Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 27th January 2018
On the afternoon of Saturday 20th January the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team travelled to Clane in Co Kildare where the team played against the Clongowes Wood College team. The game was played on the new 4G surface that Clongowes Wood College had recently installed and an exciting encounter finished with honours even at 24-24.
The Belfast Inst team withstood early pressure and, following a break from 2nd Row forward, Daniel Eakin, the first try of the match was scored by openside flanker, Max Preston. Robin McIlveen converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead. Jamie Mullan then ran in for an unconverted try to increase the Belfast Inst lead to 12-0. Shortly after this try the Belfast Inst lead increased to 17-0 when Jude Postlewaite touched down for an unconverted try. Just before the interval the Clongowes Wood College team scored a converted try to reduce the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team lead to 17-7 at half time.
Clongowes then scored an unconverted try early in the second half to reduce the deficit to 17-12. A second unconverted Clongowes try drew the scores level at 17-17. With ten minutes remaining the Belfast Inst team regained the lead when Conor McCormack touched down for a try, which was converted by Robin McIlveen, to put his team into a 24-17 lead. However, with the final play off the game the Clongowes team scored a converted try to ensure the game finished as a 24-24 draw.
The week beginning Monday 22nd January saw all the postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competition games being replayed.
On Monday 22nd Sullivan Upper School defeated Bangor Grammar School in a re-arranged Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield game by 26-5.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Belfast Royal Academy 4thxv hosted St Columba’s College, Stranorlar in a game the St Columba’s College team won by 33-12.
On the same day Omagh Academy played Royal School, Armagh in their postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield game at the Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt. The Royal School, Armagh team won the game by 31-12.
Ballyclare High School travelled to Bray where they played the Leinster Schools’ midweek League winners from St Gerard’s College in an exciting closely contested game the St Gerard’s College team won by 14-12. St Gerard’s took a 7-0 lead in the game, which was played under floodlights, but the Ballyclare High School team responded quickly to this early setback. Ethan Crawford scored a try, which Adam Clarke converted, to draw the scores level at 7-0. Jamie Cross then touched down for an unconverted try to give the Ballyclare High School team a 12-7 lead at the interval.
The second half saw both teams play expansive rugby but both defences were determined to keep their respective lines intact. That was until the St Gerard’s team ran in for a converted try which secured their 14-12 victory.
An interested spectator at the game was former Leinster, Munster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions outhalf, Tony Ward. Tony takes a great interest in all aspects of age grade rugby having been involved with coaching many successful teams at St Gerard’s College.
On Tuesday 23rd January Antrim Grammar School hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in their postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate quarter-final game. The Friends’ School, Lisburn team won the game by 15-0.
On Wednesday 24th January three of the four postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round games were played.
Coleraine Grammar School hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 29-13. The Friends’ School team started the game well and took an early 7-0 lead when Ben McCaughey outpaced the home defence before touching down for a try to which he added the conversion. Coleraine Grammar School responded with an unconverted try from David Brown to reduce the deficit to 7-5. Pierce Crowe then converted a penalty opportunity to see the Coleraine GS team into an 8-7 lead. Close to the interval the Coleraine Grammar School defence conceded a penalty, which Ben McCaughey converted, to see the Friends’ School team take a 10-8 lead into the break.
Coleraine Grammar School came out strongly in the opening exchanges of the second half. The impressive Oscar Egan trundled over for a try, which Pierce Crowe converted, to secure a 15-10 lead for the home team. Friends’ School replied with a penalty from Ben McCaughey to reduce their arrears to 15-13. After this the game, in the main, was controlled by the Coleraine Grammar School team. Luke Norris and Conor Potts both ran in for tries, to which Pierce Crowe added both conversions, which secured the deserved 29-13 win for the Coleraine Grammar School team.
