Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 19th October 2013.
There were a couple of midweek fixtures played in the lead up to a full list of fixtures on Saturday 19th October.
Foyle and Londonderry College travelled to play Carrickfergus Grammar School and emerged, after a close encounter, as 24-19 winners.
The Folye College team took an early 7-0 lead when their captain, Patrick Leeson, scored a try which was converted by Alex Mc Donnell. The spirited Carrickfergus Grammar School team responded with an unconverted try from Christian Robinson, who took advantage of good work from Jake Porter, to leave the half time score reading 7-5 in favour of the Foyle team.
The second half proved to be an altogether more exciting affair with the Carrickfergus team scoring a try through their scrum half, Michael Black, which was converted by David Carse, to take a 12-7 lead shortly after the restart. This became 19-7 when the home team ran in another try which was scored by Jake Porter and converted by David Carse. The Foyle College team was not going to lie down and scored a try through their flanker, Lee Brady. Alex Mc Donnell converted the try to reduce the arrears to 19-14. The Foyle College team then regained the lead when their full back, Gary McKinley, ran in for a try. Again, Alex McDonnell converted the try to give his team a 21-19 lead. Just before the final whistle, Alex converted a penalty kick to ensure a 24-19 win for the Foyle and Londonderry College team.
Belfast Royal Academy defeated Larne Grammar School by 52-18 in another midweek fixture.
The Academy team was leading by 35-11 at the interval. The Belfast Royal Academy tries came from Stuart Martin, who touched down twice, Jordan Hylton, Gareth McAdams, Gavin Gilfillan, David O’Donnell Anderson, Michael Wilson and Scott McMurtry.
The Larne Grammar School team scored an unconverted try, as well as two penalties, in the first half. Their remaining points came from a converted try midway through the second half.
The Larne Grammar School team went on to play Belfast High School on Saturday 19th October and found themselves on the wrong end of a heavy defeat. The High School team was missing a number of regular players but scored first half tries through Robbie Reid, who scored two, Connor Elliott, and Kristian Bell. The Belfast High School team scored second half tries through Jordan Garford, who touched down twice, Jake Hutchinson, Kristian Bell, James Creighton, John Turner, Adam Kelso and Robbie Reid, who completed a fine display with a third try for a hat trick. Robbie kicked nine conversions, as well, in the course of the game.
Royal School, Armagh played Portadown College with a team missing a number of regular players due to injury.
The RS Armagh team won the game by 33-8, having been 18-8 up at half time. The RS Armagh team had first half tries scored by James Johnston and Mervyn Brown. Mervyn converted one of the tries and kicked two penalties in the first half. The Portadown College team scored a try through Jack Orr and Niall Davidson converted a penalty opportunity.
The second half saw the RS Armagh team take control of the game with Josh and David Agnew both scoring tries and Mervyn Brown adding a conversion as well as a penalty. Michael Thompson had a fine game for his RS Armagh team with James Irvine impressing with his display at open side flanker.
Despite playing very well throughout the game, the Rainey Endowed School team lost out by 36-7 to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team when the two teams met in Magherafelt.
The Belfast Inst team had built up a 14-0 lead at the interval with tries from Harry Cleland and Andrew McGrath. Rory Campbell converted both tries.
Conal Murphy scored a second half try for the Rainey team with Kieran Lynch adding the conversion. For the Belfast Inst team Rory Bell, Scott Oates, Robert Little and Rory Campbell scored second half tries with Rory Campbell adding one conversion
Banbridge Academy hosted Bangor Grammar School in a game from which the Bangor GS team emerged as 19-9 winners.
The Bangor team scored an unconverted try, fifteen minutes into the game, to take a 5-0 lead. The Banbridge Academy team replied with Daniel McElderry penalty before the visitors ran in a converted try to take a 12-3 lead at the break.
Daniel McElderry kicked two second half penalties to reduce the arrears to 12-9 and the home team went all out to win the game. However, the Bangor GS defence held firm, and eventually they broke out to score a converted try, to leave them winning the game by 19-9. The Banbridge Academy team had good performances from Ethan Harbinson and Daniel McElderry.
The Banbridge Academy 2nd xv recorded an impressive 25-0 win against Bangor GS with tries from Samuel McCracken, Corin Boardman, Ben Williamson, Stuart Savage and Rhys Mackey.
The Regent House woes continued when they hosted the Wallace High School team and lost the game by 55-0.
The Wallace High School team had a 15-0 lead at the interval and ran in nine tries in the course of the game. Jacob Stockdale scored three tries, Colin Walsh and Philip Hylands touched down for two tries each with Isaac Nzewi and Sam Moore scoring one try each. Ryan Moore kicked five conversions.
Ben Finlay and Jonny Stewart impressed for the Wallace High School team with their performances throughout the game.
Lurgan College hosted a Belfast Metropolitan College team and won the game by 11-8. The Lurgan College team had James Patterson to thank for converting two first half penalties to give his team a 6-0 lead at the interval.
Ten minutes after the restart the Belfast Met team scored an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 6-5. They went on to take an 8-6 lead when they converted a penalty kick. However, The Lurgan College team recovered from this set back when Ryan Mooney took advantage of some poor defence to run in for an unconverted try which ensured his team emerged from a close encounter with an 11-8 victory.
Dalriada School hosted Foyle and Londonderry College and had to work hard before winning the game by 26-14.
