Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 17th October 2015
A number of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution Senior teams played a series of games on Wednesday 14th October.
The 2ndxv travelled to play Rainey Endowed School in a closely contested game the Rainey team won by 16-15. Mark Keane, playing in the unfamiliar role of outhalf, kicked an early penalty to give the Belfast Inst team a 3-0 lead. A strong break from Matthew Cuthbertson resulted in a Pearce McLernon try. Mark Keane converted the try to put the Belfast Inst team into a 10-0 lead. Lorcan Quinn responded with a penalty for the Rainey Endowed team to reduce the deficit to 10-3. Mark Cuthbertson then scored an unconverted try for the visitors to put the Belfast Inst team into a 15-3 lead at the break.
The second half saw the Rainey team take advantage of a series of handling errors from the Belfast Inst team. They took advantage of Inst mistakes and played with a great deal of confidence. Lorcan Quinn was successful with two more penalties to take the score to 15-9 in favour of the Belfast Inst team. Then Anton Lupari took advantage of poor Inst defence to run in for a try. Lorcan Quinn added the extras to secure a hard-earned 16-15 victory for the Rainey Endowed School team.
Meanwhile the RBAI 3rdxv hosted Wellington College 1stxv in a game the Wellington team won by 28-0. The Wellington College pack laid the foundations for the victory by dominating the set pieces for long periods of time during the game. Wellington College scored four tries through Niall McGrath, Matthew Kernoghan and Luke Harris, who touched down twice. Jason Lyons was successful with all four conversions to secure the 28-0 victory for the Wellington College team.
The Belfast Inst 5th and 6th xv’s travelled to play Belfast Royal Academy at Roughfort and returned home having won both games. The RBAI 5thxv defeated BRA 3rdxv by 42-19 with the 6thxv defeating BRA 4thxv by 54-18.
On Friday 16th October Belfast High School played Larne Grammar School in a game the Belfast High School team won by 29-21. Belfast High School scored five tries in the course of the game through Andrew Walker, Ross Neill and their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ player, Tyler Arnold, who scored a hat trick. Ross Neill was successful with two conversions.
The Larne Grammar School points came through two tries from John Hyndman and one try from Sam Wood. Barry McFaul, who impressed with his performance throughout the game, was successful with all three conversions.
Omagh Academy travelled to Wales to play two games as well as take in the Ireland v Argentina Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final game at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. They played Aberdare College on Friday evening and won the game by 15-10. Early Omagh pressure saw them gain good field position in the Aberdare 22m area. From a lineout a well-organised driven maul from 20 metres saw the Omagh pack take play into the opposition in-goal area. Team captain, Matthew Clyde, finished the move off with an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. The Aberdare team responded in a positive manner with their large forwards carrying the ball to good effect against the smaller Omagh defence. Eventually, the home team rumbled over the Omagh line to score a converted try and take a 7-5 lead. This became 10-5 when, from the restart, Aberdare took the ball back into the Omagh 22m area. Their forward momentum forced the Omagh pack into giving away a penalty which was duly converted by the home team. Just before the interval the Omagh Academy, scrum half, Danny Ritchie, kicked behind the opposition defensive line. Winger, Taine Lagan latched onto the ball and fought his way in for a try in the corner. Kyle Beattie hit a superb touchline conversion kick to see his team into a 12-10 lead at halftime.
The second half proved to be a physical affair with the Omagh team having to defend resiliently. On a rare incursion into the opposition territory the Omagh team was awarded a penalty. Kyle Beattie was successful with the conversion to increase the Omagh lead to 15-10. The Omagh Academy team, with players such as Matthew Clyde, Clive Hawkes, Nathan Sides, Neil Logan and Andrew Newell getting through a lot of work, managed to hold onto their 15-10 lead until the final whistle, thereby getting to tour off to a good start.
The second tour game was played on Saturday 17th in the picturesque setting of Treorchy against Treorchy Comprehensive College. This time the Omagh Academy team finished up on the wrong side of 19-12 scoreline. The physicality of the home team put the Omagh Academy team under pressure for long periods of the first half. They took an early 5-0 lead when they seized upon a loose ball, following a lineout, to touch down for an unconverted try. Then, following a strong performance at a scrum, the Treorchy scrum half ran in for a try, which was converted, to increase the home team lead to 12-0, a lead they held until half time.
The Treorchy team started the second half in the same way they finished the first-on the attack! Following a quickly taken penalty a clean line break finished with a converted try to increase the Treorchy lead to 19-0. Despite this the game was far from over from an Omagh point of view. Astute game management from Kyle Beattie gained precious territorial advantage for the Omagh team and they started to pressurise the home team in set pieces. Following a lineout the ball was delivered from the driven maul to Oscar Nelson who fought his way over the opposition line to score the try. Kyle Beattie converted the try to reduce the arrears to 19-7. The Academy team then set up an attacking position in the Treorchy 22m area, Ben Henderson was on hand to take advantage of good work from his pack and run in for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Omagh team was back in the game with the Treorchy lead cut to 19-12. However, the final whistle sounded shortly after this score to ensure the Treorchy Comprehensive College team held on to their 19-12 lead which ensured they had recorded a hard earned victory.
