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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 23rd March 2019
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Rainey Endowed School at U12 level when both schools competed for the Arthur Arnold Shield. Following two very entertaining games it was the Rainey Endowed School teams that won the Arthur Arnold Shield, a Shield presented by Arthur Arnold, who was a former pupil of the Royal School, Dungannon, a former Governor of the Royal School and a former Head of the History Department at the Rainey Endowed School. The games were played on the Arnold Field which, at one stage, was a rough, tufty shrub area that was converted into a rugby pitch known as the Arnold Field in 1989.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final was held at the Kingspan Stadium on Monday 18th March when Campbell College, Belfast, the holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, played Methodist College, Belfast. However, Methodist College Belfast won the 2019 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup title, with a superb 17-45 win over Campbell College, Belfast, after an outstanding game of schoolboy rugby.
Methody ran in seven tries, five in the second half, to extend their lead at the top of the Schools’ Cup roll of honour on 36 outright titles. The Methody team got off to a bright start with lock, Ben Gourley, powering over from close range on eleven minutes to touch down for a try to which Ethan McIlroy added the conversion and give his team a 7-0 lead. The Campbell College team responded six minutes later when hooker, Harry Jackson, was at the bottom of the pile after a lineout maul crashed over the whitewash. Conor Rankin sent over a confidently struck conversion to see the score board reading 7-7. Conor then sent Campbell into a 10-7 lead with a twentieth minute penalty which the Methodist College team conceded following an extended period of Campbell College pressure. On thirty one minutes Ben Gourley’s second row partner, the hard working Max Lyttle, charged over the Campbell College line for another try, which Ethan McIlroy converted, to put the Methody team into a 14-10 lead. Five minutes later fly-half, the impressive Thomas Armstrong, ran a superb effort in under the posts. Ethan McIlroy added the extras to edge Methody 10-21 in front at half-time.
Five minutes after the restart scrum-half, Callum Davidson, dived over in the corner to touch down for an unconverted try and extend the Methody lead to 26-10. Three minutes later Callum Davidson’s opposite number, Dara Gaskin, sniped over from close range tom touch down for a try for Campbell College, who were more than playing their part in this fantastic contest. Conor Rankin added the conversion to narrow the Campbell College, Belfast deficit to 17-26. In the final twelve minutes of this absorbing Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final Methody ran in three more tries. Firstly flanker, David Boden, profited from a short lineout move to score an unconverted try in the left corner to see his team into a 31-17 lead. Replacement, Tim Millar, then got over the whitewash shortly after entering the action to score a try which was converted by Ethan McIlroy to extend the Methodist College lead to 38-17. The last try of the day came from another outstanding finish from Thomas Armstrong who created, instigated and finished the try in a superb manner. Ethan McIlroy converted the try tom secure the 45-17 victory for Methodist College, Belfast team and the end of this absorbing Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final
Campbell College Scorers: Tries: Harry Jackson, Dara Gaskin Cons: Conor Rankin (2) Pens: Conor Rankin
Campbell College Team:
(15-9): Conor Rankin, Kieran Harkness-Robertson, Rex Tinsley (Capt), Harry Owens, Danny Williamson, Ollie Ralston, Dara Gaskin;
(1-8): John Gildea, Harry Jackson, Patrick McAlpine, Kyle Gill, Jack Stinson, James Johnston, Ben Rainey, Tobi Olaniyan.
Replacements: Jack Boal, Luke Collins, Matthew Poor, Connor McCauley, Jamie Brennan, Harry Bell, Finlay Parks, Hugh Minford.
Methodist College Scorers: Tries: Ben Gourley, Max Lyttle, Thomas Armstrong (2), Callum Davidson, David Boden, Tim Millar Cons: Ethan McIlroy (5)
Methodist College Team:
(15-9): Ethan McIlroy, Tom O’ Doherty, Robbie Armstrong, John Fletcher, Chris Larmour, Thomas Armstrong, Callum Davidson;
(1-8): Ben Crangle, Daniel Humphreys, Matthew Hunter, Max Lyttle, Ben Gourley, David Boden, Adam Reid, Kevin McNaboe (Capt).
Replacements: Jack Watson, Patrick Johnston, Dan Dougan, Adam Simms, Tom Millar, Luke Simms, Luke Graham, Louis Millar.
