Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 5th December 2015.
There were Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd and 3rdxv Cup games played during the week, as well as a visit from the Victoria Schools’ U16 squads to Limavady Grammar School, in the lead up to a good range of fixtures played on Saturday 5th December. A couple of midweek friendly fixtures were played as well.
On Tuesday 1st December Limavady Grammar School hosted two teams representing the Victoria Schools’ U16 squad who are on a tour which takes in games in Dublin, Limavady, Scotland, Wales, England, Belgium and France. The Victoria Schools’ squads are regular tourists against schools from Ulster having last played in Limavady six years ago. In their previous visit to the Province, three years ago, they played Foyle and Londonderry College. They took the opportunity to take in local landmarks such as the Titanic Centre and Belfast City while en route to Limavady from Dublin. When close the North Coast the Australian visitors visited the Giants Causeway prior to the games against Limavady Grammar School.
The Australians won both their games against Limavady Grammar School with the first team winning by 31-8 and the second team winning by 41-12. The Australian Management and players were delighted with the reception they received from the staff, parents and players at Limavady Grammar School. They stated the hosting they received was “exceptional” and asked for thanks to be passed on to all the good folk attached to Limavady Grammar School who were involved in all aspects of their successful visit to Limavady.
Both the games were fast and physical with both sides looking to play good rugby on a crisp afternoon in the North West.
In the 1st xv match the visitors took an early lead capitalising on a Limavady Grammar mistake to barge over on the corner with Sione Tui getting the touchdown. They scored again quickly with some expansive running and power play to take a 12-0 lead early in the game. The try was scored by Tobias Sanerive with Phoenix Hunt adding the conversion. Limavady started to get a foothold in the game thanks to strong running from Ethan Sherrard, Aaron Rathfield and Gareth Kee who looked dangerous on the wing. Some indiscipline from the touring team saw them concede a penalty in front of the posts and this cost them three points. The game ebbed and flowed throughout the half and finished with a well worked score from a scrum inside the Limavady 22m area. This move was finished with the Victorian Schools centre, Sweet Cook, crashing over the line. Phoenix Hunt added the conversion to give the Victoria team a 19-3 lead at the break.
After half time the Limavady team reorganised and, after a period of pressure, was able to pull back an excellent score in the corner through Gareth Kee. At 19-8 Limavady Grammar School thought they were back in the game but two well taken scores allowed the visitors to take a 31-8 win at the end of the game. Their size and pace took its toll on the home side that played well throughout but were unable to stop a talented and passionate Australian side. Sione Tui scored his second of the game with Jamarl Firebrace running in for one try which he converted.
The Limavady Grammar School 2nd xv produced one of their best performances of the season against a strong Victoria Schools’ U16 “B” team. They went into half time 14-12 down having played some excellent rugby and with “Man of the Match” Jamie Young having had an excellent game at out half.
Like the 1st xv the size and strength of the tourists allowed them to dominate the last twenty minutes of the game and they ran out as 41-12 winners.
Ballymena Academy made the journey to Clane in Co Kildare on Wednesday 2nd December where they played against the might of Clongowes Wood College. Both teams used the game as an opportunity to play all members of their extended senior squads. At the end of an evenly contested first half the score was 5-5. Oisin Jordan scored the unconverted try for the Ballymena Academy team.
The Ballymena Academy team, with Alexander Clarke, Marcus Rea and Jonny McKeown to the fore, pulled away in the second half and went on to record an impressive 36-5 victory by the end of the game. Azur Allison scored two tries with Marcus Rea, Angus Kernohan and Bruce Houston scoring one try each. Michael Stronge was successful with three conversions.
Limavady Grammar School hosted Portora Royal School on 2nd December in a game the Co Fermanagh team won by 57-0. The Portora RS team scored nine tries in the course of the game. Robert Baloucoune scored two tries with Ryan Egerton, Connor Keyes, Adam Bowles, Matthew Dane, Angus Keyes, Reece Barrett and Morgan Bruce all touching down for one try each. Reece Smyton was successful with six conversion kicks.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Royal Belfast Academical Institution travelled to play Campbell College and returned home having recorded an 11-3 win.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate Banbridge Academy travelled to play Foyle and Londonderry College and returned home having recorded a 17-5 victory.