Omagh Academy hosted Bangor Grammar School in a very close Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round encounter that finished with honours even and an 8-8 scoreline. The Omagh Academy team started off with some strong carries from captain, Glenn McKinley, and his fellow forward, Ryan Armstrong. However, a determined Bangor Grammar School defence ensured their line remained intact in the course of these opening encounters. The Omagh pack was dominant at set piece time with Glenn McKinley, Nathan Kilfedder and Peter McKelvey impressing in the scrums and Robbie Sproule and Jake McKay working hard in the lineouts. As the conditions started to make an impact on the pitch both teams were guilty of making basic errors. The Bangor team dropped a number of passes at key moments and this kept the Omagh line intact. In fact it was the Omagh Academy team that opened the scoring when they forced the Bangor Grammar School team into conceding a penalty, which Scott Ballantine converted, to give his team a 3-0 lead. The Bangor Grammar School team then got some possession which their backs managed to use to good effect. Aaron Sexton, Daniel Young and Zach Kerr were dangerous with the ball in hand. Just before the break Zach Kerr made good use of a flowing Bangor GS attack when he finished off with an unconverted try in the corner to give his team a 5-3 lead at halftime.
The start of the second half saw the Omagh Academy team gain early territorial advantage in the Bangor Grammar School 22m area. A well worked driven maul, following a lineout, ended when their impressive flanker, Philip Rainey, crashed over the line for an unconverted try and give his team an 8-5 lead. Omagh Academy had opportunities for more points but good Bangor GS defence, allied to occasional lapses in concentration, ensured they did not. Close to the end of the game a Bangor attack ended when they forced the Omagh defence into conceding a penalty. Daniel Young stepped to convert the opportunity with a successful kick to ensure this postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game finished as an 8-8 draw.
Rainey Endowed School hosted Portadown College in a game played in front of a large group of supporters. Included among the supporters was Graffin Parke, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, who took time out of his hectic schedule to watch this postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round encounter which the Rainey Endowed School team won by 13-5. The Rainey Endowed School team started the game displaying great intensity. They pressurised the Portadown College defence and scored after seven minutes. Ciaran Doyle, who had been denied earlier, touched down for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. This score seemed to kick start the Portadown College team into action. The Brett brothers, Drew and Brett, combined with Adam Speers to create the opportunity for Dylan Nelson to touch down for an unconverted try which drew the scores level at 5-5. The Rainey Endowed School team, playing into the strong wind, came back in a very positive manner. Scrum half, Ben McCloskey, broke from the base of a scrum and found his No 8, Jack Bresland, running a great support line. Ben off loaded the ball to Jack who displayed great skill and awareness before he passed to Karl Warner who finished off with an unconverted try to give the Rainey team a 10-5 lead. Both teams went on the attack and displayed some great inventiveness with the ball in hand. However, both defences were well-organised and the teams turned around at half time with the Rainey Endowed School holding on to their 10-5 lead.
With the wind in their backs the Rainey Endowed team started the second half with a series of all-out attacks. However, good Portadown College defence, with Matthew Neill, Adam Speers and Christopher Thornberry to the fore, allied to some Rainey Endowed handling errors kept the Rainey attacks at bay. The Portadown team then started to control possession and territory for a period of time but the Rainey Endowed team through the hard work of Bryn Davies, Adam Thornton and David Dripps manged to break up a number of promising Portadown College attacks. Close to the end of the game the Portadown College team conceded a penalty opportunity. Harry Evans made no mistake with the kick to ensure the 13-5 victory for the Rainey Endowed School team at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round encounter.
On the same afternoon two of the postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy quarter-final games were played.
Foyle and Londonderry College played Carrickfergus Grammar School in a game the Foyle team won by 18-5. The Foyle team scored three unconverted tries, as well as a penalty, in the course of the game. Keelan Coyle, Ben Galbraith and Andrew Miller were the try scorers with Danny Jones adding the penalty.
Daniel Curley touched down for an unconverted try for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team.
Both teams and their coaches would like to thank City of Derry RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy quarter-final game.
