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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 30th December-6th January 2017-18
During the Christmas holiday period there was a number of 1stxv friendly games played.
On Tuesday 26th December Foyle and Londonderry College played their annual fixture against the City of Derry Rugby Club U18 team. The Foyle and Londonderry College team recorded a morale boosting 22-0 victory as they prepare for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Ben Galbraith scored two tries for the Foyle team with Andy Miller running in for a third. Danny Jones was successful with two conversions as well as a penalty kick.
On Wednesday 27th December Coleraine Grammar School hosted Wallace High School in a game the Wallace High School team won by 47-15. The Coleraine points came through tries from Oscar Egan and Max Bailie with Pierce Crowe adding one conversion as well as a penalty.
The Wallace High School team scored seven tries through Sam Cardosi, who scored two, Jack Dillon, Jack Brown, Jack Ferguson, Reuben Crothers and Joel Dundas. Jack Dillon was successful with six conversions.
At Chambers Park Portadown College 2nd xv team played against the Portadown RFC U18 team in a game the Portadown College team won by 15-0. In an entertaining game the College team had built up an 8-0 lead by half time. Winger, Tom Symington, scored an unconverted try following a clever move from a scrum. Joe Orr added a penalty in the latter stages of the first half.
The second half saw the College team secure their 15-0 win with a try from full back, Peter Davidson, which was converted by Joe Orr.
On Friday 29th December Rainey Endowed School was scheduled to play Banbridge Academy in a game but the game was cancelled due to frost.
Royal School, Dungannon played Portadown College in a game played in very difficult conditions which was superbly well refereed by Mark Orr. Mark kept the game flowing and the Dungannon team emerged as 19-10 winners. Calvin Nelson, Jono Shrestha and Dylan Burton scored tries for the Royal School, Dungannon team with Luke McMullan adding two conversions.
The Portadown College points came through a try from Dylan Nelson and a conversion and penalty from Adam Speers.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted a Canadian U19 team in a game the Campbell College team won by 23-19. Jamie Macartney, Jack Stinson and John Harrison scored the Campbell College tries with Conor Rankin adding one conversion and two penalties.
On Saturday 30th January Coleraine Grammar School played Limavady Grammar School in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 31-7.
The game was played over 3×20 minute sessions and the Coleraine GS team scored tries through Mark Lamont, Andrew White, who scored two, Marc McClelland and Oscar Egan. Pierce Crowe added three conversions.
James Howe scored a converted try for the Limavady Grammar School team.
Wallace High School defeated Ballymena Academy by 17-9. The Ballymena Academy team had built up a 6-0 lead by the interval through two Bruce Houston penalties.
Bruce added a third in the course of the second half but tries from Peter McRoberts and Josh Cardosi, alongside two conversions and a penalty from Jack Dillon, secured the 17-9 victory for the Wallace High School team.
Sullivan Upper School defeated Friends’ School, Lisburn by 34-3. The Sullivan Upper points came through tries from Andy Weir, Thomas Leitch, Sean Tyler, Adam McKenna and Jamie Thallon. Conor McKee added three conversions as well as a penalty.
Reece Malone converted a penalty kick for the Friends’ School team.
On Friday 5th January there were two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 games played as well as one friendly game played.
Cambridge House Grammar School played Banbridge Academy at Eaton Park, home of Ballymena Rugby Club. The game was played in front of an enthusiastic group of supporters who witnessed the Cambridge House team record an impressive 34-22 victory at the end of this entertaining encounter.
The Banbridge Academy team started the game strongly and took a 3-0 lead when Tom Flanagan converted a penalty kick with just three minutes on the clock. Three minutes late the Cambridge House team responded with a try from Jack Wilson, which was converted by Sam Millar, to give them a 7-3 lead. Midway through the first half the Banbridge Academy team edged into a deserved 10-7 lead when Troy Pinion scored a fine try which was converted by Tom Flanagan. On the stroke of half time, and somewhat against the run of play, Sam Millar converted a penalty kick for the Cambridge House team to see the scoreboard reading 10-10 at the interval.
The Cambridge House team then scored three tries in twelve minutes at the start of the second half. Kane McIlroy, Peter Munce and Curtis Henry were the try scorers. Sam Millar converted all three tries to see his team into a 31-10 lead. Banbridge Academy responded with a try from the industrious Alex Shannon, which was converted by Tom Flanagan, to reduce the arrears to 31-17. Sam Millar then kicked a penalty for the Cambridge House team to increase their lead to 34-17. With just minutes remaining Alex Shannon took advantage of good work from Peter Sleith and Troy Pinion before touching down for his second try of the night to leave the final score reading Cambridge House Grammar School 34 Banbridge Academy 22 at the end of this competitive and entertaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 game.
