Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 17th December 2022.
On Wednesday 7 th December the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team hosted the South African Rhinos Rugby Academy at Osborne Park. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won the game by a convincing 45-15 score line.
The Belfast Inst team had built up a 26-8 lead by the break with two tries from James Hilman and one try each from Josh Gibson and Alex Place. Josh Eagleson was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
The South African Rhinos Rugby Academy team scored an unconverted try, and kicked a penalty, in the first half of the game.
The second half saw the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team score three more tries through Josh Eagleson, James Clarke and Jacob Edwards. One further Josh Eagleson conversion, and one conversion from Matthew Sweetlove, secured their 45 points.
The South African Rhinos Academy team got some reward for their endeavours when they crossed the Belfast Inst whitewash to touch down for a converted try in the course of the second half of this game.
With so many Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group stage games affected by the prevailing weather conditions on Saturday 10th December it was hoped that the remaining fixtures might be played off on Wednesday 14 th December.
Despite the problems resulting from the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage games not being played, the draw for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group of 16 games, as well as the draw for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition games, took place in the AL Goodbody Lounge at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 13th December.
The draws were conducted by Richard Caldwell, Managing Director, GB and Corporate
Strategy, Danske Bank and Denis Gardiner, Senior Vice President, Ulster Branch, IRFU.
The results of the draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen
1/Ballymena Academy v Campbell College, Belfast
2/Winner Group B Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup v Down High School
3/ Winner Group D Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup v Ballyclare High School
4/Coleraine Grammar School v Winner Group B Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
5/Sullivan Upper School v Royal School, Armagh
6/Belfast Royal Academy v Methodist College, Belfast
7/Wallace High School v Best Runner Up Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Group Stage
8/ Winner Group E Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group of Sixteen games MUST be played on/before Saturday 28 th January 2023.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen
1/Group B Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4 th Place v Group B/C Danske Bank
Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Place
2/ Group D/E Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Place v Group A/B Danske Bank
Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Place
3/ Group E Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4th Place v Group A Danske Bank Ulster
Schools’ Cup 4th Place
4/ Group A Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Place v Antrim Grammar School
5/ Group D Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Place v Group C/D Danske Bank Ulster
Schools’ Cup 4th Place
6/ Group B Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Place v Bangor Academy
7/ Group D Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4th Place v Belfast High School
8/Strabane Academy v Group E Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Place
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Group of Sixteen games are scheduled to be
played on/before Saturday 28 th January 2023.
On the evening of December 13 th an Ulster Schools’ U17 team played their counterparts
from New South Wales Raptors in the Raptors’ fourth and final game of an Irish tour.
Due to the prevailing weather conditions the game was subject to a last-minute switch
to the Meadowbank Stadium in Magherafelt where a sizeable crowd, of both local and
Australian supporters, had gathered to watch an entertaining game.
Despite the very cold conditions the pitch was in superb condition and, following the
entertaining encounter, the young Ulster team emerged as 21-0 winners.
The Ulster team took an early 7-0 lead with a try from Noah Bell which was converted
by Andrew Jackson. Both teams played enterprising rugby but there were no further
scores in the course of the first half.
With both teams using their extended squads all the players had the opportunity for
game time. The New South Wales team played their expansive running game whenever possible. However, one loose pass, when they were running out of defence, was
intercepted by Russell Lovo. Russell then displayed great speed and determination
before finishing off with a try under the NSW posts. Andrew Jackson added the
extras to increase the Ulster lead to 14-0.
Further Ulster pressure saw Sam Nixon finish off a series of Ulster attacks with a try.
The successful conversion from Ross Allen secured the 21-0 victory for the Ulster
Schools’ U17 team.
Following the game, the players and supporters from both teams gathered in the
nearby Rainey Old Boys’ RFC for much welcomed post-match refreshments. As ever
with Rainey Old Boys’ RFC, Dillon Davies was at the centre of the superb hospitality
provided for everyone in attendance.
Adam Boyd, the Ulster captain, made a presentation to his opposite number and
thanked the Ulster U16 Schools’ Management group, led by Neil Alcorn, Jonny Graham,
Gavin Hogg, Ricky Andrew and Michael Black, as well as their support team, and the
Ulster Schools’ U17 players, for what they had achieved in a very short space of time.
It was hoped to play a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage
postponed games, as well as Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv and 3rdxv postponed
games on Wednesday 14 th December, but the continuing cold weather conditions
ensured none of these games took place.
The thaw, which set in on Saturday 17th December, did not arrive in time to allow
these previously postponed games to be rearranged for, and played on, Saturday 17 th
December.
However, it is hoped that quite a few of these games can be played week beginning
Monday 19 th December and before the end of the school term. Other Danske Bank
Ulster Schools’ competition fixtures, as well as a number of friendly games, have been
rearranged to take place over the Christmas/New Year holiday period.