In the Preliminary Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv recorded a 36-7 win against Rainey Endowed School 3rdxv. In the first round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5thxv defeated Coleraine Grammar School 3rdxv by 28-0. Meanwhile, in the same competition Campbell College 3rdxv travelled to play Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv at Roughfort and won the game by 36-7.
Despite the difficult weather conditions prevalent on Saturday 5th December quite a few school games still took place.
Unfortunately the Ballymena Academy game with Down High School was cancelled due to the occurrence of tragic circumstances which impacted upon the family of one of the Ballymena Academy players. The thoughts of everyone associated with Ulster Schools’ Rugby are with the family at this sad time.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Wallace High School travelled to play Sullivan Upper School. Following a hard fought encounter the Wallace High School team emerged as 12-3 winners.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Methodist College 3rdxv defeated Campbell College 4thxv by 12-3.
The Sullivan Upper 1stxv hosted their Wallace High School counterparts in a game the Wallace High School team won by 33-5. The Wallace High School team, with Ulster and Ireland Schools’ scrum half, Jonny Stewart, excelling at controlling affairs, had built up a 26-0 lead by the interval. They scored four first half tries through Nick Woods, who touched down twice, Jamie Maunderson and Jack Brown. Matthew Pentland was successful with three first half conversions.
The early stages of the second half saw the Wallace lead extend to 33-0 when Ryan Malley touched down for a try which Matthew Pentland converted. Now playing with the elements the Sullivan Upper team displayed great determination and took the game to the Wallace team. The Wallace High School defence was well-organised and gave nothing away. That was until the final play of the game when the Sullivan Upper team got some reward for their endeavours. Luke Coulter scrambled over for an unconverted try to leave the final score reading Sullivan Upper School 5 Wallace High School 33.
Coleraine Grammar School continued their recent run of good form with a 12-5 victory against Belfast Royal Academy. The Coleraine GS team had built up a 12-5 lead by the break with tries from Matthew Norris and Niall Cameron. Callum Smith converted one of the tries.
The Belfast Royal Academy points came through an unconverted try from Matthew Dalton.
Both teams worked hard in the second half to overcome the difficulties caused by the inclement weather conditions but there were no further scores. The Coleraine Grammar School pack, with team captain, David Greatorex to the fore, laid the foundations for this win. David was ably assisted by his second row pairing of Max Bailie and Peter Wisener. Full back, Marc Welsh, impressed with his ability, in both attack and defence, throughout the game.
Wellington College played Carrickfergus Grammar School in a very closely contested game the Wellington College team won by 12-7. The Wellington College points came from a Glen Higgins try which was converted by Jamie Hewitt. Jamie was also successful with a penalty kick.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School points came from a Fionn McCormack converted try.
Royal School, Armagh hosted a Rainey Endowed School team that had recently shown they are hitting a run of good form at just the right time. That good form continued with the Rainey Endowed School team coming away from this game as 42-0 winners. The Rainey team took an early 7-0 lead when Anton Lupari drove over from a lineout to touch down for a try which Lorcan Quinn converted. A few minutes later a similar scenario saw Cameron Stewart and Anton Lupari combine to present Anton with the opportunity to score his second try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Rainey Endowed team now had a 12-0 lead. The Rainey team was in the ascendancy and a break from full back, Matthew Mulholland, provided his winger, Michael Lynn, with the try scoring opportunity. Lorcan Quinn added the extras to increase the Rainey lead to 19-0. With half time approaching Lorcan Quinn took advantage of a strong Rainey scrum to nip in for an unconverted try and give his team a 24-0 lead at the interval.