Limavady Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School and won the game by 18-6. Playing with the breeze in the first half Limavady started well and, after a series of penalties and driving mails close to the Antrim line, scrum half, Ethan Devlin, burrowed his way over the Antrim Grammar School whitewash to touch down for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. The game was impacted upon by driving wind and rain and the remainder of the first half turned out to be a dogged affair. Both teams displayed great determination to go for points but both defences held firm. This ensured the teams turned at the interval with the Limavady Grammar School team holding on to their 5-0 lead.
The Antrim Grammar School started the second half strongly. Their pack took the game to the opposition and forced the Limavady team into conceding two penalties. Callum Hull converted both penalty kicks to put the Antrim team into a 6-5 lead. The Limavady Grammar School team recovered from this set back and now it was the turn of their pack to take control. Good work at set piece time, assisted by some impressive carrying by Sean Butcher and Adam Warnock, forced the Antrim Grammar School team into giving away a penalty. James Howe was successful with the kick to see his team into an 8-6 lead. This became 13-6 when, following an impressive series of plays from the Limavady Grammar School backline, Joe Maccartney touched down for an unconverted try in the corner. In the last few minutes of the game the Limavady driving maul was effective once again. Robbie Hunter took advantage and touched down for an unconverted try which secured the 18-6 win for the Limavady Grammar School team.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Sullivan Upper School played Methodist College, Belfast in a game the Methodist College team won by 57-0.
Grosvenor Grammar School hosted Wallace High School in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup match game the Wallace High School team won by 24-5.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv played Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5thxv in a game the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 10-5.
Royal School, Armagh 3rdxv played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3rdxv in the same competition with the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team recording a 24-5 win.
On Thursday 25th January the last of the postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 matches was played when Cambridge House Grammar School played Regent House School in a game the Cambridge House team won by 17-13. Robbie Johnston gave the Regent House team an early 3-0 lead when he converted a penalty opportunity. This lead for the Regent House team then increased to 8-0 when Stuart Martin ran in for an unconverted try. On the stroke of half time Sam Millar scored a try for the Cambridge House to which he added the conversion to leave the Regent House team with an 8-7 lead at the break.
Shortly after the restart the Cambridge House scrum half, Tom Wharry, broke away from the half way line. He side stepped an opposition defender and finished off his run with a try under the posts. Sam Millar added the conversion to see the Cambridge House team into a 14-8 lead. Sam then added a penalty to increase the Cambridge House lead to 17-8 lead. Towards the end of the game the Regent House team scored a second unconverted try through Stuart Martin. This ensured the Cambridge House Grammar School team finished this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game as 17-13 winners.
Both teams and their coaches would like to thank Ballymena RFC for the use of facilities and hosting this game.
On the same afternoon Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock played Foyle and Londonderry College in a postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy quarter-final game at Cooke RFC. Our Lady and St Patrick’s College won the game by 8-0.Both teams and their coaches would like to thank Cooke RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
Omagh Academy played Larne Grammar School in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate at the Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt. The Omagh Academy team won the game by 40-0.
On Friday 26th January Omagh Academy played the Royal School, Dungannon team in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl competition. The Omagh Academy team won the very closely contested game by 13-11.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate competition the Royal School, Dungannon 3rdxv team played Regent House School 3rdxv. The Royal School, Dungannon team won that game by 27-22.
On Saturday 27th there was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round replay as well as quite a few Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield, Bowl and Trophy games played and the one remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy quarter-final game. Two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup and one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate games were also played as well as one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup match.
Bangor Grammar School hosted Omagh Academy in the replay of their drawn Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game. Bangor Grammar School won the game by 19-7. The game was closely contested in the first half with neither team able to get any points on the scoreboard.
In the second half the Bangor Grammar School team took control of both territory and possession for long periods of time. They scored three tries through Daniel Young, Zach Kerr and Aaron Sexton. Rhys Larmour added two conversions.
The Omagh Academy points came through a Scott Ballantine try which was converted by Scott.
