There were two games midweek games played by schools prior to a full list of friendly fixtures played out on Saturday 27th September.
Antrim Grammar School hosted a midweek game against a Limavady Grammar School “Select” XV on Wednesday afternoon. The home team was delighted to record a 22-7 victory in this game. Strong performances in the Antrim Grammar School pack from players such as JJ McKee and Dean Macrory laid the foundations for this result. Centre, Adam Johnson, scored a hat trick of tries while team captain, Matthew Dunne, scored a converted try.
The young Limavady Grammar School squad got some reward for their endeavours when they scored a converted try late in the game.
Wallace High School hosted Castleknock College from Dublin in a game where both team used the game as an opportunity to play extended squads. The Lisburn boys won the game by 24-8.
Wallace High School started brightly and scored two early tries. The first try came through good work from a maul which was finished off by Michael Smyth. The second try followed a few minutes later and was an excellent open field try from Gary Dillon. Gary Chan added a third before half time following a sweeping backline move. Max Trouton was rewarded with a try just before the break following a “Man of the Match” performance. Adam Heaps kicked two from four conversions.
The Castleknock College team scored a try and converted a penalty in the course of the first half to leave the score reading 24-8 in favour of the Wallace High School team at the interval.
Both defences were well-organised and very disciplined in the second half ensuring there were no further scores in the game.
With the U18 Schools’ and U19 Inter-Provincial series having come to an end on Saturday 20th September, most schools had full squads from which to select for their games on Saturday 27th September.
Methodist College travelled to play Belfast Royal Academy with a full strength squad for the first time this season.
The home team was missing a number of players due to injury and non-availability and found there was little they could do to prevent the Methody team winning the game by 71-0. The visitors had taken a 33-0 lead by the interval, having scored five tries and kicked four conversions. Robert Lyttle scored two with Lewis Loane, Conor Kelly and Alex McAllister all scoring one try each. Gareth Millar was successful with four of the conversion kicks.
It was more of the same for the Methody team in the second half. Conor Gourley, Josh Jordan, Conor Kelly and Robert Lyttle all touched down for second half tries with Daniel Coulter scoring two. Gareth Millar added four second half conversions to leave the Merthodist College team as convincing 71-0 winners.
Foyle and Londonderry College entertained a Rainey Endowed team that lost a number of players to a Derry Minor Gaelic Football final.
It was a very young Rainey Endowed team that took to the pitch against the Foyle College team but, despite their best efforts, there was little they could do to prevent the Foyle College team winning by 20-5. The Foyle team had built up a 10-5 lead by the break with a penalty from Alex McDonnell as well as a try and conversion from the same player. The Rainey team responded with a try from Richard Winder just before the break.
Foyle College controlled the game for long periods in the second half and scored a try through Thomas Cole which was converted by Alex McDonnell to increase their lead to 17-5. A second penalty from Alex McDonnell sealed the well-deserved 20-5 win for the Foyle and Londonderry College team.
Ballymena Academy hosted Bangor Grammar School in a game the Co Antrim team won by 32-5. The Galgorm Road team welcomed back several of their representative players. It was the Ulster Schools’ Under18 captain, Jonathan McKeown, who opened the scoring for the home team when he peeled off the back of a driving maul to touch down in the corner. The conversion attempt was missed but the Ballymena Academy team had a 5-0 lead. The score remained at 5-0 for a long part of the first half, but, as the interval approached, Ballymena stepped up several gears. A clever kick by scrum half Michael Stronge was re-gathered by the Ulster U19 captain, Josh McIlroy, and, after several phases of quick ball, Josh was on hand again to score. Jonathan McKeown scored his second try of the half and Craig Hanna touched down following a well-judged kick through by Jack Archer. Josh McIlroy added one conversion to leave the half time score reading 22-0 in favour of the home team.
The second half was a more stop-start affair, with neither team able to dominate territory or possession. After a period of sustained pressure by the powerful Ballymena pack, Jonathan McKeown capped a fine individual performance by completing his hat-trick. With ten minutes to go, Josh McIlroy scored an outstanding individual try. The Number 8 generated a turnover in his own 22m area and broke through several tackles before chipping the full back and winning the race to the try line. At 32 – 0 the well-drilled Bangor Grammar side capitalised on a loss of concentration by Ballymena. The visitors showed skill and pace for a thoroughly deserved try which was finished of by their outside centre. The final whistle sounded immediately after the conversion attempt with the final score reading 32-5 to Ballymena Academy.
Limavady Grammar School hosted Carrickfergus Grammar School with the Carrickfergus Grammar School team finishing the game as 38-19 winners.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team controlled the game for large parts of the first half. They raced into a 17-0 lead with tries from David Stewart, Michael Black and Christian Robinson. Christian’s try was converted by Michael Black. However, the Limavady Grammar School stepped up their performance in the latter stages of the first half and came close to scoring on a number of occasions.
