Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 22nd October 2022.
On Minday 17th October Graffin Parke, former President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, attended the Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate and Medals to the Rainey Endowed School U16 team.
This young group of talented players defeated teams from Regent House, Coleraine Grammar School and Ballyclare High School with bonus point victories, to ensure they won the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate competition.
Graffin congratulated the Rainey Endowed School U16 team on winning the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate before handing over the winner’s medals to the squad and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate to Ewan McKay, captain of the victorious Rainey Endowed School U16 team.
The first of the 2022/23 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Finals took place when Wallace High School played Campbell College, Belfast in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup.
Despite the difficult overhead conditions both teams impressed with their ability to play the game in a positive manner.
The Campbell College team attacked at every opportunity in the opening phases of the game but got no reward from a very dogged Wallace High School defence.
Once the Wallace team managed to get some good possession they laid siege to the Campbell College line. On the eighteenth minute, the Wallace pack provided the back up to a strong carry from Daniel Macklin-Copeland who finished things off with a try. Quinn Armstrong added the extras to see the Wallace High School team into a 7-0 lead. Towards the end of the first period of play Daniel took advantage of some good work from his backs, gained possession close to the Campbell College whitewash and showed great strength to power over for an unconverted try to see his team into a 12-0 lead at the half time break.
The second half saw the Wallace High School team defend their line for long periods of time. The Campbell College team took control of both territory and possession but could find no way past the well-organised Wallace High School defence. This ensured that the game finished as the second half started with the final scoreboard reading Wallace High School 12 Campbell College, Belfast 0.
Following the game, Michael Boyd, Honorary Treasurer of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup and congratulated them on their performances during the final. Michael thanked the referee, Henry Richmond, and his assistants, Ian Orr and Billy Halliday, as well as Number 4 Official, Richard Kerr, for the manner in which they controlled the game. The Danske Bank was thanked for their continuing sponsorship of Ulster Schools’ Rugby-a sponsorship now in it’s eighteenth season. Michael was then assisted by Caroline van der Feltz, HR Director of the Danske Bank, and presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Finalists medals to all the players and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup to Jon Rodgers, captain of the victorious team Wallace High School team.
Among the good crowd in attendance at the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Final was that doyen of Ulster Rugby referees, back in the day, Alan Sturgeon accompanied by his wife, Pat. They thoroughly enjoyed the game and, in particular, the performance of their grandson, Sam Warwick, the Wallace High School Number 8.
On the same afternoon Wellington College, Belfast hosted Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl qualifying group stage game.
The game was played in very difficult conditions with both teams running with the ball in hand at every available opportunity. This positive approach saw the Wellington College, Belfast team emerge from the game as 34-12 winners.
The Wellington College team scored five tries with the impressive John Valeixo touching down twice, as did the equally impressive Scott Harrower. Jay Rush opened the Wellington College account with an early unconverted try. Mark Wilkes added the extras to three of the Wellington College tries as well as converting one penalty goal opportunity.
The Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock team played a full part in this exciting game. The got some reward for their efforts with tries from Thomas McCusker and Charlie Brown with one conversion from Ronan Donnelly.
Meanwhile, a Campbell College, Belfast Senior team played St Gerard’s School, Bray in a 1stxv friendly game and came away from a very close encounter with a 21-20 victory.
Sam Boomer scored two tries for the Campbell College team with Daniel Harkin running in for a third. Matt Rea was successful with all three of his conversion attempts.
The strength of the St Gerard’s School pack laid the foundations for four unconverted tries following well-organised driven lineout mauls. Finan Denver touched down twice as did Cian Geraghty for the visitors from Bray.
On Saturday 22nd October the first of the 2022/23 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup group stage games took place in the five sections.
In Group A Dalriada School played Lurgan College and won the game by 26-0.
Andrew Gilmore scored two tries for the Dalriada School team with Adam Bustard and Adam Nesbitt each scoring one try. Gabriel Stubbs-Carton added the conversions to three of the tries.
The Lurgan College team played with great commitment throughout the game with standout performances from players such as Calum Marsden, Thompson Owen and Sam Stevenson.
Limavady Grammar School played Cambridge House Grammar School and had to work hard before securing a 20-17 victory.
The Limavady Grammar School team scored two tries through Ben Nutt and Joe Caldwell with Benjamin Howe converting both tries as well as adding two penalty goals.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team scored three tries through Paddy Roberts, Jacob Oliver and Adam Rainey with Dan Chestnutt adding one conversion.
