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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 16th March 2019
With an eye to next season Omagh Academy, Foyle and Londonderry College and Limavady Grammar School took part in a recent series of games featuring U16 and U17 teams from the three schools. The Omagh Academy U17 team won all their games defeating Foyle College by 15-7 and Limavady Grammar School by 10-5. The Omagh Academy U16 team won all their games defeating the Foyle College team by 26-0 and the Limavady Grammar School team by 19-5.
On Monday 11th March Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv and Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv played in the second semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won the game by 34-12.
On Tuesday 12th March the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Final took place at the Kingspan Stadium when Ballymena Academy, the winners in 2018, played Methodist College, Belfast. In a closely contested game the Methodist College, Belfast team emerged as 17-12 winners.
On Wednesday 13th March Sullivan Upper School 3rdxv and Rainey Endowed School 3rdxv played in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate at the Royal School, Dungannon. The game turned out to be a very entertaining affair which ended in a 12-12 draw.
Following the game, Richard Clingan, Hon Sec of the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee, congratulated both teams on reaching the final, and thanked the referee, Richard Chambers, and his assistants, for handling the game so well. Richard Clingan thanked the Principal, Governors and staff of the Royal School, Dungannon for the use of facilities and hosting the game. A special word of thanks went to the Royal School, Dungannon ground staff who had prepared the WK Armstrong pitch immaculately for this game. Richard thanked also the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ Rugby competitions. He then presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Final medals to both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate to the captains of both the Rainey Endowed School and Sullivan Upper School 3rdxv teams.
On Friday 15th March Larne Grammar School Year hosted their Year 8 Rugby Tournament which saw over 200 players from ten schools around the province taking part. Teams were split into two groups: Group A: Larne Grammar School, Ballyclare High School, Antrim Grammar School, Coleraine Grammar School and Carrickfergus Grammar School
Group B: Ballymena Academy, Dalriada School, Wellington College, Belfast, Cambridge House Grammar School and Belfast Royal Academy.
Following the group stages teams were then split into a Cup competition and a Plate competition.
Larne Grammar School were first to enter the semi-final stage as they went unbeaten in the group stage, scoring 11 tries in the process. Coleraine Grammar followed soon after from Group A after good performances against Antrim Grammar and Ballyclare High School. Cambridge House Grammar School and Belfast Royal Academy proceeded from Group B, the latter facing Coleraine Grammar School in their semi-final whilst the Larne Grammar School team were to host Cambridge House. The semi-finals were fiercely contested with Cambridge House Grammar and Belfast Royal Academy finishing strongly and progressing to the final. Having drawn 5-5 in their group stage match it was always going to be a close encounter when the teams met in the final. At the end of the competition it was the Cambridge House boys that were to come out on top winning through a try scored late in the game.
The Plate event saw Antrim Grammar School face Dalriada School and Ballymena Academy play Ballyclare High School in the semi-finals. Dalriada and Ballymena Academy proved too strong for their opponents setting up a ‘Country School’ Subsidiary Final clash. At the end of that competition it was the Ballymena Academy boys who came out on top winning by two tries.
The Larne Grammar coaching team and staff would like to thank all the participating schools who helped run a successful day and thanks goes also to Ulster Branch Referee, Scott McKnight, who officiated very well throughout the day.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Final, featuring Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv and the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv was scheduled to have taken place at Campbell College, Belfast on Saturday 16th March. Unfortunately the game had to be postponed due to the inclement weather conditions. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Final will be rescheduled with the date and venue to be confirmed.
On Saturday 16th March Rainey Endowed School and Grosvenor Grammar School played in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate at the JC Picken Playing Fields at Roughfort. The game was played in very difficult windy conditions with the Grosvenor Grammar School team emerging as 8-7 winners.
Following the game, Barney McGonigle, representing the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams on reaching the final, congratulated Grosvenor Grammar School on their victory, and thanked the referee, Tim McLennan, and his assistants, Aaron Fletcher and Ted Edwards, for handling the game so well. Barney McGonigle thanked the Principal, Governors and staff, especially Chris McCarey, of Belfast Royal Academy for the use of facilities and hosting the game. The Belfast Royal Academy groundsman, Anton Gawe, got a special mention for getting the pitch into such immaculate condition for the game as it had been subject to intensely wet conditions in the course of the previous week. Barney thanked also the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ Rugby competitions. He then presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Final medals to both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate to the captain of the victorious Grosvenor Grammar School team.
