There were four Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final games, four Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Quarter-Final games and two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Semi-Final games played on Saturday 23rd February 2013.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted Limavady Grammar School at the Osbourne Park venue and emerged as comfortable 41-10 winners.
Click HERE for the action shots
The home team dominated most of the game in the course of both halves and, by halftime, had built up an impressive 15-3 lead. They dominated both scrums and linesout and the Limavady Grammar School team found themselves chasing the game from an early stage. The Belfast Inst team took a 5-0 lead when Rory Campbell scored on the left wing following a series of multiple phases. The Belfast Inst team kept the pressure on the visitor’s line and might have increased their lead only to miss two penalty opportunities. Midway through the first half blindside flanker, Toby Boyd, touched down for an unconverted try to put the Belfast Inst team into a 10-0 lead. The Limavady Grammar School team responded positively and forced the Inst defence into giving away penalties. One of these was converted by Jack McCool to reduce the arrears to 10-3. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team took play back into Limavady Grammar School territory and, following another good series of phase plays, right winger, Iain Jones went over for an unconverted try to leave the Belfast Inst team with a 15-3 lead at the interval.
The game opened up in the early stages of the second half but the Limavady Grammar School team could find no way through. The Belfast Inst team scored another unconverted try through Philip Wright to increase their lead to 20-3. The Limavady Grammar School team eventually got some reward for their endeavours when Jack Elliott crossed for a try which was converted by Jack McCool to take the score to 20-10 in favour of the Belfast Inst team. They went on to dominate proceedings for the rest of the game with tries coming from James Carruthers and Andrew Magrath. Captain, Josh Atkinson then took advantage of good work from Michael Mairs to score a try. Nathan Brown converted two of these tries as well as a penalty to leave the Royal Belfast Academical Instituition team as deserved 42-10 winners and a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Semi-Final.
Methodist College hosted Wallace High School with both teams having come through tough Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4th Round encounters.
Click HERE for the action shots
The Methodist College team dominated proceedings from the start of the game and finished up with a convincing 29-0 victory. The foundations for this excellent win were laid by the Methodist College pack with Ross Kane, Michael Lagan, Mark Campbell and Alex Thompson all putting in great performances. The Wallace High School team, despite the performances of players such as Zach McCall, Cal McIlwaine and Calum Irvine, could not acquire any worthwhile possession and, as such, had no base to play from. Josh Bingham, the Methodist College outhalf, capped a fine personal performance with two tries in the first half as well as two conversions and a penalty. Ross Kane, the Methodist College captain, scored a fine try in the first half to give the Methody team a convincing 22-0 lead.
The Wallace High School team managed to get some possession after the restart but could not make an impression on the Methodist College defence. They defended valiantly against the many Methody attacks but could do little to prevent Paddy Colhoun from scoring a fine individual try. Josh Bingham was successful with his conversion kick to ensure the 29-0 win for his team and with it, a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Final.
Bangor Grammar School hosted the Royal School Armagh team in a game the home team had great hopes of winning.
Click HERE for the action shots
However, it was not to be and the Royal School, Armagh team emerged as worthy 25-0 winners. It was a very disciplined performance by the RS Armagh team and their attacking style of play saw them build up a 15-0 lead by the interval. Ali Wright put his team into a 3-0 lead when he converted a penalty opportunity. John McDonagh then ran in for a try which Ali converted to increase that lead to 10-0. Another attack from the visitors created the opportunity for Daniel Ewart to cross the Bangor Grammar School line for a try just before halftime. The try was not converted but the RS Armagh team had their 15-0 lead at the interval.
The RS Armagh front row of Darryl Morton, Michael Hoey and John Dunne was dominating in the set pieces and the Bangor team found it difficult to get anything in terms of worthwhile possession. Ali Wright was successful with a penalty opportunity to put his team into an 18-0 lead. Toby McAlpine then scored a fine individual try which Ali Wright converted to secure the RS Armagh team a 25-0 victory in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final game.
Ballyclare High School hosted Sullivan Upper in a very close encounter played in front of a very enthusiastic group of supporters.