In Group B Banbridge Academy played Dromore High School in a game which saw the Dromore High School emerge as 19-7 winners.
The Banbridge Academy team, with players such as Connor Magee, Noah Bell and Ryan Hanna impressing, scored a second half try through Luke Charman. Ryan Matthews was successful with the conversion kick.
The Dromore High School team had built up a 14-0 lead by the interval with tries from Callum Bradley and Jonny Scott. Nathan Hook was successful with both conversions. Close to the end of the game the Dromore High School team secured their 19-7 victory with an unconverted try from James Waddell.
Larne Grammar School played Bangor Grammar School in a game which saw the Bangor Grammar School team come away with a 24-10 victory.
Ethan Duncan kicked a first half penalty goal for the Larne Grammar School with their “Man of the Match”, Daniel Halliday, touching down for a second half try. Ethan Duncan added the extras to the try.
The Bangor Grammar School team had built up a 17-3 lead by half time. Blake Lilburn, Zane, Hanna and Callum Moore scored the tries with Alex Shaw adding one conversion. Daniel Onstwedder scored their second half try with Alex Shaw adding the conversion.
In Group C Belfast High School played Strabane Academy in a game which saw the Belfast High School team emerge as 40-0 winners.
Adam Bennett, Daniel Bennett, Robbie McMinn, Joey Ashby, Nathan McFall and Jamie Scott scored the Belfast High School tries to which Daniel Bennett added five successful conversions.
Down High School played Foyle and Londonderry College and won the game by 21-12.
Fionn Carey, Ryan Connolly and Joe Dougherty scored the Down High School tries with Rhodri Phillips adding three successful conversions.
The Foyle College points came through a first half try from James McKillop which was converted by Adam Killeen. The remaining Foyle College points were scored by Christopher Boyd when he touched down for an unconverted try in the second half.
In Group D Portadown College played Friends’ School, Lisburn and won this close encounter by 12-7.
The Portadown College team scored two tries through Alex Vennard and Josh Herron with John Speers adding one successful conversion.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team, with brothers Angus and Finlay Crawford impressing with solid performances throughout the game, scored their try through Rob Henderson with Paddy Moore adding the conversion.
Rainey Endowed School played Royal School, Dungannon and it was the RS Dungannon team that won the game by 28-8.
The Rainey Endowed School points were all scored in the first half of the game. Owen O’Kane kicked a penalty and Sean Bentley touched down for an unconverted try.
Cameron Cumming ran in for two Royal School, Dungannon tries with James McCammon adding a third try. Jacob Clarke had a very successful game, off the tee, when he converted three penalty goals as well as two conversions.
In Group E Grosvenor Grammar School played Regent House School and it was the performance of the powerful Regent House School pack that laid the foundations for their 26-0 victory.
Ryan Copeland, Matthew McBride, with two, and Jude McKenna scored the Regent House tries with Zach Campbell adding three conversions.
Omagh Academy played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in a very close game which finished with the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team just about holding on to record a hard earned 10-7 victory.
Conrad Hale scored the Omagh Academy try, in the first half, with Andrew Johnston adding the conversion to see the Omagh Academy team into a deserved 7-0 lead at the break.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored two unconverted second half tries through Cameron Smith and Ben McLaren. The Enniskillen team then had to defend heroically to withstand countless Omagh Academy attacks before emerging eventually as 10-7 winners at the no-side whistle.