In the last of the postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy quarter-final games Banbridge Academy played Larne Grammar School. After an exciting game the Banbridge Academy team emerged as 19-10 winners. The Larne Grammar School team started the game well and took a 5-0 lead when Jack Withers touched down for an unconverted try. The Banbridge Academy team responded immediately and drew the scores level at 5-5 when the impressive Peter Sleith ran in to score a try which was not converted. Both team mounted continues attacks but the defences held firm and there were no further scores in the course of the first half.
Three minutes into the second half Adam Hanna scored a try for the Banbridge Academy team, which Tom Flanagan converted, to see the home team into a 12-5 lead. Midway through the second half the Larne Grammar School team reduced their deficit to 12-10 when Liam Slaughter scored a try which was not converted. With the final play of the game the Banbridge Academy team secured their 19-10 victory when Matthew Robinson took advantage of good work from Andrew Denvir before he scored a try which Tom Flanagan converted.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Coleraine Grammar School played Down High School and won the game by 47-0. Sullivan Upper School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in a game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won by 21-0. Campbell College, Belfast played Royal School, Armagh and won the game by 35-8. Rainey Endowed School played Wallace High School in a game the Wallace High School team won by 38-0. Ballyclare High School played Ballymena Academy in a game the Ballymena Academy team won the game by 48-0. Methodist College, Belfast played Dromore High School and won the game by 31-0. Belfast Royal Academy played Grosvenor Grammar School in a game the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 27-0. Enniskillen Royal Grammar School overcame Regent House School to go through to the next round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield.
In the quarter-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Wellington College played Limavady Grammar School in a game the Limavady Grammar School team won by 36-10 and Bangor Grammar School played Belfast High School and won the game by 37-0.
The Banbridge Academy v Cambridge House School game has been postponed until Tuesday 30th January.
In the quarter-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Portadown College played Lurgan College and won the game by 62-3. In the same competition Strabane Academy played Larne Grammar School in a game the Larne Grammar School team won by 61-0.
Carrickfergus Grammar School will play Our Lady and St Patrick’s College; Knock in the last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy quarter-final games on Tuesday 30th January.
When all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield, Bowl and Trophy results were known the draws were made for the quarter-finals of the Medallion Shield, quarter-finals of the Medallion Plate, semi-finals of the Medallion Bowl and semi-finals of the Medallion Trophy competitions.
The results of the draws are as follows:-)
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield quarter-finals
1/Ballymena Academy v Belfast Royal Academy
2/Campbell College, Belfast v Coleraine Grammar School
3/Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Wallace High School
4/Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Methodist College, Belfast
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate quarter-finals
1/Royal School, Armagh v Dromore High School
2/Ballyclare High School v Rainey Endowed School
3/Regent House School v Down High School
4/Sullivan Upper School v Grosvenor Grammar School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl semi-finals
1/Limavady Grammar School v Banbridge Academy/Cambridge House Grammar School
2/Omagh Academy v Bangor Grammar School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy semi-finals
1/Friends’ School, Lisburn v Carrickfergus Grammar School/Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock
2/Larne Grammar School v Portadown College
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield, Plate, Bowl and Trophy games are scheduled to take place on/before Saturday 10th February.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Rainey Endowed School hosted Campbell College, Belfast in a game the Campbell College team won by 38-5. In the same competition Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Royal School, Armagh and won the game by 31-5
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate the Coleraine Grammar School v Bangor Grammar School game has been postponed until Wednesday 31st January.
Dalriada School played Friends’ School, Lisburn in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate in front of a huge crowd of enthusiastic supports. The Friends’ School, Lisburn team emerged as 18-7 winners at the end of an excellent game.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv played Ballymena Academy 3rdxv and won the game by 27-12
In the only senior schoolboy friendly game of the day Royal Belfast Academical Institution Colts xv played Barker College from Argentina in a game the Belfast Inst Colts team won by 46-10.
