Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 16th September 2023.
One schools 1stxv game was due to have been played on Friday 15th September when the Down High School team was to have hosted Grosvenor Grammar School. However, the prevailing weather conditions impacted on the Down High School pitch and the game was postponed.
There were fourteen schoolboy 1stxv fixtures played on Saturday 19th September.
Antrim Grammar School played Strabane Academy in a game the Antrim Grammar School team won by 32-12.
The Antrim GS team scored their points through tries from James Spence, Man of the Match, Michael McKay, who ran in for a brace, Jake Quigley, Angelo Simangan and Joel McLaughlin. Boris Lestiansky added one conversion.
The young Strabane Academy team got some reward for their considerable endeavours throughout the game when Felix Foley touched down for two tries, one of which he converted.
Ballyclare High School hosted Campbell College, Belfast in a game the Campbell College team won by 36-0.
The Campbell College team scored six tries in the course of the game. Cal McKinney touched down for two tries with George Carson, Ollie Parke, Henry Ralston and Tayo Olusayna each scoring one try. Henry Ralston was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Due to unforeseen circumstances the Belfast High School game against Carrickfergus Grammar School was postponed until Wednesday 20th September.
Coleraine Grammar School entertained Omagh Academy and won the game by 40-5.
The Coleraine Grammar School team scored six tries with Clark Logan touching down twice and Zack McCartney, Joel Madden, Ross Patterson and Joshua Hawe scoring one try apiece. Jordan McAuley was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
The young Omagh Academy team gave of their best throughout the game and received some reward for their endeavours when Jamie Mitchell carried strongly before touching down for an unconverted try.
Dromore High School played Lurgan College and recorded a 29-12 victory.
The Dromore High School team scored their points through tries from Livai Naga, who ran in for a hat trick, Daniel Ennis-McManus and AJ Morton. Daniel was also successful with two of his conversion kicks.
The young Lurgan College team finished the game strongly with Daniel Parker and Denis Lastik each scoring one try to which Ben Maxwell added one conversion.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Regent House School and, following a very closely contested game, emerged as 24-22 winners.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored four tries with James Morrison running in for two, and Toby Newman and Andrew Martin each touching down for one try. Tadhg Hambley was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
The Regent House School team scored their four tries through Hayden Hamilton, Sam McClements, Matthew Callaghan and Matthew McBride. Josh Colville added one successful conversion kick.
Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Cambridge Fouse Grammar School in a game the Cambridge House team won by 31-7.
The Friends’ School points came late in the game when Ryley Murphy touched down for a try which was converted by Samuel Dillon.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team scored four goals as well as one penalty kick. Danny Hill, Scott Steele, Henry Kyle and Sam Preston each scored a try, all of which were goaled by Paddy Roberts. Paddy converted one penalty kick as well.
Foyle and Londonderry College hosted Limavady Grammar School in a North West “Derby” fixture which the Limavady Grammar School team won by 13-10.
The Foyle College team scored one try through Robbie Patterson with Darwyn Nutt adding the conversion as well as one successful penalty.
The Limavady Grammar School team scored their try through Odhran Clenaghan to which James Laird added the conversion as well as two successful penalties.
Larne Grammar School played Banbridge Academy in a game the Banbridge Academy team won by 26-14.
The Larne Grammar School team scored two tries through Ryan McDowell and Charlie Patterson with Ethan Duncan successfully converting both tries.
The Banbridge Academy team scored four tries through Noah Bell, Luke Charman, who touched down twice, and Callum Little. Andrew Jackson added two successful conversions.
Among a number of talented players on both teams Ryan McDowell stood out with his performance for the Larne Grammar School team with Noah Haughey impressing with his performance for the Banbridge Academy team.
Portadown College played Bangor Grammar School and won the closely contested game by 24-21.
The Portadown College points came through two tries from “Man of the Match” Danny Guy who was also successful with two conversions. Tom Neill and Lucas McClements each scored one try.
The Bangor Grammar School team scored three tries through Rory Harris, who touched down twice, and Noah Courtney Gardner. Rory Harris added one conversion with Adam Bickerstaff adding two conversions.
Rainey Endowed School played Dalriada School in their annual Arthur Topping Cup competition and recorded a comprehensive 43-7 victory.
The Rainey Endowed School team scored seven tries during the game. Ben Bell ran in for two with Billy Allen, Tom Pitts, Ewen McKay, Peter Craig and Paul McCloskey each scoring one try. Owen O’Kane added four successful conversion kicks.
The Dalriada School team scored their points through a try from Angus Graham which was converted by Ben Kirk.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted Ballymena Academy in an exciting game at Osborne Park which finished with the Ballymena Academy team recording a 28-15 victory.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution scored three unconverted tries through James Kerr, who ran in for two, and James McClean.
The Ballymena Academy team scored four tries through Daniel Vercoe Rodgers, Ben Neely, Reuben Allen and Reece Williamson. Robbie Coleman added one successful conversion kick as well as two successful penalty kicks.
Royal School, Armagh entertained Belfast Royal Academy in a game from which the Belfast Royal Academy team emerged as 33-19 winners.
The Royal School, Armagh team scored three tries through Thomas Dougan, Cameron Sterritt and Tom Nicholson. Josh Lowey added two successful conversions.
The Belfast Royal Academy points came through tries scored by Oran Cole, Frank Davis, Adam Hewitt, Matthew McLaughlin and Josh Manson. Connor McVicker was successful with four of his conversions.
Royal School, Dungannon played the Sullivan Upper School team that recorded a 50-7 victory in their first game of the new season against Dromore High School.
The Sullivan team scored eight tries in that game through Jake Scott, Max Readman, who touched down twice, Max Kilner, Sam Harper, who also scored a brace, Ollie Keown and Joss Davidson. Hamish Johnston was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
The Royal School, Dungannon game finished with Sullivan Upper continuing their positive start to the season by recording a 28-7 victory.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored one try through Nathan Hamilton with James Gibson adding the conversion.
The Sullivan Upper School hooker, Nathan Noble, put on a Man of the Match performance with a hat trick of tries while winger, Ben Aiken, ran in for a fourth try. Harry McKeown added two conversions as did Hamish Johnston.
Wallace High School played Methodist College, Belfast in a closely contested game from which the Methodist College team emerged as 24-19 winners.
The Wallace High School team scored three tries through Michael McCavery, Corey Dawson-Stirling and Quinn Armstrong. Quinn was also successful with two conversions.
The Methodist College team ran in for four tries with Tyrese Abolarin, Rudy Jordan, Oliver Gartley and Lewis Doherty each getting their names on the score sheet. Jack Tindal was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
Each of the games listed above was refereed by a member of the Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees. All the teachers, coaches and players involved in these games were delighted to have the support of all the referees involved in officiating and wish to thank the USRFR.
As part of the Rugby World Cup taking place at the minute in France Ballyclare High School accepted the offer to participate in The Rugby Heritage Cup held in Pontlevoy from 2nd to 7th September 2023.
The Ballyclare squad gained a lot from the experience and gave good accounts of themselves both on and off the pitch.
They performed well in games against Junior Brescia from Italy, South Sea Islanders from Tonga College, Dom Brosco Asalayam from India, Clifton College, tournament favourites, Iona College, and St Michael’s College.
An overall fourth place finish was testament to the talent available to the Ballyclare High School coaching staff, led by Ryan McIlwaine, and everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the experiences and learning gained from participating in this prestigious tournament.
