Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 15th October 2022.
On Wednesday 12th October the first two games in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl qualifying group took place.
Antrim Grammar School played Wellington College, Belfast and recorded a well-deserved 40-0 victory against a very young, but committed, Wellington College, Belfast team.
The Antrim Grammar School try scorers were James Spence, who capped a fine personal performance with a hattrick, Eoin Byrne, Caleb Whiteway and Alexander Lynn. Alexander was also successful with three conversions with Matthew Adair adding the extras to another two of the tries.
Casey Heaney, Josh Harvey, Jack McNeilly, Kyle Taylor and Bailie Coates were other Antrim Grammar School players who impressed with their performances.
In the second game Carrickfergus Grammar School entertained Bangor Academy in another exciting Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl qualifying game. The Bangor Academy team won the game by 41-19.
Matthew Johnston and Shane Gilmartin each scored a try in the first half for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team to which Ellis Branagh added the conversions.
The Bangor Academy team scored three first half tries through Josh Stewart, who touched down for two, and Josh Hunter. Two successful conversions, as well as a penalty goal from Kailen Cantley, saw the Bangor Academy team into a 22-14 lead at the interval.
Early second tries from Kailen Cantley and James Montgomery, both of which were converted by Kailen, extended the Bangor Academy lead to 36-14.
However, the Carrickfergus Grammar School team never lost heart and got some reward for their endeavours when Logan Peters touched down for an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 36-19.
Towards the end of the game Tyler Mahaffey ran in for an unconverted try to secure the 41-19 victory for the Bangor Academy team.
Om the same afternoon Royal School, Armagh played Foyle and Londonderry College in a 1stxv friendly game. The Foyle College team asked, and made a great effort to travel, for a midweek fixture against one of the top schools in Ulster.
Despite coming out of the game with a 38-14 defeat the Foyle team contributed a lot to the game with players such as James McKillop, a recent call up to the Ireland U19/U20 Development squad for a camp at half term, Jack Craig, Oliver Allen, Finn Curtis and Dara Herron all playing with great commitment.
The Royal School Armagh team scored six tries in the course of the game. Kai Steritt scored a brace with Lucas Armstrong, Thomas Blackhurst, Finn Fehnert and Benjamin Murphy each scoring one try. Josh Watterson was successful with three of his conversions.
The Foyle and Londonderry College team got some reward for their hard work throughout the game. James McKillop scored a first half try with Chris Boyd touching down for a second half try. Adam Killeen was successful with both his conversion attempts.
Both teams, as well as their coaches, were delighted to have Richard Kerr appointed as referee for the game. Richard ensured the game was able to flow freely and the game was enjoyed greatly by all the players involved in the game as well as the spectators watching the game.
On the afternoon of Friday 14th October Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted a committed Omagh Academy team at the Magheralave Road venue.
The Friends’ School team continued their recent run of good form with a second win in the past week by recording a 24-5 victory.
In the first half of the game Sam Netherton opened the scoring for the Friends’ School team with an unconverted try to see them into a 5-0 lead. This became 12-0 when Ethan Mehaffey ran in for a try, converted by the talented Paddy Moore, midway through the first period of play. Close to the interval a Tom Rowlatt-McCormick try, converted by Paddy Moore, ensured the Friends’ School team took a 19-0 lead into the break.
The second half proved to be a more evenly contested affair. The Omagh Academy team continued with their committed approach to the game. They were rewarded for their hard work when Andrew Johnston touched down for an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 19-5. However, an unconverted Calum McCormick try, close to the end of the game, secured the well-deserved 24-5 victory for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
On Saturday 15th October another eleven 1stxv friendly games were played.
Antrim Grammar School played Grosvenor Grammar School and recorded their second win of the week with a 30-7 victory.
Eoin Byrne, Jack McNeilly, with a brace, and Peter Kane were the Antrim Grammar School try scorers. Matthew Adair added one conversion with Alexander Lynn kicking one conversion as well as two penalty goals.
Conor Allen scored the Grosvenor Grammar School try with Ross Millar adding the conversion.
Ballymena Academy hosted Campbell College, Belfast and it was the Campbell College team that came away with a 28-10 victory.
