Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 14th September 2024.
The Royal School, Armagh team had travelled recently to Limerick where they were hosted by Crescent Comprehensive College.
The Crescent Comprehensive team won the game by 26-14, scoring four tries in the process.
Fionn Rowsome and Joshua Boland each touched down for a brace of tries with Alan Cleary adding three successful conversion kicks for the Crescent College Comprehensive team.
The Royal School, Armagh team scored two tries through Zakir Majid and Sam Gray. Evan Hughes was successful with both his conversion kicks.
There were two midweek fixtures played on Wednesday 11th September when a Campbell College, Belfast Senior “Select” xv hosted Bangor Academy at the Belmont Road facility and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School took a Senior “Select” squad to play Enniskillen RFC U18s.
A third midweek game took place when the Sullivan Upper School U16 team hosted the Bangor Academy U16 team on Thursday 12th September.
On Wednesday 11th the Campbell College, Belfast team was made to work hard by the Bangor Academy team for their 33-12 victory.
The Campbell College team scored five tries through Frazer Campbell, Conor McKinney, Oli Armstrong, Levi Burnell and Sam Bowen. Sam was also successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Bangor Academy team contributed much to the fast flow of the game. Their points came through tries from Sean Hynes and Rory McClelland with Sean adding one successful conversion kick.
Meanwhile, at Mullaghmeen, home of Enniskillen RFC, the Enniskillen RFC U18 team played an Enniskillen Royal Grammar School Senior “Select” xv.
The game was played over 3×20 minute sessions with both team coaches having the opportunity to use extended squads.
The Enniskillen U18 team scored four tries with the impressive Eoin Ratchford touching down for two and Ben Robinson and Oliver Polack each scoring one try. Eoin added the extras to three of the tries.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored three tries through Ben Wallace, Robbie McIlwrath and Hughie Beddard. Bryn Haire added one successful conversion.
Both teams were delighted to have had local USRFR member, Terry McCartney, on hand to advise on the new law changes and referee the game.
On Thursday 12th September the Sullivan Upper U16 team played the Bangor Academy U16 team in a game which gave both schools the opportunity to have a close look at their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 competition squads.
The Sullivan Upper School team won this game by 39-15 and had Thomas Wray, Josh Patterson, Oliver Long, Rodger McMullan, Seb Gordon, Matthew McCartney and Oliver Long as their try scorers. Rodger and Oliver managed also to convert one try each.
The Bangor Academy team scored their points through three unconverted tries from Jamie Frazer, Vlad Grebenof and Jaxon Morrow.
On Friday 13th September Friends’ School, Lisburn was the venue when Down High School played Omagh Academy.
The Down High School team scored eight tries in their 52-7 victory.
Alex Watson touched down for a hattrick, Lewis Connolly ran in for a brace with Oli Robinson, Josh Herron and Ethan White scoring one try apiece. Josh McCaughey was successful with 6 of his conversion kicks.
Harry McIlwaine scored the Omagh Academy try with Sam Harper adding the conversion.
Both teams would like to thank Friends’ School, Lisburn for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
On the same afternoon Ballymena Academy played Wallace High School in a very close encounter from which the Wallace High School team emerged as 14-12 winners.
The Ballymena Academy team scored their points with one try each from Ben Collins and Charly Hargy with Reuben Allen adding one successful conversion
The Wallace High School team scored two tries through Josh Geddis and Luke Dillon with Luke adding the extras to both tries.
On Saturday 14th September a good list of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ games took place.
Ballyclare High School played Belfast Royal Academy in a game the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 31-7.
Debutant, Evan Lemon, who ran in for a hattrick, Frank Davis and Nathan Russell were the Belfast Royal Academy try scorers with Frank adding three successful conversion kicks.
The Ballyclare High School team contributed a great deal to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when, just before the break, Joshua McColgan ran in for a try which was converted by James Woodside.
Belfast High School played Limavady Grammar School in a high scoring game the Limavady Grammar School team won by 33-22.
The Belfast High School team scored three tries through Rory Dunlop, Ben Gardner and Harry Palmer with Archie Cruickshank adding two successful conversions as well as one successful penalty.
The Limavady Grammar School team scored five tries in the course of the game. Dara McAuley, James Laird, Graeme Rosborough and Ben Moore, with two, were the try scorers. James Laird capped a fine personal performance with four successful conversion kicks.
Cambridge House Grammar School played Coleraine Grammar School in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 34-0.
Miles Johnston, Luke McMillen, Callum Jackson and Jack Burnett scored the Coleraine Grammar School tries with the talented Josh Waugh adding four successful conversions as well as two penalty kicks.
