Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 2nd January 2016
There was a game played on Boxing Day when Foyle and Londonderry College 1stxv played their annual fixture against the City of Derry RFC U18 team at the Judge’s Road facilities. With a number of players unavailable for selection the Foyle College coaching staff used the fixture as an opportunity to give game time to members of their extended senior squad. The Foyle team took an early 7-0 lead when good work from scrum half, Killene Thornton, led to the award of a penalty try. Matthew Orr was successful with the conversion kick. Foyle continued to control the game and, from a well-controlled scrum, the ball was swiftly moved to winger, Stephen Mills, who finished off with an unconverted try to increase the Foyle College lead to 12-0. Matthew Orr then converted a penalty to put his team into a 15-0 lead. Just before half time the Foyle College team scored their third try of the game. The backline worked a well-run strike move in midfield which was finished by Matthew Orr. Matthew converted the try to give his Foyle College team a 22-0 lead at the interval.
The second half saw the Foyle College team continue to dominate the game in terms of both territory and possession. Outhalf, Conal Gill, chipped the oncoming City of Derry defence, reclaimed the ball, and ran in to touch down for the fourth try of the game. Matthew Orr added the conversion to see his team into a 29-0 lead. The City of Derry U18 team displayed great determination throughout the game but, unfortunately for them, a promising attack finished when a loose pass was intercepted by Stephen Mills. Stephen ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Conal Gill converted the try to see the game finish with the Foyle and Londonderry College team emerging as 36-0 winners.
The Foyle and Londonderry College Medallion xv played the City of Derry RFC U16 team in a game the Foyle College Medallion xv won by 19-10. Jake Quinnell, Ben Galbraith and Lewis Callen each scored one try for the Foyle College team with Keelin Coyle adding two conversions.
The Foyle and Londonderry College U14 team played the City of Derry RFC U14 team in a game the Foyle College team won by 25-5. Jacob McDermott scored two tries for the Foyle College team with Eligin Matthews, Jordan Dixon and Adam Moore touching down for one try each.
All the staff, players and supporters from Foyle and Londonderry College would like to thank City of Derry Rugby Football Club for hosting all three games and for the provision of refreshments after each of the games.
There were three 1stxv games played on Monday 28th December when Bangor Grammar School hosted Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Ballyclare High School played the Ulster U18 team and Campbell College played Belfast Royal Academy.
Bangor Grammar School team played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in very blustery conditions at the school grounds. The Belfast Inst team emerged as 12-3 winners at the end of a closely contested game. The Belfast Inst team was missing players due to their involvement with the Ireland U18 Camp, as well as unavailability over the holiday period. However, they welcomed back Michael Lowry who was returning from injury. Playing into the wind in the first half they did create a number of try scoring opportunities but found great difficulty in finishing any of the chances. Midway through the half the Bangor Grammar School team took a 3-0 lead when Zack Kerr converted a penalty opportunity. Close to the end of the half the Belfast Inst scrum half, Rhys O’Donnell, made a telling break which was expertly finished off by his captain, winger, Conor Field. The conversion kick was unsuccessful but the Belfast Inst team took their 5-3 into the break.
The second half saw the Bangor Grammar School team control possession for long periods of time but the Belfast Inst defence restricted most of this possession to the Bangor GS half of the pitch. David Whitten was instrumental in the Bangor Grammar School attack having difficulty in getting out of their half due to his high tackle count and clever play at the breakdown. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team secured their 12-3 victory in the final quarter of the game when Mark Keane scored a try close to the touchline to which Michael Lowry added a superb conversion kick.
Ballyclare High School used an extended squad against the Ulster U18 squad in a game the Ulster U18 squad won by 24-22. Mark Crowe, Matty Hamilton, Jonny Crockett and Dean Jones all scored tries for the Ballyclare High School team with Mark Crowe adding one conversion.
Campbell College, Belfast and Belfast Royal Academy both had players missing due to an Ireland U18 Camp when the teams met on 28th December. The Campbell College team won the closely contested game by 12-7. Nikolai and Josh Chambers scored the Campbell College tries, one of which was converted by Jonny Haldane. The Belfast Royal Academy try came from an intercept from Lewis Davidson which was converted by Michael Wilson.
A Campbell College xv also played against an Ulster Age Grade U19 development squad in a game the Campbell College team won by 10-0. Ben Webb and Matt Russell each scored one try to secure this victory.
The Coleraine Grammar School v Wallace High School game scheduled to have been played on December 28th was cancelled due to the pitches at Coleraine Grammar School being unplayable.
