Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 14th October 2023.
The last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate games took place on Monday 9th October when the Lurgan College U16 team hosted the Bangor Academy U16 team.
The Bangor Academy U16 team recorded a hard earned 33-10 victory at the end of this exciting game. This result ensures that the Bangor Academy U16 team has won the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate.
On Tuesday 10th October the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School U16 hosted the Cavan Royal rugby team in a high scoring, close encounter game, that the Cavan Royal School team won by 27-26.
Harry Falls, Alfie Savage, Ben Shaw and Callum Kelly were the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School try scorers with Sam Patton adding one conversion and Odhran McLernan adding two conversions.
The Cavan Royal try scorers were Thomas Wilkin, Luke Ellison, Bryan Moorehead and Favour Adewunmi. Luke completed a “Man of the Match” performance with two successful conversions as well as one successful penalty kick.
On Wednesday 11th October an Omagh Academy “Select” U18 XV travelled to play their counterparts from Omagh Rugby Club at Mellon Park, home of Omagh Academicals RFC.
The game proved to be a worthwhile runout for both teams and ended as a 10-10 draw.
David Millar and Conor Grimes each ran in for an unconverted try for the Omagh Rugby Club U18 team with Andrew King and Sam Beattie doing likewise for the Omagh Academy XV.
Both teams would like to thank Omagh Academicals Rugby Football Club for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
Also, on Wednesday 11th October, the previously postponed 1stxv friendly game featuring Belfast High School and Ballyclare High School was played.
The game took place on a superb playing surface at Belfast High School, and proved to provide a feast of running rugby which the Ballyclare High School team won by 52-31.
The Belfast High School team scored five tries through Ethan Hawkins, Matthew Adrian, Joey Ashby, Robbie McMinn and Lucas Thompson. Leo O’ Loingsigh converted two of the tries with Archie Cruickshank converting one try.
Ben Vance, with two, Danny Graham, with three and Ethan Norwood, with three, were the Ballyclare High School try scorers. Harry Thompson added the extras to six of the tries.
Dromore High School played Down High School at the Barban Hill venue and won the high scoring encounter by 35-28.
The Dromore High School team scored five tries through Callum Bradley, Daniel Ennis-McMannus, Livai Naga, Luke Dillon and Matthew Heasley. Daniel capped a fine personal performance when he added the extras to all five tries.
The Down High School points came through a brace of tries from Ryan Connolly, and one try each from Kyle Bradshaw and Jos Dougherty. Ben Cassidy was successful with all four of his conversion kicks.
Limavady Grammar School entertained Banbridge Academy in a game that saw the Banbridge Academy team maintain their strong start to the season with a 55-7 victory.
The Limavady Grammar School points came just after the break with a try from Odhran Clenaghan which was converted by James Laird.
The Banbridge Academy team had built up a convincing 26-0 lead by the break and scored four tries in the process. Noah Bell, Adam Login, Luke Charman and Callum Little scored the tries with Andrew Jackson adding the extras to three of the tries.
The second half saw the Banbridge Academy team run in seven more tries. “Man of the Match”, Noah Bell, completed his hattrick, as did Callum Little, and Darragh Knox, Joey Mackrell and team captain, Dan Hutchinson, touched down for one try each. Andrew Jackson was successful with two further conversion kicks.
For the first time Strangford College fielded a 1stxv team against a Regent House School “Senior” Select xv and, at the end of a highly entertaining and fast paced game, it was the Strangford College team which emerged as 21-10 winners.
The Strangford College team scored three converted tries in the course of the game. Team captain, Jed Nelson, touched down for two tries. The impressive Strangford College scrum half, Ben McConkey, ran in for one try and added the conversions to all three tries.
The Regent House School team contributed much to game. The got some reward for their considerable endeavours when Daniel Craig touched down for two unconverted tries.
On Friday 13th October Bangor Grammar School played Regent House School at 1stxv level.
This North Down “Derby” game finished with the Regent House School team recording a 27-17 victory.
The Bangor Grammar School points came through two tries from Cal Banyard, one try from Noah Courtney-Gardner alongside one conversion from Adam Bickerstaff.
Nathan Bell scored a brace of tries for the Regent House School team with Daniel Moore, Matthew Callaghan and Evan McGonigle each scoring one try. Evan added the extras to one of the tries.