The second half saw the Rainey ES team playing into the wind. A Lorcan Quinn penalty increased their lead to 27-0 and then Anton Lupari completed his hat trick when he barged over for an unconverted try to put his team into a 32-0 lead. Adam Currie ran in for an unconverted try to increase the Rainey Endowed lead to 37-0. Close to the end of the game an interchange of passes, involving both forwards and backs, finished with Cameron Stewart putting Neal Hastings in for a try in the corner. The conversion kick was unsuccessful but the Rainey Endowed School team had done enough to secure their 42-0 victory against the Royal School, Armagh team.
Banbridge Academy started brightly against the Royal School, Dungannon team and had built up a 12-5 lead by half time. Unfortunately for the Co Down team they were unable to hold on to this lead and the RS Dungannon team emerged eventually as 22-12 winners. The RS Dungannon team took an early 5-0 lead when Josh Patton crossed the Banbridge Academy whitewash to touch down for an unconverted try. The home responded positively to this early setback and dominated territory and possession for most of the rest of the first half. Twelve minutes into the game the score drew level at 5-5 when the Banbridge Academy winger, Jack Dolagan, ran in for an unconverted try. Just before the break the home team took a 12-5 lead when Jonny Campbell finished off some quality handling from his fellow forwards with a try which Tom Flanagan converted.
The RS Dungannon team started the second half strongly with their forwards gaining the “hard yards” and their backs impressing with the ball in hand. A solid RS Dungannon scrum paved the way for a Nicholas Graham try in the corner. The try was not converted but the RS Dungannon team had reduced the deficit to 12-10. From the restart good game management skills from Adam Evans took play back into the Banbridge Academy 22m area. From another attacking scrum Josh Patton picked the ball up and a clever off-load to Peter Doran saw Peter finish with a try under the posts. Adam Evans converted the try to put his team into a 17-12 lead. Aaron McCammon then scored an unconverted try to increase that lead to 22-12. The Banbridge Academy team rallied but, despite the efforts of players such as centre, Ross Cartmill, making a successful return from injury, and industrious No 8, Peter Heaney, they could find no way through the RS Dungannon defence. This ensured the game finished with the Royal School, Dungannon team as 22-12 winners.
Grosvenor Grammar School hosted Wesley College, Dublin in a hard fought encounter which the Wesley team won by 14-10 with the last play of the game. Playing into a strong wind the Grosvenor team dominated proceedings in the first half. Good control of the lineouts, and well-organised driven mauls, kept the Grosvenor GS team on the front foot for long periods of time. A Wesley offence at one such maul presented Adam Skelton with a penalty kick. Adam converted the penalty to put his Grosvenor GS team into a 3-0 lead. Back row domination at the breakdown provided Andrew Boyd with the opportunity to score a try. Adam Skelton added the extras to put the Grosvenor GS team into a 10-0 lead at the break.
In the course of the second half the Grosvenor GS team was unable to dominate the Wesley pack as they had done in the first half. The Wesley team scored a converted try midway through the second period to take the score board to 10-7. With the final play off the game the Wesley College team secured their 14-10 victory with a converted try under the Grosvenor Grammar School posts.
Friends’ School, Lisburn played Antrim Grammar School in a game the Friends’ School team won by 31-5. The Friends’ School team had built up a 17-0 lead by the interval with tries from Adam Scoffield, Ross Stewart and Ross Gillespie. David Stewart was successful with one conversion.
Team captain, James Maxwell, then scored a try shortly after the restart. David Stewart converted the try to increase the Friends’ School lead to 24-0. Curtis Dundas then capped a fine personal performance when he outwitted the Antrim GS defence to run in for a try. David Stewart added the extras to increase the Friends’ School lead to 31-0. The Antrim Grammar School team displayed great endeavour throughout the game and got some reward for their effort when a well-organised driven maul ended up with their pack rumbling over for an unconverted try. This ensured the final score read 31-5 in favour of the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Cambridge House caused a few problems for the Lurgan College team before the Lurgan team secured a hard-earned 22-12 victory. The Lurgan College team took an early 5-0 lead when James Patterson and Peter Jackson combined to put prop forward, Ryan Emerson, in for an unconverted try in the corner. The Cambridge House team recovered from this early setback and good work from their pack presented Reuben Russell with the opportunity to score a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the score was level at 5-5. Just before the interval, and somewhat against the run of play, the Lurgan College team took advantage of a Cambridge House mistake. Rory Burns and Victor Makensie combined to send Ryan Emerson in for his second try of the game. Robbie Norton added the extras to put the Lurgan College team into a 12-5 lead at halftime.
