.
One of the biggest sporting events in the province took place at Campbell College on Saturday 12th March when the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Seven-a-Side tournaments took place. As ever, these three tournaments were organized by John McKinney and the staff at Campbell College. There was continuous “Sevens” action running on twelve pitches from 11-00am through to the finals at 4-00pm. Twenty four schools took part in the tournament with many of these schools entering both “A” and “B” teams in the Senior and Medallion competitions.
The games ended with Ballymena Academy “A” team defeating Sullivan Upper by 21-14 in the final of the Senior Sevens, Foyle and Londonderry College defeating Wellington College in the final of the Junior Sevens and a Kenny Hooks inspired Royal School, Armagh team defeating Ballyclare High School in the final of the Medallion Sevens. Among the many interested spectators at the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Sevens tournament was Chris Jordan, captain of the Sullivan Upper team, who sustained a serious leg injury while playing in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game in February. Chris is making an excellent recovery from his injury and was delighted to be able to attend the Ulster Schools’ Sevens tournament.
The many players involved in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Sevens, as well as their coaches, would like to thank John McKinney, and the staff at Campbell College, for organizing such an enjoyable tournament. For the players it was a wonderful way to finish the season.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield final, featuring Down High School and Wallace High School, will take place at the Kingspan Stadium on Monday 14th March at 2-30pm.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate final, featuring Ballyclare Secondary School and Ballyclare High School 3rdxv, will take place at Ballyclare High School on Wednesday 16th March at 2-30pm (TBC).
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final, featuring Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Campbell College, Belfast, will take place at the Kingspan Stadium on Thursday 17th March at 3-00pm.