Danske Bank Schools’ Cup Group Stages – Results
Group A
Team P W D L TB LB F A Pts
Dalriada 1 1 0 0 1 0 26 0 5
Limavady GS 1 1 0 0 0 20 17 4
Cambridge Hse 1 0 0 1 0 1 17 20 1
Lurgan College 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 26 0
Week 1 Saturday 22nd October
Dalriada 26 (4) – 0 Lurgan College
Limavady GS 20 (2) – 17 (2) Cambridge House
Group B
Team P W D L TB LB F A Pts
Bangor GS 1 1 0 0 1 0 24 10 5
Dromore HS 1 1 0 0 0 0 19 7 4
Banbridge Acad 1 0 0 1 0 0 7 19 0
Larne GS 1 0 0 1 0 0 10 24 0
Week 1 Saturday 22nd October
Banbridge Academy 7 (1) – 19 (3) Dromore HS
Larne GS 10 (1) – 24 (4) Bangor GS
Group C
Team P W D L TB LB F A Pts
Belfast HS 1 1 0 0 1 0 40 0 5
Down HS 1 1 0 0 0 0 21 12 4
Foyle College 1 0 0 1 0 0 12 21 0
Strabane Academy 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 40 0
Week 1 Saturday 22nd October
Down HS 21 (3) – 12 (2) Foyle College
Belfast HS 40 (6) – 0 (0) Strabane Academy
Group D
Team P W D L TB LB F A Pts
RS Dungannon 1 1 0 0 0 0 28 8 4
Portadown College 1 1 0 0 0 0 12 7 4
Friends’ School 1 0 0 1 0 1 7 12 1
Rainey ES 1 0 0 1 0 0 8 28 0
Week 1 Saturday 22nd October
Rainey ES 8 (1) – 28 (3) RS Dungannon
Portadown College 12 (2) – 5 (1) Friends School
Group E
Team P W D L TB LB F A Pts
Regent House 1 1 0 0 1 0 28 8 4
Enniskillen Royal GS 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 7 4
Omagh Academy 1 0 0 1 0 1 7 10 1
Grosvenor GS 1 0 0 1 0 0 8 28 0
Week 1 Saturday 22nd October
Omagh Academy 7 (1) – 10 (2) Enniskillen Royal GS
Grosvenor GS 0 (0) – 26 (4) Regent House
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl qualifying group stage game Bangor Academy played Antrim Grammar School and won the very close encounter by 9-7.
Kailen Cantley was successful with three penalty kicks for the Bangor Academy team.
Jack McNeilly scored a second half try for the Antrim Grammar School team with Alexander Lynn adding the conversion.
Danske Bank Schools’ Bowl Qualifying Group – Results
Team P W D L TB LB F A Pts
Bangor Academy 2 2 0 0 1 0 50 26 9
Antrim Grammar 2 1 0 1 0 1 47 9 6
Wellington College 2 1 0 1 1 0 34 52 5
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College 1 0 0 1 0 0 12 34 0
Carrickfergus GS 1 0 0 1 0 0 19 41 0
Group Stage Week 1 Wednesday 12th October 2022
Antrim GS 40 (11) – 0 Wellington College
Carrickfergus GS 19 (3) – 41 (6) Bangor Academy
Free: Our Lady and St Patrick’s College
Group Stage Week 2 Wednesday 19th October 2022
Wellington College 34 (4) – 12 (2) Our Lady and St Patrick’s College
Group Stage Week 2 Saturday 22nd October 2022
Bangor Academy 9 (0) – 7 (1) Antrim GS
Free: Carrickfergus GS
Group Stage Week 3 Saturday 12th November 2022
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College v Bangor Academy
Antrim GS v Carrickfergus GS
Free: Wellington College
Group Stage Week 4 Saturday 26th November 2022
Carrickfergus GS v Our Lady and St Patrick’s College
Bangor Academy v Wellington College
Free: Antrim GS
Group Stage Week 5 Saturday 10th December 2022
Wellington College v Carrickfergus GS
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College v Antrim GS
Free: Bangor Academy
Five 1stxv friendly games were played on Saturday 22nd October.
Ballyclare High School hosted the Sullivan Upper School team in a game the Sullivan Upper team won by 41-0.
The Sullivan Upper School team scored seven tries in the course of the game. Ryan Drain ran in for a hattrick of tries, Callum Howe touched down for a brace and Louis Baird and Hamish Johnston weighed in with one try apiece. Harry McKeown was successful with three of his conversions.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Ballymena Academy and the Ballymena Academy team returned home having recorded a 15-0 victory.
Alex McBurney and Tristan Ferguson scored the Ballymena Academy tries with Tristan adding the extras to one try as well as converting one penalty goal.
Campbell College, Belfast played Terenure College from Dublin and it was the Terenure College team that won the game by 22-14.
Cameron Faith and Jack Daly scored the Campbell College tries with Matt Rea adding both conversions.
Methodist College, Belfast played Royal School, Armagh in a game the Methodist College team won by 35-14.
Matthew Bell, Ryan Kidd, Benjy Sloan, David Armstrong and Jacob Kelly scored the Methodist College tries with Ben McFarlane adding all five conversions.
Finn Fehnert and Josh Wilson scored the Royal School, Armagh tries with Josh Watterson adding both conversions.
Wallace High School travelled to Dublin where they played Belvedere College. The game proved to be a very closely contested affair which the Belvedere College team won by 26-21.
Ivor Cuddy and Jonathan Lynch each scored twice for the Belvedere College team with Cillian Leyden adding three conversions.
The Wallace High School team scored three tries through Chris Thompson, Noah McCluskey and Quinn Armstrong. Charlie Beattie was successful with all three conversions.