On the same afternoon Omagh Academy hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Friends’ School team won by 24-0.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team scored four tries through Conor Harvey, who ran in for two, Joel Barron and Alexander McKinley. Harry Moore added the extras to two of the tries.
A series of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1stxv friendly games took place on Saturday 14th October.
Cambridge House Grammar School hosted Lurgan College and Larne Grammar School in a 3 team Blitz where all three schools used the occasion to use their extended squads of senior players.
In the first game Larne Grammar School played Cambridge House Grammar School and recorded a 26-5 victory.
The Cambridge House points came through an unconverted try from Justin Mark.
The Larne Grammar School points came through two tries from Ethan Duncan, one try from Ethan Anderson, one try from Jonny Dallas and two conversions from Ethan Duncan.
Larne Grammar School then recorded a 19-0 victory against Lurgan College. Ethan Anderson and Ryan McDowell each scored one try with Ethan Duncan adding to his growing reputation by scoring one try and adding two conversions.
In the final game of the morning the Cambridge House Grammar School team defeated Lurgan College by 29-5.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team scored five tries in this game. Justin Mark and Josh Dobbin each scored a brace with Henri Kyle touching down for one try. Josh added the extras to two of the tries.
The Lurgan College points in this game came through an unconverted try from Denis Lastik.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted Ballymena Academy and eventually ran out as close 27-24 winners.
The Campbell College team had dominated the game in the first half and had built up a 24-3 lead by the interval.
The Campbell College, Belfast team scored four three half tries through Ollie Park, Jed Dornan and Tom Robinson. Henry Ralston landed three successful conversion kicks as well as one successful penalty.
The only Ballymena Academy points, in the first half, come from a Robbie Coleman penalty.
The second half was a complete turn around with the Ballymena Academy team now dominating affairs.
Ben Neely, Callum Mustoe and Reuben Allen each touched for a try to which Robbie Coleman added all three conversions.
It took a late Henry Ralston penalty to secure the 27-24 victory for the much-relieved Campbell College, Belfast team.
Carrickfergus Grammar School played Foyle and Londonderry College in a game the Foyle College team won by 40-26.
Ellis Branagh, with two tries, and three conversions, Adam Magill and Dawson Taylor with one try apiece, were the points scorers for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team.
The Foyle College team scored six tries through Ben Kennedy, who ran in for two, Nick Boyd, Finn Curtis, Jack Craig and James McMorris. Darwyn Nutt added five successful conversion kicks.
Dalriada School played Royal School, Dungannon and recorded a morale boosting 24-12 victory.
The Dalriada School team scored four tries through Matthew Fox, Ben Stewart, Oliver Hughes and Angus Graham. Daniel Stubbs-Carton added two successful conversion kicks.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored two tries through John Carroll and Nathan Hamilton with John adding one successful conversion.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Portadown College and won the game by 41-19.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored seven tries through James Morrison, Charles Patton, Jake Woods, who ran in for two, Eamon Greene, Thomas Barnett and Tadhg Hambley. Tadhg was also successful with three of his conversion kicks.
The Portadown College points came through two tries from Tom Neill, one try from Oscar Eakin and two conversions from Danny Guy.
Grosvenor Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School and recorded a 34-7 victory.
Stefan Buick added to his try scoring reputation with two in this game while Matthew Meredith, Adam Osborne, Noah Price and Shea Taggart each scored one try. Ross Millar and Jude Anderson each kicked one successful conversion.
Alexander Lynn capped a fine personal performance for the Antrim Grammar School team when he ran in for a try which he goaled.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted Methodist College, Belfast and won the game by 24-0.
Blake McClean touched down twice for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team with Milo Carter adding a third try. Alex Place was accurate off the tee with three successful conversions while
Wallace High School played Sullivan Upper School in a high scoring game at the Clonevin Park venue. The Sullivan Upper School team was delighted to come away with a hard earned 29-21 victory.
Michael McCavery, Quinn Armstrong and James Gould scored the Wallace High School tries with Lewis Stevenson adding three successful conversions.
The Sullivan Upper School team ran in five tries through Joss Davidson, who put in a “Man of the Match” performance with a hattrick of tries, Timmy Bell and Nathan Noble. Harry McKeown added two successful conversion kicks.
