Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 2nd December 2017.
There were three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup matches, three 1stxv friendly games and one postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 game played midweek in the lead up to a good number of 1stxv games played on Saturday 2nd December.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Royal School, Armagh 3rdxv defeated Regent House School 3rdxv by 47-7, Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv defeated Banbridge Academy 3rdxv by 52-0, Down High School 3rdxv defeated Campbell College 4thxv by 35-12 and Rainey Endowed School 3rdxv defeated Carndonagh Community School by 29-12.
Royal School, Dungannon played Banbridge Academy in a midweek friendly game the Royal School, Dungannon team won by 43-0. The Royal School, Dungannon team scored seven tries in the course of this game. Jack Girvan scored two of the RS Dungannon tries with Luke McMullan, David Maxwell, Jono Shrestha, Joshua Clarke and Lewis Connolly each scoring one. Luke McMullan was successful with four conversions.
Bangor Grammar School hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in a midweek friendly game the Bangor team won by 31-19. Aaron Sexton scored a hat trick of tries for the Bangor team with Ben McCrossan and Zach Kerr each scoring one. Will Simpson was successful with three conversions.
The Friends’ School points came through tries from Ross Stewart, Jack Harte and Reece Malone with Ben McCaughey adding two conversions.
On Thursday 30th November Foyle and Londonderry College and Craigavon Senior High School played their postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 game. Following a game where both teams displayed great commitment it was the Craigavon Senior High School team that emerged as 17-5 winners.
On Friday 1st December Omagh Academy and Foyle and Londonderry College met in a 1stxv friendly game at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt. The Omagh Academy team had to work hard before coming away from the game with a 29-12 victory.
The Foyle and Londonderry team took an early 7-0 lead when Ben Galbraith scored a try which was converted by Keelin Coyle. Troy Booth then took advantage of good play from the Omagh Academy pack and finished off with a try. Scott Ballantine added the extras to draw the scores level at 7-7. Two further Omagh Academy tries from backrow forwards, Phillip Rainey and Ryan Armstrong, one of which was converted by Scott Ballantine, secured a 19-7 lead for the Omagh Academy team at half time.
Early in the second half a barn storming break from replacement player, Niall Alexander, paved the way for Jake McKay, Daniel Cairns and Michael Marechaux to create the space for Rory Ritchie to score a try in the corner. The conversion kick was unsuccessful but the Omagh Academy team had increased their lead to 24-7. This increased to 29-7 when Rory Ritchie finished off a powerful run with his second unconverted try of the game. The Foyle and Londonderry College team got some reward for their hard work throughout the game when their energetic scrum half, Andy Miller, scored an unconverted try. This ensured the game finished with the Omagh Academy team recording a 29-12 victory.
Ballyclare High School defeated Friends’ School, Lisburn by 29-17 when the teams met on Saturday 2nd December. Ballyclare High School took an early 7-0 lead when Adam Campbell ran in for a try which was converted by Adam Clarke. Midway through the first half Friends’ School responded with two quick unconverted tries through Ben McCaughey and David Scott to take a 10-7 lead. Close to the interval the scores drew level at 10-10 when Adam Clarke converted a Ballyclare High School penalty.
The Ballyclare High School team then regained control when Ross Patterson touched down for a try, which was converted by Adam Clarke, to see his team into a 17-10 lead. Back came the Friends’ School team and they pressurised the home team into conceding a penalty try to draw the scores level at 17-17. Two late tries from Josh Cowan and Josh Young, the first of which was converted by Adam Clarke, secured the 29-17 victory for the Ballyclare High School team.
Bangor Grammar School defeated Dalriada School by 30-17. The Bangor Grammar school team scored two tries in the first half through Jack Gibson and Zach Kerr. Will Simpson converted one try, as well as a first half penalty, for the Bangor GS team.
The Bangor Grammar School points in the second half came from Jonny Gamble with two tries and Ben McCrossan with one.
The Dalriada points came through Will Scott and Griffin Phillipson tries with James McCormick adding two conversions as well as a penalty.
Carrickfergus Grammar School defeated Wellington College, Belfast by 25-7. The home team scored all their points through five unconverted tries from Daniel Alderdice, Daniel Curley, Tiernan McGreevy, Josh Irvine and Jack Leathem.