Playing with the wind in the second half the Cambridge House team started well. Harry Spiers displayed great ball carrying skills when he broke through the Lurgan College defence, fixed the final defender, and sent Travis Boyd in for a converted try which drew the score level at 12-12. This raised the intensity of the Cambridge House performance and, but for three try saving tackles from the Lurgan College full back, Robbie Norton, there might have been a different outcome to the game. As it was, the Lurgan College team secured their 22-12 victory with two unconverted tries in the last quarter of the game from Year 12 No 8, Reuben McCreery, and their experienced scrum half, Scott Wilson.
This game was originally scheduled to be played at Cambridge House. The inclement weather conditions saw the game switched to Lurgan Rugby Club. Both schools would like to thank Lurgan Rugby Club for the provision of facilities and for hosting the game.
Bangor Grammar School played out a close 22-19 victory against Dalriada School. The game was played on a wet, but firm, pitch with both teams trying to play positively with the ball in hand. Bangor enjoyed early territorial advantage and Zack Kerr opened their account with a 40m penalty to give his team a 3-0 lead. The Bangor forwards continued their period of dominance and carried the ball effectively in the blustery conditions. Well-presented ball was used to good effect by the Bangor backs and Zack Kerr showed his undoubted ability when he side stepped his opposite number in his own half and proceeded to finish the move off with a try. Zack added the conversion to extend the Bangor GS lead to 10-0. This seemed to spur the Dalriada team into action and a Bangor GS mistake, just before the break, was seized upon by the Dalriada team. Denis Posternak went in for an unconverted try to reduce the Bangor GS lead to 10-5 at the interval.
The second half saw the Bangor Grammar School team turn around playing into the wind. A Dalriada mistake gave the Bangor team front foot ball. From this they gained good field position and good play from the home pack led to an unconverted try from Evan Willard-McMillan which increased the Bangor Grammar School lead to 15-5. Dalriada responded in a positive manner and reduced the arrears to 15-12 when Matthew McConaghie scored a try which Stewart Moore converted. Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ flanker, Matthew Agnew, then increased the Bangor GS lead when his determined approach saw him touch down for a try despite the close attention of a number of Dalriada defenders. Zack Kerr was successful with conversion kick to put the Bangor team into a 22-12 lead. Dalriada replied with a try from Matthew Lockhart, which was converted by Stewart Moore, to leave the Bangor Grammar School team as 22-19 winners.
Regent House were the top points scorers of the day following their 67-12 win against Belfast High School. The Regent House team scored nine tries, eight of which were converted, along with two successful penalty kicks. Team captain, Arthur Donnan, capped a fine personal performance with a hat trick of tries, Robert Hull scored two with Josh Crossan, Jack Smith, Brandon Frazer and Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ prop, Kyle Van Gleisen, touching down for one try each. Robbie Johnston added eight conversions as well as two penalties.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ player, Tyler Arnold, impressed with his performance for the Belfast High School team and was responsible for the points his team scored.
The “big game” of the day was played at Pirrie Park where Methodist College, Belfast hosted their close rivals from Campbell College, Belfast. The Campbell College dominated the forward exchanges and scored three tries in the course of the game. Tom O’Toole scored two tries for the Campbell College team with Marcus Collim touching down for a third. Jonny Haldane was successful with two conversion kicks to secure the 19-0 victory for the Campbell College team.
The scheduled game between Omagh Academy and Foyle and Londonderry College fell victim to the inclement weather conditions affecting that part of the province on Saturday 5th December.