The second half started with the Limavady team controlling both territory and possession. They scored two tries, one of which was converted, to reduce the deficit to 17-12. The Carrickfergus team then scored a converted try through Scott Williams to increase their lead to 24-12. Back came Limavady GS with a converted try to leave the score reading 24-19 in favour of the visitors. Just when it looked as if the home team was about to stage a miraculous comeback, the Carrickfergus Grammar School team scored two late tries, both of which were converted, to secure their 38-19 victory at the end of this intriguing game.
Omagh Academy hosted Banbridge Academy in a game the Omagh Academy team finished as deserved 28-17 winners.
The Omagh Academy team had Stuart Ballantine to thank for an early 6-0 lead when he was successful with two penalty kicks. Adam Stephenson then got in on the act when he ran in for a try from forty metres out. Stuart Ballantine converted the try to give his team a 13-0 lead. The Banbridge Academy team recovered from their sluggish start to score a try through their hard-working flanker, Ritchie McNeill. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the visitors had reduced the arrears to 13-5. Following a strike against the head by the Omagh pack, Fintan Lagan released his backline and this move ended with Adam Stephenson touching down for an unconverted try in the corner to give his team an 18-5 lead at the break.
Shortly after the restart, the Banbridge Academy team reduced the deficit to 18-17 when Michael McGaffin and Rhys Mackey scored tries, one of which was converted by Daniel McElderry. Midway through the second half, Stuart Ballantine kicked a penalty and converted a Fintan Lagan try. These ten second half points ensured the Omagh Academy team emerged as deserved 28-17 winners at the end of the game.
Grosvenor Grammar School recovered from a major setback last week to record a 19-12 victory against Royal School, Dungannon when the teams met in their annual KS Armstrong Cup match in Belfast.
RS Dungannon dominated the early exchanges and took a 5-0 lead when Peter Doran scored an unconverted try following good work from the Dungannon pack. The Grosvenor GS team struggled, at times, to get into the game and gave away a lot of needless penalties. Eventually, they did take advantage of some good continuity work by their pack with Mark Johnston getting a try. Daniel Martin added the conversion to put his Grosvenor team into a 7-5 lead. Back came the RS Dungannon team with a try from Josh McKee, which was converted by John Buckley, to take a 12-7 lead into the break.
The Grosvenor GS team came out in the second half determined to put some pace into their game. Following a series of quickly taken penalties, James Cartilage bundled over the RS Dungannon line to score an unconverted try. The Grosvenor team was now playing with a lot more determination and took a 19-12 lead when Daniel Mayhew scored a try which Daniel Martin converted. Both teams had opportunities to score points before the final whistle. However, there were no further scores leaving the Grosvenor Grammar School team as victorious 19-12 winners.
Both Wallace High School and Campbell College were at full strength when the teams met in Lisburn in a game the Wallace High School team won by 22-8.
The Wallace HS team scored first half tries through Toby Kerr and Max Trouton with Jonny Stewart adding one conversion. The Campbell College team replied with a first half penalty to see the Wallace HS team take a 12-3 lead into the interval.
The solid performance of the Wallace High School pack laid the foundations for two further Wallace tries in the second half. Ikenna Nzewi scored the first try with Gary Chan displaying great pace to run in for the second. Campbell College added a consolation try but there was little they could do to prevent the Wallace High School team running out as convincing 22-8 winners.
Coleraine Academical Institution recorded their fourth win in a row when they defeated Regent House by 24-7 at the Castlerock Road venue.
The home team opened their account when Peter Bonnar was driven over the Regent House line following a well-organised Coleraine AI maul. Callum Smith added the extras to give the Coleraine team a 7-0 lead. From the kick off Regent rallied and proceeded to spend the next fifteen minutes encamped on the Coleraine AI line. Coleraine AI defended manfully but their line was eventually breached in the twentieth minute when the Regent No 8 scored close to the posts. The try was converted to draw the scores level at 7-7. Coleraine AI then managed to rally and spend some time in the opposition half. Their persistence was rewarded when the Regent midfield was caught off side as Coleraine AI threatened to score. Calum Smith kicked the penalty to restore the Coleraine lead to 10-7, a lead the home team maintained until the interval.
In the second half Coleraine AI started in a positive manner with the pack scoring another well worked try from a lineout in the fortieth minute. Once again, Peter Bonnar was awarded the touchdown from the back of a driven maul. Callum Smith was successful with his conversion kick to put his team into a 17-7 lead. Coleraine AI played with more control in the second half and dominated territory with Regent rarely getting into the home side’s half. They scored their final try in the fifty-fifth minute when, having worked through several phases, their backs spread the ball well to Andrew Wisener who ghosted through a gap and timed his pass perfectly to wing Daniel McCreadie to race over the try line. Calum Smith added the extras to leave the Coleraine Academical Institution team as deserved 24-7 winners.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution coaches played a “Select” xv against the Belfast Metropolitan team at Osborne Park.
The Belfast Inst team scored eleven tries, with four of them being converted, to record a 63-0 victory. Jack Conlin scored three tries, Ethan Harbinson, Lewis McNamara and James Hume scored two tries each with Micael Lowry and Ben McGavock touching down for one try each. Ben McGavock was successful with two conversion kicks as was James Hume.