The Foyle College team took a 7-0 lead when their vice-captain, Niall Adair, ran strongly to score a try. Alex McDonnell added the conversion. The Dalriada team replied with a converted try, which Angus Johnston set up for Michael Finnerty, to draw the score level at 7-7. Alex McDonnell then converted his own try to put the Foyle College team into a 14-7 lead. Dalriada responded well again with some great ball carries from Aaron Christie and Scott Love. With some good ball Peter Dunlop was able to find space out wide just inside the Foyle College half and beat several defenders to score a great try under the posts. Peter converted his try to bring the score to 14-14 at half time.
Dalriada started the second half much brighter than the first and began to play some good flowing rugby. After further good work from the Dalriada forwards, gaps began to appear in the Foyle defence which were, once again, again exploited by Peter Dunlop. Peter ran in another great try, which he converted, to take the score to 21-14. From here, Dalriada looked to close out the game. After some more hard work from the Dalriada forwards, they were awarded a penalty which was taken quickly and the ball was moved wide. After a great run down the wing by Michael Finnerty, he found Robert Hunter in support and Robert finished with a try in the corner. The conversion was missed but Dalriada had a 26-14 lead which they held until the final whistle. This was a deserved win by the Dalriada tem who had Peter Dunlop to thank with his “Man of the Match” performance.
Methodist College hosted Munster giants, Christian Brother’s, Cork, and emerged from the game with a well-deserved 37-8 victory.
The Munster team took a 5-0 lead when they took advantage of a poor Methodist College clearance kick and touched down for an unconverted. However, the Methodist College team recovered and their pack started to produce some quality possession. The Methody midfield trio of Josh Bingham, Alistair McIvor and Connor McKee used the possession wisely and created a number of try scoring opportunities for their team mates. Connor McKee capped a fine personal performance with a number of tries with Louis Trainor and Rory Cairns running in tries on the Methody wings. Alistair McIvor and Steven Weir scored tries for the Methody team as well with Josh Bingham successful with a number of conversions as well as a penalty. Conor Kelly, playing at full back, was also a constant threat to the CBC defence. Michael Lagan, Steven Weir and Alex Thompson all impressed with their performances in the Methodist College pack as did Saul Herdman who was responsible for making a number of crucial turnovers during the game.
Omagh Academy and Friends’ School met, in great playing conditions at the Campsie Playing Fields, in a game which the Omagh Academy team won comfortably by 56-12.
The Omagh Academy team started strongly and ran in two converted tries, early in the game, to take a 14-0 lead. The Friends’ School team responded positively and Zach Finlay made a telling break to run in from fifty metres for a try. James McGucken converted the try to reduce the arrears to 14-7. Back came the Omagh team with tries from Lloyd Kane and Adam Stephenson, following clever work from Stuart Ballentine. Stuart converted both tries to see his team into a 28-7 lead at the interval.
The Omagh Academy team controlled most of the second half proceedings and ran in a converted try from Stuart Ballentine. Friends’ School then responded with an unconverted try from James McGucken. After this it was all Omagh Academy with Adam Stephenson completing his hat trick and Scott Barr touching down following a deft run down the touchline. Stuart Ballentine converted the tries to ensure a well-deserved 56-12 win for the Omagh Academy team.
Coleraine Academical Institution hosted Campbell College in a game which saw the Belfast team come away with a hard earned 10-7 victory.
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The Coleraine AI team got off to a slow start and a series of mistakes allowed Campbell College to take the lead after five minutes through a well struck penalty from their fly half. This seemed to spur the Coleraine AI team into action and they began to dominate proceedings. They put together wave after wave of attack with their forwards and backs interlinking with great effect! Prop forward, Daniel McAllister and No 8 Joel Stanbridge, carried the ball with great purpose. After twenty five minutes the sustained pressure led to Coleraine AI’s first try. An excellent lineout on the Coleraine 10m line allowed their back row to attack the Campbell College midfield. An excellent clear out by Daniel McAllister at a ruck enabled the ball to be moved along the backs and centre, Conor Shiels, hit full back Johnny Crowe with a pass to put him into space. Johnny then drew his opposite number and found his hard running team mate, Brad Dempster. Brad then side stepped the final defender to scamper in close to the posts for a try which was converted by Callum Smith to give the Coleraine AI team a 7-3 lead, a lead they held until the interval.
Coleraine AI started the second half the way they finished the first. For twenty five minutes they dominated territory and possession but failed to turn this dominance into points. On sixty minutes The Campbell College team worked their way into the Coleraine AI half after a series of penalties. Following an excellent lineout they executed a superb catch and drive to score a try, very much against the run of play. The try was converted and the Campbell College team had taken a 10-7 lead. Despite the disappointment of losing the game the Coleraine AI team can take a lot of heart from the performances of players such as Daniel McAllister, Ollie McDowell, Jonny Crowe and Ulster U19 player, Conor Shiels.
Sullivan Upper continued with their excellent recent form when they defeated Grosvenor Grammar School by 87-0.
The Sullivan Upper team had built up a 45-0 lead by halftime. The attacking prowess of the Sullivan team proved too difficult for the Grosvenor Grammar School defence to handle and the Holywood boys went on to score further tries in the second half. Players such as Dave Cave, Ross Todd, Michael Cartmill, David McMaster, Fergus Jemphrey, Josh Davidson and Chris Cooper all starred for the Sullivan Upper team.
Carrickfergus Grammar School travelled to play Cambridge House and came away with a 36-10 victory.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team had good performances from players such as David Carse, Christian Robinson, Jake Porter and Michael Black. Chris Da Mata stood out for the Cambridge House team.
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