A number of Ulster Schools’ players were selected to attend the Ireland U18 Camp which took place at Ashbourne RFC during the Christmas holiday period. The players involved were Callum Reid and James Hume, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Alexander Clarke and Mark Thompson, Ballymena Academy, Tom O’Toole and Matthew Crowther, Campbell College, Belfast, Matthew Dalton, Belfast Royal Academy, Jonny Stewart, Wallace High School, Callum Smith, Coleraine Grammar School and Kyle Van Gleisen, Regent House School.
On December 29th Belfast High School hosted Portora Royal School in a high scoring game the Portora Royal School team won by 37-23. The game started off in bright and blustery conditions with the Portora RS team playing into the wind in the first half. The Portora pack recycled the ball from the kick off and put a number of phases together. This positive start paid off when Adam Boles crossed the Belfast HS whitewash to score a try. Reece Smyton added the conversion to give the Portora team an early 7-0 lead. The Belfast High School team seemed undaunted by this early setback and took play into the Portora RS half. Pressure on the Portora defence saw the Belfast HS team awarded three penalties in quick succession. Simon White converted all three penalties to put his team into a 9-7 lead. The Portora RS team rallied and went in search of a score. A loose pass close to the Portora RS line was gleefully intercepted by Simon White who ran the length of the pitch to score under the Portora posts. Simon added the conversion to put the Belfast HS team into a 16-7 lead. Back came the Portora team and pressure on the High School defence saw them cough up a penalty. Reece Smyton converted the penalty to reduce the arrears to 16-10. Just before the break another Portora penalty was taken quickly by Josh Kennedy. He barged his way over the line to touch down for a try. Reece Smyton added the extras to leave the Portora RS team with a 17-16 lead at the interval.
With the wind in their backs for the second half the Portora Royal School team pinned the Belfast High School team back into their half. The pressure soon paid off when Daniel Clyde finished off a flowing move with an unconverted try to put the visitors into a 22-16 lead. This lead was extended to 27-16 a short time later when full back, Dylan Crawford, crossed the line for an unconverted try. Then Jack Rutlledge capped a fine performance when he scored an unconverted try to increase the Portora RS lead to 32-16. To their credit the Belfast High School team never stopped working. They got some reward for their endeavours when Tyler Arnold scored a try, converted by Simon White, to reduce the arrears to 32-23. The Belfast High School team went in search of further points but, with just a minute of the game remaining, they got possession turned over. The Portora Royal School team capitalised on this and Connor Keys ran in for an unconverted try to secure the 37-23 victory.
The Portora Royal School players and coaches were delighted to get the game against Belfast High School during the holiday period. They wish to thank all those associated with senior rugby at Belfast High School for the game and the post-match reception provided for them.
The scheduled fixture featuring Friends’ School, Lisburn and Regent House on Wednesday 30th December fell victim to the prevailing weather conditions.
On Thursday 31st December Down High School hosted Wallace High School in a replay of their second round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup match. Down High School won the replay by 16-7. Down High School will now play Regent House in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup.
Despite term not restarting until Monday 4th January there was a list of school friendly fixtures played on Saturday 2nd January.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn v Lurgan College game was switched to Lurgan Rugby Football Club. This close encounter finished with the Friends’ School team getting back to winning ways and emerging as 17-12 winners. The Friends’ School team had built up a 10-0 lead by the interval with a try from David Newell, which was converted by David Stewart, and a David Stewart penalty.
The second half saw the Friends’ School team extend their lead to 17-0 when Adam Schofield scored a try which was converted by David Stewart. The final quarter of the game saw the Lurgan College team mount something of a comeback. Players such as Harry Simpson, Ryan Emerson and Lewis Lawson led the way and took the game to the Friends’ School team. Good work from James Patterson paved the way for a Reuben McCreery try, which was converted by Jamie Hunter, to reduce the arrears to 17-7. Robbie Norton then ran in for an unconverted try, following good work from Victor MacKenzie and Lewis Lawson, to leave the final score reading 17-7 in favour of the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Both teams would like to thank Lurgan Rugby Club for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
Portadown College travelled to play the Royal School, Dungannon team in a game the Portadown College team won by 22-12. The RS Dungannon team started the game well with Peter Doran impressing with his strong carries. The RS Dungannon team took a 7-0 lead when Peter scored a converted try. The Portadown team then took play close to the RS Dungannon line but, somehow, managed to turn possession over. The RS Dungannon team put together a number of phases which ended with David Cooper scoring an unconverted try to increase the RS Dungannon to 12-0 at the break.
The second half belonged to the Portadown College team with the Co Armagh team running in four tries in the course of the second period of play. Matthew Neill scored the first try, which was not converted, to reduce the arrears to 12-5. David Smith then ran in for the second, which Michael Orr converted, to draw the score level at 12-12. The Portadown College team then pushed on and scored two unconverted tries. Michael Orr scored the first with winger, Ryan Daly, touching down for the second to secure the 22-12 win for the Portadown College team.