As well as playing at Cambridge House, Coleraine Grammar School had a “Select” xv playing at the same time against the Ballymena RFC U18 team.
The Ballymena RFC U18, team, with players such as Tyrese Dunlop, Ben Millar, James Orr, Ndabe Mabhena and James Lynne impressing, emerged as worthy winners of this very competitive game.
For the Coleraine Grammar School “Select” xv Lewis Marshall and Alec Doherty were the standout players.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted St Gerard’s School, Bray in a game that saw the St Gerard’s team play away to an Ulster School for the third week in succession.
The Campbell College team won the game by 26-19 with Cal McKinney scoring three tries and James Callaghan touching down for a fourth try. Isaac Hatch added the extras to three of the tries.
Shane Kyne, Colin Whitten and Patrick Hanley scored the St Gerard’s School tries with Zenon Chambers adding two successful conversions.
Not only did Campbell College field three senior teams against St Gerard’s School but they managed also to find sufficient senior players to field another senior team against the Ballyclare RFC U18 team.
The Campbell College, Belfast team, on the back of good performances from players such as Harry Dobbin, Rory McIlduff and Robbie Cairns, recorded a narrow win in this game.
Ballyclare RFC U18 players such as Pearce Russell, Kian Ralston, Ewan Hoy and Luke Milton impressed with their performances throughout the game.
Dromore High School hosted Sullivan Upper School in a game the Sullivan Upper team won by 45-0.
Max Readman and Henry Calvert were the star players for the Sullivan Upper team with a hattrick of tries each. Louis Baird touched down for one try with Hamish Johnston adding the conversions.
Friends’ School, Lisburn played Royal School, Dungannon and, despite being 7-0 behind at the interval, recovered sufficiently well to record a hard earned 14-7 victory.
Tadgh McMaster and Joel Collins scored the Friends’ School tries with Ross Glover adding the conversions to both.
The Royal School, Dungannon try was scored by Max Patterson with a successful conversion kick coming from Jack Evans.
Grosvenor Grammar School played Dalriada School in a game that Dalriada School won by 41-0.
Zach McIlhagga, Archie Graham, Joe Lynas, Matthew Fox, Isaac Moore, Ben Kirk and Matty Rea scored the Dalriada tries with Chris Finney adding the conversions.
Lurgan College hosted Foyle and Londonderry College in a game the Foyle College team won by 21-7.
Towards the end of the game, Ben Maxwell scored the Lurgan College try which he converted with a well struck kick.
The Foyle College team scored three tries with Cian O’Leary touching down for a brace and Adam Woods adding a third. Luke Barr Hagon was accurate off the tee with three successful conversions.
Three Foyle and Londonderry teams played at Lurgan College who provided great pre as well as post-match hospitality before and after the game. The hospitality provided was much appreciated by the visitors.
Portadown College played Banbridge Academy and recorded a hard earned 24-17 victory.
Danny Guy, Taylor Sloan, with two, and Billy Cannon scored the Portadown College tries with Danny adding two successful conversions.
Peter Lewis put in a star performance for the Banbridge Academy team with two tries while Harry Davidson touched down for a third try. Andrew Jackson was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
Rainey Endowed School played Regent House School and it was the Regent House School team that emerged as 38-7 winners when the no side whistle sounded.
Arden Goldridge scored the Rainey Endowed School try with the Rainey Endowed School captain, Owen O’Kane adding the conversion.
The Regent House School team scored six tries through Lewis Robinson, Daniel Moore, Matthew Callaghan, Jacob Mount, Ethan Spratt and Harry Jackson. Josh Colville added three conversions with Zach McMinn adding a fourth.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution entertained Wesley College, Dublin and this high scoring game finished as a 26-26 draw.
George Craigan, Jay McCord, Ethan Edgar and Connor Patton scored the Royal Belfast Academical Institution tries with Charlie O’Connor adding three successful conversions.
The Wesley College, Dublin points came through tries from Jonny Woods, James Mulhall and two from Max Colbert. Max completed a fine personal performance with three successful conversion kicks.
Royal School, Armagh played Bangor Grammar School and recorded a 42-5 victory. Ryan Hamilton, Nathan Hamilton, Reuben Campbell, Robert Hamilton and Sam Gray, with two, were the Royal School, Armagh try scorers. Evan Hughes was successful with all six of his conversion kicks.
Bangor Grammar School contributed much to the flow of the game and scored a consolation unconverted try through Bryn Watson.