Both teams and all their supporters would like to thank the groundstaff and officials at Ballymena Rugby Club for the provision of facilities and hosting this game.
Meanwhile, at City of Derry Rugby Club, Foyle and Londonderry College hosted Dromore High School.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match which was won by 17-0 by the Dromore High School team, was played in the most difficult of conditions both underfoot and overhead. Indeed, it was tribute to the groundstaff and officials at City of Derry RFC that the game was played at all.
The Dromore High School team took a 5-0 lead ten minutes into the game when Aaron Lyttle took advantage of good work from his forwards following a lineout and crashed over for a try. Midway through the first half the Dromore High School lead increased to 12-0. Their Ulster U19 player, Ben Heath, made a telling break from his own half and rounded the last line of defence to score underneath the Foyle College posts. Reuben Cobb added the conversion. This seemed to spring the home team into action and for the remainder of the first half the Foyle and Londonderry College team controlled both territory and possession. However, the Dromore High School defence was resolute with Sam Fairley and Matthew Pepper getting through a lot of work in the Dromore backrow. This hard work ensured the visitors turned round at the break with their 12-0 lead intact.
The second half proved to be a very scrappy affair with a number of errors being committed by both teams due in no small way to the deteriorating weather conditions. With about fifteen minutes to go Dromore High School turned the ball over on the halfway line and moved the ball wide. Richard Dickson and Ben Heath showed great hands in the conditions to release full back , Cameron Beacom-Hurle, who scored a fine unconverted try in the corner. For the remainder of the game the Foyle and Londonderry College team dominated possession but Dromore High School defended well and held out for their well-deserved 17-0 win at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 game.
Both teams would like to thank the City of Derry Rugby Club for the provision of facilities and hosting the game in the most difficult of conditions.
At Terenure College in Dublin Royal Belfast Academical Institution travelled to play the Munster giants from Presentation Brother’s College, Cork in a game the Presentation College, Cork team won by 29-24. This was a very tough game as expected against a very powerful PBC team that was strong in all aspects of their game and especially with their pacey back division. After trailing 12-0 early in the game the Belfast Inst team fought back with a try from capt, David McCann, which was converted by Niall Armstrong. PBC then kicked a penalty to finish the first half ahead by 15-7.
Inst improved their defence in the second half and worked hard to get back into the game with AJ Hussel scoring a try, once again converted by Niall Armstrong, to reduce the deficit to 15-14. The PBC backs then created two excellent scores to lead 29-14 going into the final few minutes of the game. Niall Armstrong converted a penalty opportunity before Tim Lyons finished off a Kyle McComiskey break with a try. Niall Armstrong added the extras to leave the final score reading Presentation Brother’s College, Cork 29 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 24.
On Saturday 6th January the remaining five Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 games took place.
Portadown College hosted Limavady Grammar School in a game the Portadown College team won by 36-5. Both team started the game tentatively and the early stages of the game were laden with errors. Both teams had the opportunity to put points on the board only for a few final passes to go astray. However, when the players settled into the game it was the Portadown College team which looked the more dangerous. The home team struck first when when Christopher Thornberry scored an unconverted try in the corner to see his Portadown College team into a 5-0 lead. Limavady Grammar School then had a number of opportunities particularly from their well-organised short lineouts. This tactic eventually paid off for the visitors. They gained good lineout possession ten metres out and the resultant driven maul finished with an unconverted try from Robbie Hunter. This meant the teams went into the half time break with the scoreboard reading 5-5.
The second half saw the Portadown College team adopt a more direct approach especially from set plays. Adam Speers displayed good game management skills and it was Adam who scored the first Portadown try of the second half. He was on hand to receive a clever off-load from Daniel Moorcroft and he finished off with an unconverted try to put the Portadown College team into a 10-5 lead. Dylan Nelson then took advantage of an opportune bounce of the ball before running in for a try. Adam Speers added the extras to see the Portadown team into a 17-5 lead. This became 24-5 when Daniel Moorcroft displayed great awareness before finishing off with a try to which Adam Speers added the conversion. Further Portadown College pressure in the closing stages of the game saw Daniel Moorcoft and Dylan Nelson each score their second tries of the game. Adam Speers added one conversion to secure the 36-5 victory for the Portadown College team.
