Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 16th March 2024.
On Monday 11th March, a Belfast Royal Academy “Select” xv played the Ulster Clubs’ U17 team at the Meadowbank Stadium in Magherafelt.
Both teams used this game, which the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 42-21, to give playing time to extended squads.
The Ulster Clubs’ points came through tries from Thomas Skelly, Banbridge RFC, Austin McAreevey, Lurgan RFCC and Adam Blaine, Ballynahinch RFC. Isaac Stubbs-Carton, Coleraine RFC, was successful with all three of his conversion kicks.
Players such as Josh Harold, Josh McLaughlin, Ethan Pavlovic, Jack Webb, Ryan Calwell, Matt McLaughlin and Oran Cole all featured strongly for the Belfast Royal Academy team throughout the game.
On Tuesday 12th March the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final took place at the JC Picken Playing Fields at Roughfort when Ballymena Academy played Methodist College, Belfast in a game the Methodist College, Belfast team won by 22-14.
Following the game, John Wilson, representing the Ulster Branch, IRFU, made the presentation of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate to the winning Methodist College, Belfast captain, Harry Doherty, as well as the finalist medals to the players from both schools.
Both teams, and their coaching staff, were congratulated on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate, the referee, Stuart Campbell, was thanked for his control of the game, Belfast Royal Academy, through DJ Creighton, and Anton Gaw, the Head Groundsman, was thanked for the use of facilities and hosting the game and the Danske Bank was thanked for their continuing sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions. The parents and guardians of all the players were thanked for the support and encouragement they had given the young players throughout the season.
Also, on Tuesday 12th March the NEBSSA U12 Tournament took place at Coleraine Grammar School.
This U12 Tournament, organised by Ashley Blair and his rugby staff at Coleraine Grammar School, attracted entries of eighteen teams from eleven schools. This ensured that somewhere in the region of 240 players had the opportunity to play in the tournament.
Section A teams from Antrim Grammar School, Ballyclare High School, Coleraine Grammar School, Dalriada School, Foyle and Londonderry College, Larne Grammar School, Limavady Grammar School and Rainey Endowed School played off group stage games in two groups of four.
The top two teams in each group then played semi-final games which ended up with Coleraine Grammar School playing Dalriada School in the final. Coleraine Grammar School won the final to secure the NEBSSA U12 title.
Seven of these schools were joined by teams from Carrickfergus Grammar School, Ballyclare Secondary School and Cullybackey College in a second competition when group stage games were played in two groups of five.
The top two teams in each group then played semi-final games which ended up with Ballyclare High School playing Limavady Grammar School in the final. Ballyclare High School won this final with a “Golden Score”
On Wednesday 13th March the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield final was played at Queen’s University RFC when Campbell College, Belfast played Royal School, Armagh.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Final, which the Campbell College, Belfast team won by 45-14, was played in front of a good crowd of enthusiastic spectators, which included a number of Ulster Rugby Elite Player Development Officers, including Irish Schools’ head coach, Neil Doak.
Despite the fact the Royal School, Armagh team was missing a number of regular players, they made a strong start to the game with an early try from the hard-working Thomas Dougan. Josh Lowey added the conversion to see his team into a 7-0 lead.
The Campbell College, Belfast team then went on to dominate both territory and possession for much of the remainder of the first half.
With Cal McKinney at the centre of all that was impressive about the Campbell College performance, tries from Will Alexander, James McConnell, with two, Josh Bunting and Paul Henry, with four Henry Ralston conversions, saw the Campbell College, Belfast team into a 33-7 lead at the break.
The Royal School, Armagh displayed great energy and commitment after the restart. Thomas Dougan was once again at the centre of things and combined with Will Boyd and Nili Tuipuloto before James Reid barged his way over the whitewash to touch down for a try. Josh Lowey added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 33-14.
The Campbell College team then responded with an unconverted try from Tayo Olusanya to put his team into a 38-14 lead.