Meanwhile, a second Royal Belfast Academical Institution “Select” team played Wellington College in a game the Belfast Inst team won by 20-3.
Dalriada hosted a rejuvenated Cambridge House team and had to work hard to record a 26-10 victory.
Hero of the day for the Dalriada team was Robert Hunter who ran in a hattrick of tries. Alan Montgomery scored a fourth try for the Dalriada team with Angus Johnston adding three conversions.
The Cambridge House points came from an Aaron Henry try which was converted by Matthew Wright. Matthew was successful with a penalty kick as well.
Portora Royal School hosted Royal School, Armagh in a close encounter that finished with the Armagh team winning by 10-6.
The Portora RS team controlled most of the possession in the first half but had only an Adam Lendrum penalty to show for all their hard work.
They took their 3-0 lead into the interval and extended it to 6-0 when Adam Lendrum was successful with a second penalty early in the second half. The RS Armagh team then introduced their Ulster Schools’ U18 Prop, Philip Matthews into their front row. His performance, alongside that of fellow front row replacement, Grant Hutchinson, had a profound impact on the game. The RS Armagh pack was now in control and laid the foundations for two tries from RS Armagh winger, David Agnew. Neither try was converted but the RS Armagh team had done enough to come away with their narrow 10-6 victory.
Larne Grammar School hosted a Ballyclare High School “Select” xv and lost against their East Antrim rivals by 27-0.
Sullivan Upper had to work hard to maintain their 100% start to the season when they played Down High School.
Sullivan Upper won the game by 40-29 but the team was made to work hard for the entire game by a very determined Down High School team. The Sullivan Upper team finished the game with ten Year 12 players on the pitch. They scored six tries with Fergus Jemphrey and Ryan Spence touching down twice and Lewis Smyth and Callum Jeffrey scoring one try apiece. Callum was successful with five out of six conversion attempts.
Lurgan College travelled to play Antrim Grammar School and won the game by 52-5.
The Lurgan College team, with players such as Jamie Hunter and Jamie Patterson to the fore, had opened up a 40-0 lead by halftime. The Antrim team came out in the second half and put on a much more positive performance. The Lurgan team scored two more tries, one of which was converted, to increase their lead to 52-0. However, the Antrim team fought to the end and got some reward for their hard work when their young fullback, Ben McKnight, ran in for a well-deserved try.
Belfast High School hosted Portadown College in a game the Belfast team won by 40-0.
The Portadown team was without their captain, Niall Davidson, for the game but players such as Jacob McKeeman, Robert Bleakney and James Wright all featured strongly in the Portadown College pack while Jason Lau and Jordan Dowds put on good performances in the Portadown backline.
Despite these positive performances, there was little they could do to prevent the Belfast High School team from continuing with their impressive start to the season. Belfast High School welcomed back their very talented captain, Joel McBride, from Ulster Schools’ duty and he opened the scoring taking the final pass after a fine break from fellow centre, Harry Burbidge. Joel then converted his try to give his team a 7-0 lead.
Portadown then responded with a period of pressure but found the High School defence in mean form with hooker, Andrew Mitchell, using the chop tackle to great effect. After a period of ‘in your face’ defence, Portadown forced a pass and rookie out-half, Simon White, intercepted and ran in from 40 metres. Joel McBride added the conversion to put his team into a 14-0 lead. Belfast High Score went on the offensive again with the forwards producing quick ruck ball. High School winger, Ethan Rock took an inside pass from Joel McBride to open up a sliding defensive line. Joel was once again successful with the conversion to put his team into a 21-0 lead. More pressure resulted in Joel scoring a second try with a weaving run exploiting space created after a number of phases of play. He added the conversion leaving the half-time score 28-0 in favour of the Belfast High School team..
The second half saw Portadown respond to their half-time pep talk and an early break by their out-half down the blindside created a period of pressure in the High School red zone. Again, sustained frontal defensive pressure resulted in Portadown dropping the ball and Simon White pounced to run the length of the field only for the referee to disallow the try for an off the ball obstruction. However, this break gave the High School field position in the Portadown half and again good defence forced another mistake and open-side wing forward, Ross Neill, picked up the loose ball and showed good speed and agility to score under the posts. Joel McBride added the conversion to give his team a 35-0 lead. There then followed a period of frustration when winger Darren Scott crossed the line twice but both tries were disallowed for a forward pass after another scything break by Harry Burbidge and a foot in touch in the corner.
To their credit Portadown took advantage of these High School setbacks and tried hard to play their way out of their own half. The High School refocused with their defensive line keeping its discipline and shape. From another turn-over, an area were second row Andrew Walker excelled, scrum-half, James Creighton spotted a gap in the Portadown defence and showed good agility and strength to score under the posts. Once again, Joel McBride added the conversion to give his team a 42-0 lead. The Belfast High School team had another try disallowed for obstruction which left the final score reading Belfast High School 42 Portadown College 0.