Larne Grammar School played Lurgan College at Larne Rugby Football Club in a closely contested game the Lurgan College team eventually won by 14-0. The Larne Grammar School team started well and from the kick off a Lurgan College handling error gave the Larne Grammar School team a lineout on the 5m line. Resolute defence and a clever turnover from the Lurgan College team, with Rory Burns to the fore, ensured the pressure was relieved. The Lurgan College team eventually grew into the game and, despite playing into a strong wind, started to dominate territory as well as possession. Good work from the Lurgan College pack led to Jack Maxwell breaking through the home defence to finish off with a try under the Larne Grammar School posts. Jack converted his try to see his team into a 7-0 lead. The Larne Grammar School pack was causing difficulties for their opposite numbers at scrum time. This enabled the Larne half backs to keep their team moving forward but a combination of good defence, aligned to handing errors, ensured the Lurgan College line remained intact and the teams turned around at the interval with the Lurgan College 7-0 lead secure.
The second half saw the Lurgan College team encamped on the Larne Grammar School line for long periods in the opening quarter. However, they were met with a dogged Larne Grammar School defence that really put their bodies on the line. The Larne Grammar School team, with Liam Slaughter, Micah Stevenson and Jack Withers to the fore, eventually forced their way down field a started to ask questions of the Lurgan College defence. The Lurgan College team turned a Larne Grammar School attack over and Jack Maxwell displayed great handling skills to put Ewan Mulligan into the clear from his 22m area. Ewan then cleverly off-loaded the ball to his captain, the impressive Reuben McCreery. Reuben outpaced a despairing Larne defence before touching down under the posts. Jack Maxwell added the extras to give the Lurgan College team a 14-0 lead.
Back came the Larne Grammar School team for one last throw at the Lurgan College line. However, resolute Lurgan College defence kept them out, the no-side whistle sounded and it was the Lurgan College team that celebrated their hard earned 14-0 victory.
Carrickfergus Grammar School played Regent House School in a game which saw the Regent House emerge as 40-17 winners. The Carrickfergus Grammar School team found themselves dominating territory and possession for large parts of the first half. However, despite this it was the Regent House team that had opened up a 19-7 lead by half time. They did so through tries from Curtis Jones, Jack Smith and Keir Edgar with two conversions from Robbie Johnston. Close to the break the Carrickfergus Grammar School backs took full advantage of a strong attacking scrum from their pack. Jack Leathem scored the try, which Daniel Curley converted, to leave the Regent House team with their 19-7 lead at the break.
This try seemed to spur the Carrickfergus Grammar School team into action in the opening stages of the second half. David Doherty pounced on a loose ball following a lineout and finished off with an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 19-12. The Carrickfergus GS team then displayed a few defensive lapses which allowed Aaron Migan to run in for a try, which Robbie Johnston converted, to put the Regent House team into a 26-12 lead. Back came the Carrickfergus Grammar School team once again. They displayed great determination and character and this paid off when Daniel Curley intercepted a loose Regent House pass. He outstripped the defenders and touched down for an unconverted try in the corner to reduce the arrears to 26-17. However, it was the Regent House team that finished the stronger in the closing stages of the game. Two quick tries from Matthew Foster and Ryan Uprichard, both of which were converted by Robbie Johnston, secured the 40-17 victory for the Regent House School team.
Rainey Endowed School played Belfast High School in a game that saw Michael Rainey, coach of the Belfast High School team, return to the school where he captained the team to Ulster Schools’ Cup success in 1982. Two of his colleagues on that successful Rainey Endowed School team, Chris Campbell and Jeremy Hastings, are coaching the current Rainey Endowed School team. The Rainey Endowed School team mainly dominated proceedings from the start and finished the game as 40-15 winners.
Brandon McMinn gave the Belfast High School team an early 3-0 lead when he converted a penalty opportunity. The Rainey Endowed team responded immediately when Bryn Davies scored a try following a charge down. Harry Evans added the conversion to see the Rainey team into a 7-3 lead. Further pressure from the Rainey team led to a second Bryn Davies try. Harry Evans was successful with the conversion to see his team into a 14-3 lead. Belfast High School then responded with an unconverted try from Scott McDowell to leave the score reading 14-8 in favour of the Rainey Endowed School team going into the final stages of the first half. On the stroke of half time the Rainey Endowed School team increased their lead to 21-8 when Karl Warner finished off a flowing Rainey move with a try which Harry Evans converted.
The Belfast High School team started the second half strongly and got reward for their endeavours when Ryan Gibson stormed in for a try, which Brandon McMinn converted, to reduce their arrears to 21-15. Once again Rainey responded immediately and Ciaran Doyle touched down for an unconverted try to increase the Rainey lead to 26-15. Despite some great defence from the Belfast High School team the Rainey Endowed team managed to score two more tries. Bryn Davies completed his hat trick and Jack Bresland touched down for a try as well. Harry Evans converted both tries which secured the 40-15 victory for the Rainey Endowed School team at the end of this exciting game.
