Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 12th September 2015
There were several Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd Cup fixtures, as well as a number of friendly fixtures, played midweek in the lead up to a good list of scheduled friendly fixtures played on Saturday 12th December.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign was due to get underway on Saturday 12th December when Carrickfergus Grammar School was scheduled to host Strabane Academy in the Preliminary Round. Unfortunately the weather conditions prevalent in the North West of the province prevented the Strabane Academy team from making the journey to Carrickfergus. The game has been re-scheduled for Wednesday 16th December with the kick off time to be confirmed.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup competition Ballyclare High School defeated Friends’ School, Lisburn by 22-10; Regent House defeated Strabane Academy by 19-13 and Bangor Grammar School won by 24-20 against Grosvenor Grammar School.
In a friendly fixture a Wellington College Select 1st and 2nd xv lost by 21-5 against a Ballymena Academy Select 2nd and 3rd xv.
At 1stxv level Bangor Grammar School were grateful to Wallace High School who agreed to reschedule a game, originally due to be played on Saturday 12th, to Wednesday 9th. The game ended in a 10-10 draw. Bangor took an early 3-0 lead with a penalty from Zack Kerr. Wallace HS struck back and took a 7-3 lead when Ryan Malley scored a try, which Matthew Pentland converted, midway through first half. Just prior to the interval the Bangor team scored a try through Connor McKee, which Zack Kerr converted, to give them a 10-7 lead at halftime.
The second half saw both teams go out to secure a win but both defences seemed to be on top. It took a Jonny Stewart penalty, in front of the posts late in the second half, to ensure the Wallace High School team returned home with a 10-10 share of the spoils.
The scheduled midweek game involving Portadown College and Belfast Metropolitan College fell victim to the recent weather conditions which have severely impacted on the pitches at the Killicomaine Road venue.
As well as the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Preliminary Round fixture, involving Carrickfergus Grammar School and Strabane Academy, falling foul of the inclement weather conditions on Saturday 12th December, there were other games postponed or cancelled for the same reason.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup game, involving Wallace High School and Methodist College, was postponed because of heavy snow in Lisburn. It is hoped this game will be played before the end of term-arrangements to be confirmed.
The friendly fixtures involving Portadown College and Omagh Academy, Belfast Royal Academy and Banbridge Academy, Down High School and Sullivan Upper, Grosvenor Grammar School and Royal School, Armagh, Royal School, Dungannon and Regent House and Foyle and Londonderry College and Belfast Metropolitan College were cancelled because of the weather conditions.
With Methodist College due to tour to Portugal their scheduled game against Ballyclare High School was cancelled.
However, some fixtures did survive with Wellington College hosting Lurgan College in a game the Lurgan College team won by 49-10. Playing on the superb turf at Wellington College it was the visitors who settled quickly and scored an early try through 2nd row, Jonathan Carson, after a number of forward drives had taken the Lurgan lads deep into home territory. The try was converted by full back Robbie Norton to give the Lurgan College team a 7-0 lead. The Lurgan College full back, who also plays soccer with Glenavon, had an outstanding day with the boot. He increased the Lurgan College lead to 10-0 a short time later when he converted a penalty kick opportunity. Credit to the Wellington College team who bounced back quickly and a penalty was converted by Jamie Hewitt to reduce the deficit to 10-3. However, shortly after this, Lurgan No 8, Reuben McCreery, scored from close range and Robbie Norton converted from the touch line to put his team into a 17-3 lead. Further tries from Jonathan Carson and Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ prop, Harry Simpson, before the break gave Lurgan College a comfortable 28-3 lead at the interval.
In the second half, scrum half Scott Wilson nipped in from a ruck to touch down for a try. Robbie Norton added the extras to increase the Lurgan College lead to 35-3. Then Harry Simpson ran in for his second of the day, a try that was once again converted by Robbie Norton, to give his team a 42-3 lead. The Lurgan College staff then introduced a number of younger players from their bench to give them the opportunity to acclimatize themselves at this level. However, it was the home team who scored next through a try from Jason Lyons with Jamie Hewitt adding the conversion to take the scoreboard to 42-10 in favour of the visitors. The final try of the game was again scored by Harry Simpson who fully earned his “Man of the Match” tag with his power and nous all around the pitch. It is not often a prop forward scores a hat trick!! Robbie Norton capped a fine personal performance with another conversion to secure the 49-10 victory for the Lurgan College team.