On Saturday 17th October Belfast Royal Academy hosted Ballymena Academy at Roughourt with the conditions perfect for an open game of rugby. The Ballymena Academy team won the game by 38-3 but it was the home team that started strongly when they made several strong surges into the Ballymena half. A Ballymena infringement at the ruck gave BRA an opportunity of a penalty in front of the posts and Connor McAuley made no mistake to give his team a 3-0 lead. The early nerves shown by Ballymena were settled midway through the first half when winger, Conor Barkley, showed outstanding footwork to beat his man and finish in the corner. Bruce Houston added the conversion to give his side a 7-3 lead. Just before the interval, from a strong Ballymena scrum, the ball was moved wide for Mark Thompson to finish powerfully. Again, Bruce Houston made no mistake with the difficult conversion and the score remained 14-3 until half time.
The second half was a bit more one-sided with Ballymena enjoying the majority of territory and possession. After strong runs from Angus Kernohan and Alan Small, the ball was recycled and Bruce Houston found Conor Cosgrove who finished in the corner. Bruce Houston’s conversion increased the score to 21-3. Ballymena’s lineout was proving to be a strong attacking weapon and, when Alexander Clarke, making a welcome return to the playing field, found Chris McLeister at the tail, Azur Allison was on hand to touch down. Bruce Houston’s fourth consecutive touchline conversion took Ballymena into an unassailable 28-3 lead. Conor Cosgrove scored his second try of the morning; the winger dummying and finishing at the corner flag with Marcus Rea showing his power and strength to touch down in the same spot moments later. Bruce Houston, now well used to kicks from the touchline, hit the posts with both of his final attempts which meant Ballymena Academy finished the game as 38-3 winners.
The Methodist College, Belfast team was short of five front line players when they hosted Christian Brother’s College, Cork at Pirrie Park. The Christian Brother’s College team won the game by 19-3 but the Methody team made the visitors work hard for their win. The Methody team took a deserved 3-0 lead into the break following an early penalty from Paul Kerr.
The Christian’s team controlled possession for long periods of the second half but found the Methody defence, in which Thomas Gallagher was outstanding, reluctant to give anything away. That was until the final quarter of the game when the physicality of the visitors started to gain the upper hand. They scored three tries, two of which were converted, to secure their 19-3 victory.
Ballyclare High School travelled to Limavady Grammar School where they recorded a 31-7 victory. Alex Burke scored a try for the visitors, which Owen Hutchinson converted, to see the Ballyclare HS team into a 7-0 lead, a lead they held until the break.
The start of the second half saw the same players increase the Ballyclare HS to 14-0 with another try and conversion. The Limavady GS team then scored a converted a converted try to reduce the arrears to 14-7. Ian Crowe then increased the Ballyclare HS lead to 19-7 with an unconverted try. Alex Burke completed his hat trick with another try which was converted by David McIlwaine to increase the Ballyclare HS lead to 26-7. David McIlwaine then scored an unconverted try to secure the 31-7 win for the Ballyclare High School team.
Banbridge Academy hosted Bangor Grammar School in a game the Bangor Grammar School team won by 32-7. Despite the best efforts of Banbridge Academy players such as Jonny McIntosh, Ethan Cromie and Troy Pinion there was little the home team could do to prevent the Bangor GS from recording a comprehensive victory. The Banbridge Academy points came from a Jordan Mount try which was converted by Tom Flanagan.
Portadown College travelled to play Royal School, Armagh in a game the Portadown team won by 16-8. The game was played on a smaller pitch than usual and, in a scrappy first half, it was the Portadown College team that had built up a 6-3 lead by the break. Two Michael Orr penalties accounted for the Portadown points with William Hazelton converting a penalty for the RS Armagh team.
Armagh scored the first try of the match early into second period of play. A driven maul, following a lineout close to the Portadown College line, was finished with an unconverted try from Matthew Agnew, to put the RS Armagh team into an 8-6 lead. This proved to be a wake-up call for Portadown who stepped up a gear. They gained more control of the ball and ultimately turned this control into possession. Their structure and game plan soon paid off with a well worked try which was finished off by right winger, Daniel Smith. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Portadown College team now had an 11-8 lead. Portadown scented victory and continued to press the RS Armagh defensive line. They were rewarded when a series of pick and drive plays ended with their powerful 2nd row forward, Alastair Gilpin, crashing through a despairing Royal School, Armagh defence to score an unconverted try and close the game out with the Portadown College team emerging as 16-8 winners.
Meanwhile, in Enniskillen, the Royal School, Dungannon and Portora Royal School teams played out a game the Portora Royal School team won by 16-3. The first half proved to be a scrappy affair with the only points coming from the accurate boot of Aaron Perry who converted a penalty close to the interval to give the Royal School, Dungannon team a 3-0 lead at the break.
The second half saw the Portora Royal School team dominate proceedings for long periods of time. Josh Kennedy took advantage of some slack RS Dungannon defence to run in for a try, which was converted by Reece Smyton, to give his team a 7-3 lead. Further Portora RS pressure forced the RS Dungannon team into coughing up three more penalties. Reece Smyton converted all three kicks to secure a 16-3 victory for the Portora Royal School team.