Sean McKay scored the Ballymena Academy try with Tristan Ferguson adding one penalty as well as the conversion.
The Campbell College, Belfast team scored four tries through Lukas Kenny, Matthew Rea, Cameron Faith and Matty Booth. Matthew Rea was successful with all four of his conversions.
Belfast Royal Academy played Larne Grammar School in a training game format with both teams using extended squads. Everyone involved found this to be a very worthwhile experience.
Coleraine Grammar School played Ballyclare High School and won the game by 17-5.
Noah Gordon and “Man of the Match” Jacob Lennox each scored a try for the Coleraine Grammar School team. Jordan McAuley was successful with both conversions as well as one penalty goal.
The Ballyclare High School team scored an unconverted try through the speedy Austin Martin.
Lurgan College met Cambridge House Grammar School at the Lough Road venue in a game the Cambridge House School team won by 19-5.
The game was evenly contested in the first half with neither team able to find a way through resolute opposition defence.
The start of the second half saw the Cambridge House team start to take control of both territory and possession. An unconverted try from Jacob Oliver, plus a try from Paddy Roberts, which was converted by Dan Chestnutt, gave the Cambridge House team a 12-0 lead.
The Lurgan College team responded with an unconverted try from Andrew Richardson to reduce the deficit to 12-5.
However, a well worked try from Jamie Watt, converted by Dan Chestnutt, secured the 19-5 victory for the Cambridge House Grammar School team.
Limavady Grammar School played Banbridge Academy and it was the Banbridge Academy team that emerged as 20-0 winners at the no-side whistle.
Connor Magee scored a first half try for the Banbridge Academy team and the Ryan Matthews conversions saw the visitors into a 7-0 lead at the interval.
In the second half one Ryan Matthews penalty, plus two unconverted tries in the second half from “Man of the Match,” Ryan Hanna, secured the 20-0 victory for the Banbridge Academy team.
Methodist College, Belfast hosted their close rivals from Royal Belfast Academical Institution and it was the Belfast Inst team that emerged victorious from the game with a hard-earned 17-10 victory.
Ryan Kidd scored the Methodist College, Belfast try to which Ben McFarlane added the conversion. Ben was also successful with one penalty kick.
James Hilman and James Clarke scored the Royal Belfast Academical Institution tries to which Josh Eagleson added both conversions as well as one penalty kick.
Portadown College played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and it was the Enniskillen RGS team that came away with a 31-26 victory at the end of this high scoring game.
Josh Herron, Scott Craig, Nathan Thornton and John Speers each scored a try for the Portadown College team with John adding three conversions.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored five tries through Ben Foster, Tim Harte, who touched down twice, Luke Smyton and Ben McLaren. Tadhg Hambly was successful with three of his conversions.
Regent House School and Bangor Grammar School played out a North Down “Derby” game at the Circular Road in Newtownards and it was the Regent House School that emerged from the game as 24-10 winners.
Regent House scored four tries through Ben McGready, Reuben O’Rourke, Shay Duckett and Zach Campbell. Zach was also successful with two conversions.
Alex Shaw and Jack DeLargy each scored an unconverted try for the Bangor Grammar School team.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Dalriada School and won the high scoring game by 45-20.
The RS Dungannon team had built up a 24-10 lead by the break with tries from James McCammon, Alfie Lewis, who scored two, and John Carroll. Jacob Clarke added the extras to two of the tries.
The Dalriada points, in the first half, came through unconverted tries from Andrew Gilmore and the impressive Luke Stewart.
In the course of the second half Alfie Lewis completed his hattrick for the Royal School, Dungannon team. James McCammon scored his second of the game and Jacob Clarke touched down for one try. Jacob added the extras to all three second half tries.
The Dalriada School points, in the second half, came through an Oliver Hughes try and a conversion and penalty from Gabriel Stubbs-Carton.
Sullivan Upper School played Wallace High School and won this exciting game by 17-10.
The Sullivan Upper team scored two tries through Tom Muldrew and Charlie Parker. Harry McKeown added the extras to both tries as well as converting one penalty opportunity.
Kyle Beckett scored the Wallace High School try with Charlie Beattie adding the conversion as well as one penalty kick.