Click HERE for the action shots
The Ballyclare High School team had to work hard before emerging with a 12-10 win. Ballyclare High School scored first with a try from their hard working flanker, Michael Kirk. The Sullivan Upper dominated the remainder of the first half in terms of both territory and possession. However, the Ballyclare High School defence stood firm and their line remained intact. The Sullivan Upper did manage three points when Mark Adair was successful with a penalty opportunity which he converted successfully. The score remained at 5-3 until the interval.
The second half was almost a replica of the first. The Ballyclare High School team scored first when prop forward, David Lawther, scored a try following good work from his fellow forwards. Jack Irvine converted the try to see the Ballyclare team into a 12-3 lead. Sullivan Upper responded positively and dominated the remainder of the game. They could not find a way through the Ballyclare defence until the last quarter of the game when prop forward, Chris Griffith, crashed over for a try. The conversion was successful with Mark Adair adding the extras to take the score to 12-10. Sullivan scrum half made a great break from his own half only to be dragged down a few metres short of the Ballyclare High School line. The try saving tackle from Matthew McDowell ensured a Ballyclare High School win by 12-10 and with it a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Semi-Final.
Following the completion of these Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final games, the draw took place for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Finals. The draw was done by Mr Lewis McCallan, representing the Danske Bank, and Mr Stephen Black, School Principals’ representative on the Ulster Branch.
The results of the draw were as follows:-
Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Ballyclare High School.
This game will be played on Monday 4th March at Ravenhill with a 2-30pm kick off.
Methodist College, Belfast v Royal School, Armagh.
There were four Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Quarter-Final games played on Saturday 23rd February.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted near neighbours, Belfast High School, in the Quarter-Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield. The home team won the game by 19-8. The Belfast Royal Academy team took an early 7-0 lead when Daniel McFadden touched down for a try following a driven maul close to the High School line. Daniel converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead. The Belfast High School team responded well and reduced the arrears to 7-3 when Robbie Reid converted a penalty opportunity. A series of picks and goes close to the High School line saw Daniel McFadden gain possession and crash over for his second try of the game. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the home team had a 12-3 lead, a lead they held until the interval.
Early in the second half the Belfast Royal Academy team extended their lead to 19-3 when Sam Lindsay took advantage of great work from his pack to touch down for a try. Daniel McFadden added the conversion. The Belfast High School team responded positively and a great break from Joel McBride produced a try. The try was not converted but the arrears had been reduced to 19-8. Jordan Garford made a great break close to the end of the game but the Belfast Royal Academy defence scrambled back to prevent what seemed like a certain score. This ensured a home victory by 19-8 and, with it, a place for the Belfast Royal Academy team in the Semi-Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools Subsidiary Shield.
Coleraine Academical Institution had a comfortable 26-10 win against Regent House.
Coleraine AI dominated the opening exchanges of the game with some excellent tactical kicking from their half backs, Peter Kidd and Conor Shiels, putting their team into positions of strength. The Regent House defence held firm until twenty five minutes into the game when the Coleraine AI No 8, Nick Logan, scrambled in for a try. Conor Shiels converted the try to put the home team into a 7-0 lead. The Regent House team responded in a positive manner and came back strongly to score an unconverted try through their hard working prop forward, Nick Jackson, to reduce the arrears to 7-5 just before the halftime whistle.
Coleraine AI opened the scoring in the second half when Conor Shiels made a telling break from his own half and outpaced the despairing Regent House defence to score under the posts. Conor converted his try to put his team into a 14-5 lead. From the restart, Peter Kidd launched a “Garyowen” at the Regent defence. Mark Gordon timed his kick chase to perfection and out jumped the Regent defenders to gain possession. Mark then outpaced the remaining defenders to score a try close to the posts. Conor Shiels was successful with the conversion kick to put his team into a 21-5 lead. The final Coleraine AI try came when Jonny Crowe gathered a Regent House kick and broke out of defence. A clever exchange of passes involving Jonny, Mark Gordon and Conor Shiels ended with Jonny touching down for an unconverted try in the corner. His team now had a 26-5 lead and maybe sat back a little to allow the Regent House captain, Philip Patton in for an unconverted try to leave the final score in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary game reading 26-10 in favour of the Coleraine Academical Institution team.