Grosvenor Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School in a game from which the Grosvenor Grammar School team emerged as 37-7 winners. The Grosvenor Grammar School team, despite losing their inspirational captain, Ben Davis, had built up a 22-0 lead by the interval. Matthew Logan opened the scoring with a try, which Jos McConkey converted, to see the Grosvenor Grammar School team take an early 7-0 lead. Three unconverted tries in the remainder of the first half from their energetic hooker, Isaac Skillen, saw the Grosvenor team take their comfortable 22-0 lead into the break.
Antrim started the second half well and almost got some reward for all their hard work when Callum Hull was stopped just inches short of the try line. The Grosvenor Grammar School team then scored three more unconverted tries through Jos McConkey, Nathan Chan and James Lusty to give their team a 37-0 lead. With the last play of the game the Antrim Grammar School team finally got some reward for all their hard work. Replacement 2nd Row forward, Adam McCullough, dotted down for a try, which was converted by Callum Hull, to ensure the game finished with the Grosvenor Grammar School team as 37-7 winners.
As well as the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup games there was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy game played when Strabane Academy hosted Wellington College, Belfast. The Strabane Academy team won the game by 57-0. The Strabane Academy team scored nine tries in the course of the game. Jack Sayers, Gareth Glendinning, Adam McElwee, Ralph Mealiff, Jamie Brown, David Shaw, Jordan Mealiff, Stephen Shields and Reuben Orr were the try scorers with Ralph Mealiff adding six conversions.
Following the results coming through from the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Round 1 games the draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Final games took place. The draws were completed by Mr Robert Garrett, representing the Danske Bank, and Mr Stephen Black, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee.
The results of the draws are as follows:-)
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3
Lurgan College v Down High School
Rainey Endowed School v Portadown College
Grosvenor Grammar School v Royal School, Dungannon
Coleraine Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn
Omagh Academy v Bangor Grammar School
Cambridge House Grammar School V Regent House School
Belfast Royal Academy v Sullivan Upper School
Dromore High School v Dalriada School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Finals
Foyle and Londonderry College v Carrickfergus Grammar school
Belfast High School v Strabane Academy
Banbridge Academy v Larne Grammar School
Limavady Grammar School v Antrim Grammar School
These games are all scheduled to be played on/before Saturday 20th January 2018.
There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy game played when Craigavon Senior High School played Portadown College in a game the Portadown College team won by 24-12.
There were some 1stxv friendly games played on Saturday 6th January.
Campbell College hosted Munster’s Rockwell College from Cashel. Co Tipperary in a high scoring game which the Munster team won by 46-34. Conor Rankin, Rex Tinsley, Harry Owens, Jack Stinson and John Harrison scored the tries for Campbell College. Conor Rankin added one penalty as well as three conversions.
The Rockwell College team scored seven tries, four of which were converted, as well as one penalty.
Bangor Grammar School played Down High School in a game the Down High School team won by 37-27. The Down High School team had built up a 15-3 by the interval through a try , a conversion and a penalty from Greg Hutley and a try from Andrew McCoubrey. Rhys Larmour kicked a penalty for the Bangor Grammar School team.
The second half saw the Bangor Grammar School team score twenty four points through two Aaron Sexton tries, as well as one try each from Jack Gibson and Rhys Larmour. Rhys added two conversions. The Down High School team scored twenty points in the second half with tries from Callum Dunn, Reece Hagan and Zac Fisher, Greg Hutley added one penalty and two conversions to secure the 37-27 victory for the Down High School team.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Belfast Royal Academy in a game the Enniskillen RGS team won by 37-0. Over the course of three x 20 minute periods of play the Enniskillen team ran in seven tries. Alex Parke, Alex Armstrong, Andrew Humphries, Jonny Irvine, Jack Rutledge and Adam Boles, with two, were the try scorers for the home team. Reece Smyton added one conversion.
Methodist College, Belfast played Terenure College, Dublin and won the game by 20-10. Thomas Armstrong and John Fletcher scored the Methodist College tries with Ethan McIlroy adding two conversions as well as two penalties.
The Terenure College team scored two unconverted tries in the course of the game.
Royal School, Armagh played Ballyclare High School in a game the Armagh team won by 38-5. Matthew Reaney scored a hat trick for the Royal School, Armagh team with Nicolas Jennings scoring two and Ryan O’Nell scoring one. Benji Boyd added four conversions.
The consolation try for the Ballyclare High School team was scored by Josh Cowan.