Both teams had the opportunity to add to their scores but, it was only with close to the last play of the game, that the Campbell College, Belfast team secured their 45-14 victory. Good work from players such as Cal McKinney, Tayo Olusayna, James McConnell, James Wells and Oli Park ended with Josh Bunting scoring his second try of the game. Harry Dyer added the extras to secure the 45-14 victory for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
Following the game, Paul Hart, Junior Vice-President of the the Ulster Branch, IRFU, made the presentation of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield to Cal McKinney, the winning Campbell College, Belfast captain, as well as the finalist medals to the players from both schools.
Both teams, and their coaching staff, were congratulated by Paul on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield, the referee, Jonny Erskine, and his team of Michael Pollock, Teddy Sloan and John Adams, was thanked for his control of the game, Queen’s University RFC, through David Chambers, and the groundstaff, was thanked for the use of facilities and hosting the game and the Danske Bank was thanked for their continuing sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions. Paul thanked the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee for the organisation of the sixteen Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Rugby competitions. The parents and guardians of all the players were also thanked for the support and encouragement they had given the young players throughout the season.
Meanwhile, at Eaton Park, home of Ballymena RFC, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy final took place when Dalriada School played Antrim Grammar School.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Final was played in front of a good crowd of enthusiastic supporters with the Dalriada School team recording a 40-5 victory.
The Dalriada School team scored six tries through Ben Stewart, with a brace, Zach McIlhagga, Ben Kirk, Isaac Moore and Matthew Fox. Gabriel Stubbs-Carton was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
The Antrim Grammar School team, with players such as James Spence, Eoin Byrne, Jake Quigley, Joel McLaughlin and Alexander Lynn to the fore, got some reward for their endeavours throughout the game when Peter Kane touched down for an unconverted try.
Following the game, Laura Thompson, a member of the Ulster Branch and the IRFU, made the presentation of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl to the winning Dalriada School captain, Oliver Hughes, as well as the finalist medals to the players from both schools.
Both teams, and their coaching staff, were congratulated on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy, the referee, John Mawhinney, and his team of Gerry Saunders, Stephen Hanna and Alistair Rowan, was thanked for his control of the game, Ballymena RFC, through David McAleese, and his groundstaff, was thanked for the use of facilities and hosting the game and the Danske Bank was thanked for their continuing sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions. The parents and guardians of all the players were thanked for the support and encouragement they had given the young players throughout the season.
As well as presenting the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy and medals to all the players involved, Laura Thompson made another important presentation to Dalriada School.
Laura presented an IRFU Charitable Trust Plaque in recognition of what Dalriada School has done over many years as a “Friend” of the Irish Rugby Union Charitable Trust by contributing to the Trust as a “Friend” and raising considerable funds for this most worthy of causes.
Dalriada School has, along with a number of other schools in Ulster, led the way in assisting with the aim to get all Schools’ Cup Schools in Ulster signed up as a “Friend” of the IRFU Charitable Trust.
The annual Gary Clarke Memorial Tournament was played at Lurgan RFCC when Banbridge Academy, Lurgan College, Friends’ School, Lisburn and a Nomads “Barbarians” team, comprised of players from the three schools, played out a round robin series of U17 games.
The final game saw the Banbridge Academy team defeat the Nomads Barbarians team by 19-0.
The evening proved to be very successful with over 80 players getting an end of season run out. Thanks are due to Lurgan RFCC for hosting the event.
The annual Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Seven-a-Side tournament took place at the Queen’s University RFC pitches on Friday 15th March.
Teams were entered from Banbridge Academy, Belfast Royal Academy, Campbell College, Belfast, Coleraine Grammar School, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Friends’ School, Lisburn, Larne Grammar School, Limavady Grammar School, Rainey Endowed School, Regent House School, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School.
With twelve schools participating, over 120 players had the opportunity of participating in group stage games, semi-final games with Wallace High School contesting, and winning, the final with Rainey Endowed School.