Dalriada travelled to Down High School and put on an excellent performance to come away with a 27-19 win following their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Quarter-Final encounter.
Dalriada had built up a 14-9 lead by the interval with an intercept try from winger, Michael Finnerty and a well-worked try from centre, Ryan Malcolmson. Rory Strang converted both tries. In response, the Down High School team kicked three first half penalties through Paddy Wright.
Dalriada continued to pressurise the Down High School line in the second half. Rory Strang was successful with two penalty kicks while replacement winger, Stewart Fallows, ran in for a try late in the game. Once again, Rory Strang was successful with his conversion kick. Down High School had some attacking moments in the course of the second half and got rewarded for their endeavours with a converted try from Paddy Wright as well as a penalty from the same player. It was a case of “too little, too late” for the Down High School team as Dalriada secured their place in the Semi-Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield with their 27-19 win.
Ballymena Academy hosted Campbell College and lost their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Quarter-Final tie by 17-3.
Ballymena Academy took an early 3-0 lead when they converted a penalty opportunity after Campbell College had strayed off-side at a ruck. Campbell College then began to press and started to dominate territory as well as possession. Jordan Boyd was causing consternation for the Ballymena Academy defence with frequent line breaks. As a result the Campbell team came back into the game with three penalty conversions from Jack Owens to give the Campbell College team a 9-3 lead at half time.
Campbell started the second half well and Jack Owens converted another penalty to give his team a 12-3 lead. Ballymena Academy responded positively and Oliver Simpson and Andrew McGrath asked questions of the Campbell College defence but the defence held firm. Campbell College made a number of changes and replacement scrum half, Phil Wood came on to provide the opportunity for Jack Owens to score an unconverted try in the corner to leave the Campbell College team as deserved 17-3 winners of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Quarter-Final game.
Following the completion of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Quarter-Final games the draw for the Semi-Final s took place. The results of the draws were as follows:-
Dalriada School v Campbell College
Belfast Royal Academy v Coleraine Academical Institution.
These draws were completed by Mr Lewis McCallen, representing the Danske Bank and Mr Stephen Black, School Principals’ Representative on the Ulster Branch.
There were two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Semi-Final games played on Saturday 23rd February.
Omagh Academy hosted Foyle and Londonderry College in bitterly cold conditions at the Campsie Playing Fields.
Omagh started the game in a determined fashion and pressurised the Foyle College defence. They were dominant at scrum time and, through the athleticism of Stuart Allen, stole two early lineout balls. The first try of the game came when the Omagh pack attacked the Foyle College line through a seriers of picks and goes. Eventually Jack Mitchell got his hands on the ball and went over for a try. Lloyd Kane added the conversion to put his team into a 7-0 lead. Omagh continued with their attacking strategy and made good use of quality possession when David Cummings scored an unconverted try to put his team into a 12-0 lead. Foyle responded positively and Kent King took advantage of weak Omagh Academy defence to score an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 12-5 at the interval.
Early in the second half the Omagh team extended their lead to 17-5 when Adam Stephenson committed a number of Foyle defenders before releasing a clever off-load to Scott Barr who scored an unconverted try in the corner. The Foyle team never gave up and took play deep into Omagh Academy territory and created sufficient space for Kevin Callaghan to score an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 17-10. Back came Omagh and good play from their pack paved the way for a James Kelso try. The try was not converted but the Omagh team now had a 22-10 lead. To cap off an excellent Omagh display, Neil McLaine put in a chip kick over the Foyle defence. The kick was gathered by Scott Hemphill who outpaced the Foyle defence to touch down for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Omagh team had done enough to win by 27-10 and take their place in the Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition.
The second semi-final was played in Magherafelt where the Rainey Endowed team hosted Portadown College and recorded a 19-6 win.
This ensures the Rainey Endowed School team will play Omagh Academy in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Final on Thursday 7th March. (Venue TBC)