On Tuesday 19th a Medallion B 20 Tournament was scheduled to have taken place at Ballymena Academy. Twelve teams had agreed to participate in the tournament which was designed to cater for Medallion players who were not necessarily on the starting xv for their school teams. Due to difficult underfoot conditions the tournament has been postponed until Tuesday 26th March.
On Wednesday 20th March the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Final took place at the Queen’s University Arena when Sullivan Upper School played Bangor Grammar School. This game, which was played in front of a large group of enthusiastic supporters and on a superb pitch, was won by Sullivan Upper School who recorded a comfortable 27-5 victory. The Sullivan Upper School team had controlled both possession and territory for long periods in the first half and took a 15-0 lead into the break. They scored an unconverted try through the impressive Ollie Faith ten minutes ino the game to take a 5-0 lead. Twelve minutes later this became 8-0 when they forced the Bangor Grammar School team into conceding a penalty and Conor McKee was successful with the resultant kick. Then the Bangor Grammar School team, with players such as Aaron Sexton, Ben McCrossan, Riley Westwood and Gareth Beggs to the fore, did ask some questions of the Sullivan Upper defence. However, the Sullivan Upper No 8, George Saunderson, assisted by Ollie Faith, Conor McKee and Jamie Thallon worked hard to ensure the Bangor attacks were thwarted at source. On the stroke of half time, Ben Holley took advantage of good work from his pack to touch down for a try, which was converted by Conor McKee, to ensure his Sullivan Upper team took a 15-0 lead into the break.
The Bangor Grammar School went looking for an early score in the opening exchanges of the second half but could find no way through the determined and well-organised Sullivan Upper School defence. Sullivan Upper then launched a number of attacks but all to no avail. That was until the thirtieth minute when Rory Houston breached the Bangor Grammar School defence and found Conor McKee, who was celebrating his 18th Birthday, running a great support line. Rory off loaded the ball to Conor who gleefully finished things off with a try. Conor converted his try to see the Sullivan Upper team into a 22-0 lead. The Bangor Grammar School team recovered from this further set back and, three minutes later, got some reward for their endeavours when Robbie Grant took advantage of good work from his fellow forwards and touched down for an unconverted try to reduce their deficit to 22-5. However, it was the Sullivan Upper team that had the final say in the game when Shay Storey finished off an attacking move with an unconverted try to secure the 27-5 victory for the Sullivan Upper School team.
Following the game, Stephen Elliott, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield, congratulated Sullivan Upper School on their victory, and thanked the referee, Jamie Pedlow, and his assistants, John Adams and Trevor Bradfield, along with Numbers 4+5 Chris Russell and Bill Halliday, for handling the game so well. Stephen thanked also the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ Rugby competitions. He then presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Final medals to both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield to Jamie Thallon, the captain of the victorious Sullivan Upper School team.
The final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup took place Campbell College, Belfast when Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv played the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv in a game the Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv won by 26-12.
Following the game, David Napier, representing the Ulster Branch, congratulated both teams on reaching the final, congratulated Methodist College, Belfast on their victory, and thanked the referee, Eamon Whelan, for handling the game so well. David thanked the Principal, Governors and staff, and especially Brian Robinson, as well as the ground staff, from Campbell College, Belfast for the use of facilities and hosting the game. David thanked also the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ Rugby competitions. He then presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Final medals to both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup to the captain of the victorious Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv team.
Looking towards next season Limavady Grammar School played Coleraine Grammar School with U17A, U17B and U17C teams. The Coleraine Grammar School won the A game by 38-0, the B game by 27-7 and the C game by 48-0.
On Saturday 23rd March Ballymena Academy hosted their annual O’Kane Cup U14 competition which saw twelve teams enter in what was a glorious morning for playing rugby. Four groups of three teams played out for a place in the quarter-finals with the third teams in each group playing off for the Plate competition. Coleraine Grammar School defeated Ballymena Academy in the final of the Cup competition while Dromore High School won the Plate competition.
Also on Saturday 23rd March Campbell College, Belfast was the venue when the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Seven-a-Side Tournaments took place. The 2018 Tournaments were not played due to the “Beast from the East” rendering the pitches unplayable but the 2019 Tournaments were enjoyed by all of the many players involved in the Senior, Junior and Medallion competitions so expertly organised by John McKinney and his Campbell College colleagues.
Campbell College, Belfast defeated the Ballyclare High School team to win the Senior competition while Royal School, Armagh defeated Cambridge House Grammar School to win the Junior competition and Ballymena Academy defeated Campbell College, Belfast to win the Medallion competition.