The Wellington College, Belfast points from an explosive halfway break from Marcus Smyth who finished with a try which was converted by Jake Hamilton.
Coleraine Grammar School lost by 19-14 against Belfast Royal Academy. The Coleraine Grammar School points came through tries from Pierce Crowe and Mark Lamont both of which were converted by Pierce.
Rory Lindon, Charlie George and George Curtis scored the Belfast Royal Academy tries with Callum Davidson adding two conversions.
Grosvenor Grammar School hosted Wesley College, Dublin in their annual fixture. The Wesley College team was made to work hard by the Grosvenor team before returning to Dublin as 19-10 winners. The Grosvenor Grammar School points came from two unconverted tries scored by Dan Whitcroft and Jack Patterson.
Larne Grammar School hosted Dromore High School in a game the Dromore High School team won by 26-22. The Larne Grammar school points came through tries from Jamie Ross, Aaron Gallagher, John Andrews and Jonny Farquhar. Ewan Glenn added one conversion.
Tom Doloaghan, Richard Dickson, Ben Heath and James Moore scored the Dromore High School tries with Reuben Cobb adding three conversions.
Lurgan College defeated a very committed Cambridge House School team by 14-0 when the teams met at the College Walk venue. Jon Woods took advantage of some indifferent Cambridge House midfield defence in the first half before touching down for a try. Jack Maxwell added the conversion to give his team a 7-0 lead at the break.
The only score of the second half was almost identical to the only score of the first half. Once again, Jon Woods exposed the opposition midfield defence before scoring the try. Jack Maxwell added the extras to secure the 14-0 win for the Lurgan College team.
Methodist College, Belfast defeated Campbell College, Belfast by 14-10 when the teams met at Pirrie Park. The Methodist College team started well and took a 7-0 lead when, following a well-orchestrated driven maul, Tom Millar got the touch down. Ethan McIlroy was successful with the conversion kick. This great start encouraged the Methodist College team to take the initiative and maintain their momentum. They were rewarded with another try which was scored by Thomas Armstrong and converted by Ethan McIlroy to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter of the game. Campbell College then reacted in a positive manner. They forced the Methody team into conceding a penalty, which was converted by Conor Rankin, to reduce the arrears to 14-3. The momentum of the game then seemed to change. The Campbell College pack took the upper hand and created the opportunity for Jamie Macartney to make a telling break which he finished off with a try. Conor Rankin added the conversion to leave the Methodist College team 14-10 ahead at half time.
The second half of this intriguing game saw both defences on top and there were no further scores from either team.
Regent House School hosted Belfast High School in a game the Regent House team won by 41-0. Ethan McFerran and Jack Smith each scored two tries for the Regent House team with Stuart Martin, Conor McGaw and Aaron Migan each scoring one. Jack Smith was successful with three conversion kicks.
Royal School, Armagh recorded a 45-0 against the Rainey Endowed School team when the teams met at the College Hill venue. Ryan O’Neill, Benji Boyd, Charlie Worth and Jude Roberts all scored first half tries for the RS Armagh team with Zac Thompson adding three conversions which secured a half time lead of 26-0 for the Armagh team.
For the Royal School, Armagh team Peter Taylor, Matthew Reaney and Zac Thompson scored second half tries, two of which were converted by Zac. These points secured the 45-0 victory for the RS Armagh team.
Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust Week 2nd – 9th December 2017
The Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust was formed in 1978 to assist severely injured rugby players in their everyday lives, and help to restore their confidence and independence.
All clubs and schools are encouraged to raise funds for the Trust by working on fund raising ventures during the week December 2nd-December 9th 2017. Schools in Ulster have supported this most worthwhile of causes most generously over a period of many years. It is hoped this support will continue this year and that even more money can be raised.
One of the targets for the Charitable Trust Committee is that all schools and clubs sign up to a direct debit as a “Friend” of the IRFU Charitable Trust.
For further information visit www.irishrugby.ie/charitabletrust or
Stephen Robinson at srobinson131@c2kni.net
and John Wilson at jakeslane@hotmail.com