Cambridge House hosted Larne Grammar School in a game the Cambridge House team won by 15-3. The Cambridge House team had built up a 10-3 by half time with a try, conversion and penalty from Sam Millar. In reply the Larne Grammar School team kicked a penalty from Barry McKay.
The second half saw a closely contested game of rugby with both teams attempting to play constructively despite the elements. The Cambridge House team secured their 15-3 win with a try from Kane McBride.
Antrim Grammar School and Belfast High School played out a closely contested game from which the Belfast High School team eventually emerged as 17-14 winners. It was a tribute to the ground staff that the game went ahead and a tribute to the players, coaches, referee and both sets of supporters that everyone survived the impact of the inclement weather conditions. Simon White, Tyler Arnold and Matthew Dennison all scored tries for the Belfast High School team with Simon White adding one conversion.
Antrim Grammar School had JJ McKee to thank for their try and the remaining points came from three successful penalty kicks.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted St Michael’s College from Dublin in a game the Dublin team won by 21-5. Despite the miserable conditions the Dublin visitors started strongly and found themselves 14-0 up after just seven minutes. The Belfast Inst team recovered strongly from these early setbacks but could find no way through the St Michael’s College defence and the score remained at 14-0 to the visitors at halftime.
The second half was more evenly contested with both teams scoring one try each. The St Michael’s try was converted. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution try came from Neil Saulters who took advantage of pressure from the Belfast Inst pack on a St Michael’s College defensive lineout. The ball emerged on the Belfast Inst side and Neil was able to touch down for an unconverted try. There were no further scores which ensured the St Michael’s College team had secured their 21-5 victory.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution sent a composite squad of 2nd and 3rdxv players to play a Friends’ School squad comprised of 1st and 2ndxv players in a game that survived for just thirty five minutes. The Friends’ School team scored tries through Alex O’Brien, Curtis Dundas, Chris Nesbitt and Luke Beattie. The Belfast Inst team scored one converted try before the weather conditions forced the game to be abandoned.
Limavady Grammar School played Dalriada School in a game the Dalriada team won by 36-5. It was the strength of the Dalriada pack that was the essential difference between the team. The gallant Limavady Grammar School team tried hard to play the conditions but any mistakes were seized upon by the Dalriada pack, with their back row trio being particularly effective. The Ballymoney boys had built up a 12-5 by the interval with first half tries from Aaron Christie and Jack Horsborough. Stewart Moore was successful with one conversion. In response the Limavady Grammar School team scored their points through an unconverted try from Gareth Kee.
The strength of the Dalriada pack secured quality possession for the Dalriada back division in the second half. The talented back division used the ball effectively with Angus Johnston and Stewart Moore calling the shots. Angus scored one try with Stewart running in for a hat trick of tries. Stewart added two conversions as well to secure the 36-5 victory for the Dalriada School team.
The “Match of the Day” took place at Fox’s Field when Campbell College met Ballymena Academy in a well-contested game the Campbell College team won by 21-15. Two of the in-form teams this season met for what promised to be a compelling encounter. Overhead conditions were horrendous and both teams deserve immense credit for their performances in the non-stop rain. Ballymena Academy started confidently and made several forays deep into the Campbell College half. The Campbell team was guilty of indiscipline on several occasions and Bruce Houston was successful with two early penalties to take the score to 6-0 in favour of the Ballymena Academy team. The next fifteen minutes belonged to the home team with Campbell scoring, first from a driven maul, and, moments later, from a line break in midfield. Matt Russell scored the first with Jack Howard running in for the second. Both tries were converted by Malcolm Corry to give the Campbell College team a 14-6 lead at half time.
Ballymena Academy settled quickly into the early stages of the second half and another Bruce Houston penalty reduced the deficit to 14-9 shortly after the restart. Strong running from Marcus Rea and Alexander Clarke took Ballymena deep into the Campbell territory again and, following an offside decision, Bruce Houston slotted the resulting penalty for a 14-12 scoreline. With both teams making several changes the game opened up for a grandstand finish. A break by Alan Small took Ballymena into the Campbell half and a ruck infringement gave Bruce Houston another shot at goal. The young out-half made no mistake to give Ballymena a 15-14 lead going into the final quarter of the game. The home team rallied and had the final say of the morning when their abrasive back row forward, Matt Russell, powered over for his second try of the game and, ultimately, the winning score. The successful conversion from the trusty boot of Malcolm Corry left the final score reading 21-15 to the Campbell College, Belfast team.