Thanks are due to David Chambers, and his staff at QUB RFC, for hosting this very enjoyable Ulster Schools’ Seven-a-Side Tournament.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Seven-a-Side Tournament, with 24 teams involved, was due to be played at Campbell College, Belfast on Saturday 16th March. Unfortunately, the prevailing weather conditions meant this event had to be cancelled.
At the recent Belfast Royal Academy U13 tournament, over 200 players from Ballyclare High School, Belfast Royal Academy, Down High School, Friends’ School, Lisburn, Methodist College, Belfast, Omagh Academy, Rainey Endowed School, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School took part in group stage games and semi-final games.
This U13 tournament finished with Wallace High School winning the final game against Sullivan Upper School.
Thanks are due to DJ Creighton, Chris McCarey, and the ground staff at Belfast Royal Academy, led by Anton Gaw, for hosting this enjoyable end of season tournament.
The annual O’Kane U14 Tournament took place at Ballymena Academy when over 240 players from Antrim Grammar School, Ballyclare High School, Ballymena Academy, Belfast Royal Academy, Cambridge House Grammar School, Coleraine Grammar School, Dromore High School, Friends’ School, Lisburn, Larne Grammar School, Omagh Academy, Rainey Endowed School and Sullivan Upper School played in a group stage tournament for the O’Kane Trophy and Plate.
The semi-finals of the O’Kane Trophy were contested by Friends’ School. Lisburn Sullivan Upper School, Ballymena Academy and Larne Grammar School.
The final of the O’Kane Trophy was shared with Sullivan Upper School keeping the O’Kane Trophy until September when Ballymena Academy will receive it.
In the O’Kane Plate final, Antrim Grammar School defeated Cambridge House Grammar School.
Thanks are due to John Nicholl, Stephen Johnston, the Ballymena Academy Rugby and Catering staff, the USRFR and the O’Kane Sponsors for all they did in making this U14 Tournament so enjoyable.
Coleraine Grammar School ran their annual U12 Tournament attracting 22 teams from Ballymena Academy, Belfast Royal Academy, Cambridge House Grammar School, Campbell College, Belfast, Coleraine Grammar School, Dalriada School, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Limavady Grammar School, Methodist College, Belfast, Rainey Endowed School, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Sullivan Upper School and Willow Park School, from Dublin.
The structure of the tournament ensured that around 300 players got pitch time in the course of the day.
Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Grammar school, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and Limavady Grammar School played in Group A games with Coleraine Grammar School and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School topping the group.
In Group B Rainey Endowed School, Royal Belfast Academical Institution and the Willow Park B team played out their games with Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Rainey Endowed School topping the group.
Campbell College, Belfast, Methodist College, Belfast and Sullivan Upper School played out the Group C games with Campbell College, Belfast and Methodist College, Belfast topping the group.
In Group D Ballymena Academy, Dalriada School and the Willow Park A team played out their games with Willow Park A and Dalriada topping the group.
In the 1/4 Final games Rainey Endowed School defeated Coleraine Grammar School, Royal Belfast Academical Institution defeated Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Campbell College, Belfast defeated Dalriada School and Willow Park A won against Methodist College, Belfast.
In the 1/2 Final games Royal Belfast Academical Institution defeated Rainey Endowed School while Campbell College, Belfast won against the Willow Park A team.
The final of the A Tournament saw Campbell College, Belfast win against Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
In the 2nd Coleraine Grammar School Tournament teams from Ballymena Academy, Belfast Royal Academy, Cambridge House Grammar School, Campbell College, Belfast, Coleraine Grammar School, Methodist College, Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Sullivan Upper School and the Willow Park C team played out group stage games for the Coleraine Cup and Shield.
Methodist College, Belfast won the Cup while Sullivan Upper School won the Shield.
All participating schools, and their players, would like to thank Ashley Blair and the rugby staff at Coleraine Grammar School for organising such an enjoyable day of end of season rugby.
Methodist College, Belfast hosted an eight team U13 Tournament with over 180 players taking part from Ballymena Academy, Belfast Royal Academy, Campbell College, Belfast, Larne Grammar School, Methodist College, Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School.