The Royal School, Armagh team recorded their biggest win of the season when they hosted Limavady Grammar School in a game they won by 47-0. The RS Armagh team was at almost full strength for the first time this season with a number of key players returning to play. The essential difference between the teams was the work of the home team at the breakdown and in their defensive plays. Man of the Match, James McSorley excelled with his work in both attacking and defensive lineouts as well as his overall performance in the game. The Royal School, Armagh points came through three tries from Josh Agnew, two tries from James McSorley and one try each from Christopher Jennings and Adam Magowan while William Hazelton was successful with six conversions.
Rainey Endowed School hosted Banbridge Academy in a game the Banbridge Academy team won by 17-7. In an uneventful first half, played in very difficult conditions, neither team was able to create any real points scoring opportunities and the teams turned around at the break with scoreline reading 0-0.
The Rainey Endowed School pack then started to take control in the early stages of the second half. The Rainey forwards went on to score three tries after forty five, fifty five and sixty minutes with Connor Stringer, Neal Hastings and Cameron Stewart getting the touchdowns. Lorcan Quinn added one conversion to see his team into a 17-0 lead. To their credit the Banbridge Academy team never stopped playing and got some reward for their endeavours when Timmy Beattie drove over for a try, which Ben Thompson converted, to leave the final score reading 17-7 in favour of the Rainey Endowed School team.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team hosted a determined Omagh Academy team in a game the Belfast Inst team won by 17-3. The Belfast Inst team started the game with an all-out attacking strategy but the determined Omagh Academy defence restricted the home team to just one missed penalty opportunity in the opening quarter. The Omagh Academy team then managed to secure some possession and, while not threatening the Belfast Inst line, they did manage to peg the home team back through some good game management skills from Danny Ritchie and Kyle Beattie. Close to halftime Conor Field took advantage of a good midfield scrum and finished off a flowing move with a try in the corner. James Hume added the conversion to put the Belfast Inst team into a 7-0 lead. The Omagh Academy team responded immediately and forced the Belfast Inst team into conceding a penalty. Kyle Beattie stepped up to convert the penalty and reduce the arrears to 7-3 at the interval.
The Belfast Inst team made a lot of changes at half time and these players took some time to settle into the game. The Omagh Academy team started the second period in confident mood and took play deep into the Belfast Inst half. Neil Logan, Matthew Clyde and Oscar Nelson were getting through a lot of work as they pressed for a try. Danny Ritchie was held up over the line while a superb tackle from Joe Finnegan prevented Kyle Beattie scoring what seemed to be a certain try. The Belfast Inst team then secured their victory in the final quarter of the game. Two good Belfast Inst attacks were finished off by Year 12 winger, Kyle McComiskey, with two unconverted tries to ensure the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team finished the game as 17-3 winners.
Campbell College hosted Rockwell College from Cashel, Co Tipperary at Fox’s Field on Saturday 2nd January. The Rockwell College team won the game by 15-12. Ben Webb and Tom O’Toole scored the Campbell College tries with Jonny Haldane adding one conversion.
The “Match of the Day” was played at Cloneven Park in Lisburn when Wallace High School hosted Ballymena Academy. The Wallace High School team won the game by 19-10 which has confirmed their position as one of the top teams in Ulster Schools this season.
The wet conditions underfoot and overhead made it difficult for either team to enjoy any extended periods of possession in the early stages of the game. The home team then adapted much more positively to the conditions with Jonny Stewart displaying outstanding leadership skills as he orchestrated proceedings for the Wallace High School team. Michael Smyth, the impressive Wallace High School hooker, took advantage of some good work from his pack and touched down for the first try of the game. The try was not converted but the Wallace High School team had taken a deserved 5-0 lead. The Ballymena Academy team then hit back with a try from Josh Bill following an attacking maul. Bruce Houston converted the try to see his team into a 7-5 lead. Just before half time Bruce converted a penalty opportunity to see the Ballymena Academy team into a 10-5 lead at the interval.
The second half belonged to the Wallace High School team who capitalised on a lacklustre display by the visitors. Jonny Stewart hit a drop goal for the Wallace team to reduce the deficit to 10-8. Wallace then took a 13-10 lead when the Ballymena Academy team lost possession in midfield and Jamie Manderson raced clear to score an unconverted try. Jamie then went on to convert two penalties which secured the well-deserved 19-10 victory for the Wallace High School team.
The game involving Coleraine Grammar School against Sullivan Upper as well as the games involving Bangor Grammar School against Down High School and Ballyclare High School against Methodist College, Belfast were cancelled due to unplayable pitches. The Regent House game against Wellington College was another game which was cancelled.