Regent House halted the recent run of good form shown by the Grosvenor Grammar School team with the Regent team recording a 19-8 victory when the teams met in Newtownards. The Grosvenor team took a 3-0 lead when Adam Skelton converted a penalty opportunity early in the game. Regent recovered and scored a try through Ethan Bradley, which was converted by Robbie Johnston, to secure a 7-3 lead, a lead they held until the interval.
The Grosvenor GS team seemed to struggle in the second half to build up any momentum. The Regent team increased their lead to 12-3 when Robert Hull scored an unconverted try. Grosvenor GS did recover from this setback and reduced the arrears to 12-8 when Stephen Hedley scored an unconverted try in the corner. However, the Regent House team secured a deserved victory when Aaron May touched down for a try, which Robbie Johnston converted, to leave the final score reading 18-8 in favour of the home team.
Down High School recorded a 49-7 victory against a Friends’ School, Lisburn team that struggled to come to terms with the power and pace of the Down High School team. The Down HS team had taken a 30-0 lead by half time. Paddy Browne kicked them into a 3-0 lead with an early penalty kick. Then William Martin took advantage of a clever grubber kick from scrum half, Lewis Finlay. He gathered the ball at pace to touch down for a try. Paddy Browne added the extras to extend the Down HS lead to 10-0. Richard Wilson then outpaced the Friends’ School defence to run in for an unconverted try and extend the Down High School lead to 15-0. Paddy Browne and Marcus Graham then combined to put Zac Ward in for a try. Paddy added the conversion to put his team 22-0 ahead. Paddy then converted a penalty opportunity to increase the Down HS lead to 25-0. This became 30-0, just before half time, when Marcus Graham was on the end of some slick handling from his backline. He finished with an unconverted try to give his team a more than comfortable 30-0 lead at the break.
Early in the second half Harry Hitchens played from a strong Down HS scrum to score a try. Paddy Browne converted the try to put his team into a 37-0 lead. Alan Chambers then touched down for an unconverted try, following good work following a Down HS lineout, to increase the lead to 42-0. The Friends’ School team then responded with a converted try. George Pringle, Alex O’Brien and David Newell combined to put James Maxwell in for a try. David Stewart was successful with the conversion to reduce the deficit to 42-7. However, the rest of the game was dominated by Down HS and they scored their last points of the game when Zac Ward showed great power and pace to stretch out for a try. Paddy Browne converted the try to leave the Down High School team as 49-7 winners.
Foyle and Londonderry College hosted the Dalriada team that has gone through the season currently undefeated. They maintained their great start to the season with a 38-12 win in the Maiden City. The Dalriada team had taken a 7-0 lead in the first half with a try from Jack Horsborough which was converted by Stewart Moore. In reply, the Foyle College team scored an unconverted try to leave the Dalriada team with a 7-5 lead at half time.
The second half saw the Dalriada team dominate both territory and possession for long periods of time. Jack Horsborough touched down for his second try of the game, Stewart Moore and Alan Montgomery scored one try each and “Man of the Match”, Angus Johnston, completed a fine personal performance with two tries. Stewart Moore was successful with three further conversion attempts. The Foyle and Londonderry College team scored a converted try in the second half but the Dalriada team finished the game as deserved 38-12 winners.
Cambridge House entertained Carrickfergus Grammar School in a game the Cambridge House team won by 35-10. The Cambridge House points came Aaron Stirling, James Bovill, Reuben Russell and Jordan McIntyre, all of whom scored tries. In addition James Bovill was successful with three conversions as well as three penalties.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team played with great spirit and determination throughout the game. They had taken an early 7-0 lead when Jeremy Addley touched down for a try which was converted by Fionn McCormack. Fionn McCormack added a further three points with a second half penalty but it was the Cambridge House team that celebrated their 35-10 victory when the final whistle blew.
Wallace High School continued their impressive start to the season with a 26-12 victory against a Sullivan Upper team that has struggled to find consistency in their performances. Chris Jordan, a potential Ireland Schools’ player, scored a try for the Sullivan Upper team. Matty Moran touched down for a Sullivan Upper try as well with Rory Kilpatrick successful with one conversion.
For Wallace High School Jonny Stewart and Ben Finlay were at the centre of all that was good about the performance of their team throughout the game.
Coleraine Grammar School hosted a Campbell College team that was missing some key players due to injury and unavailability. The Coleraine GS team put on what was probably their best performance of the season to finish the game as 17-13 winners. The Campbell College team had built up a 6-3 by halftime by converting two penalty kicks. Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ player, Calum Smith, kicked the first half points for the Coleraine GS team.
Calum Smith went on to score a try in the course of the second half, as did Niall Cameron. Calum converted both tries. In reply the Campbell College team added one more converted try but it was not enough to prevent the Coleraine Grammar School team from recording a deserved 17-13 win.
The game involving Belfast Met and Lurgan College was cancelled on Friday 16th October.