Following each team playing t6hree group stage games, Methodist College, Belfast played Wallace High School in one semi-final with Royal Belfast Academical Institution playing Campbell College, Belfast in the second semi-final.
The final outcome of the tournament was decided when Methodist College, Belfast defeated Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the last game.
Thanks are due to Nicky Wells, and the staff at Methodist College, Belfast, for organising such an enjoyable tournament.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Sevens tournament, which was scheduled to have been played on Saturday 16th March at Campbell College, Belfast, with 24 teams taking part, was cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions.
Lurgan College and Belfast High School played out a fourteen try U17 Development team thriller which the Lurgan College team won.
Players such as Dylan Newell, Josh Wilson, Ben Maxwell, Ollie Givan, Tom Stevenson, Lewis Robinson and Andrew Lyttle all impressed with their performances for the Lurgan College team.
The Blue Riband event of Ulster Schools’ Rugby, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final, took place at the Kingspan Stadium on Monday 18th March when Royal Belfast Academical Institution, the current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, played Ballymena Academy.
The game, which the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won by 21-14, was played in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters for both teams, all of whom appreciated the high standards of performance displayed by all the players.
Ballymena Academy started the game strongly but it was the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that took the lead when a stary pass in a Ballymena Academy attack was intercepted by James Kerr. James showed a clean pair of heals to the chasing defenders and touched down for the try.
Alex Place added the conversion to see the Belfast Inst team into a 7-0 lead.
Ballymena Academy might have gone further behind but eventually fought their way back into the game Alexander Carson made a great midfield break to take play deep into the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 22m area.
The Belfast Inst team was forced into conceding a penalty and James McElroy took full advantage. A clever delayed pass to Daniel Vercoe-Rogers saw Daniel fend off two defenders before running in for the try. Robbie Coleman added the extras to draw the scores level at 7-7.
The Ballymena Academy team returned to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution “Red Zone” and their determination to play with the ball in hand was rewarded when Deon Fleming touched down following a big drive to the line. A second Robbie Coleman conversion saw the Ballymena Academy team into a 14-7 lead.
The Belfast Inst team responded immediately and good work from the impressive Adam Boyd saw him stretch for the whitewash and dot down for the try. Alex Place added the conversion to see the scoreboard read Royal Belfast Academical Institution 14 Ballymena Academy 14 at the break.
Shortly after the restart, the Ballymena Academy team might have taken the lead. With the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team on the attack, good defence from the Ballymena Academy team forced a loose Belfast Inst pass.
Michael McLean got the boot to ball and hacked the ball towards the Belfast Inst line. Having won the footrace, Michael looked as if he was a sure-fire bet to score. However, with the line at his mercy, the ball was somehow accidently knocked forward and the opportunity was lost.
It was the much-relieved Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that then started to dominate most aspects of the game. Following an attacking maul, replacement prop, Ross Dillon, was awarded the touchdown and the successful Alex Place conversion saw the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team take a 21-14 lead going into the final few minutes of this enthralling game.
The Ballymena Academy team chased the game seeking another score. However, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team displayed great ability in controlling the ball and held out to secure their 21-14 victory.
Following the game, Vicky Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Danske Bank, presented Danske Bank medals to the referee, Chris Busby, and his team of Keane Davidson, Peter Doherty, Lee Evans and Andrew McConville as well as Danske Bank medals to players from both squads.
Denis Gardiner, President of the Ulster Branch and the IRFU, then made the presentation of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup to the winning Royal Belfast Academical Institution captain, Frazer Cunningham.
Both teams, and their coaching staff, were congratulated on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, the referee, Chris Busby, and his team of Keane Davidson. Peter Doherty, Lee Evans and Andrew McConville, was thanked for his control of the game and the Danske Bank was thanked for their continuing sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ Rugby competitions. Denis thanked the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Committee, under the Chairmanship, of Richard Clingan, for organising the sixteen competitions. The parents and guardians of all the players were thanked for the support and encouragement they had given the young players throughout the season.
