Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 23rd October 2021
As well as six Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup games taking place on Wednesday 20th October two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1stxv friendly games took place on the same afternoon.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup competition Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Lurgan College in a Section 3 game from which the Friends’ School, Lisburn team emerged as comprehensive winners.
The Friends’ School team had Joel Barron with two, Alex McKinley with two, Sushruth Ramesh, Joel Nethercote with two, Josh Mulholland, Paddy Donaghy, Harry Moore and Noah Sloan to thank for their tries to which Sam Dillon added a number of conversions.
In another Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Section 3 game Strabane Academy played Limavady Grammar School in a game the Limavady Grammar School team won by 38-12.
The Strabane Academy points came through tries from Adam Quinn, who touched down twice, with Samuel Orr adding the extras to one of the tries.
The Limavady Grammar School points came through tries from Odhran Clenaghan, who scored two, Adam McConnellogue, Ethan Mullan, Scott Hawthorne as well as a penalty try. James Laird added three conversions with Cooper McCausland adding one.
In the last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Section 3 games played on Wednesday Regent House School played Grosvenor Grammar School in a game the Regent House School team won by 39-5.
The Regent House School team had built up a 22-0 lead by the break with tries from David Hunter, Matthew McBride, and Ben Burke, who touched down twice. Matthew McBride added the extras to one of the tries.
Mason McFarland, Shay Duckett and Nathan Neill each scored a second half try for the Regent House team with Matthew McBride adding one more conversion.
The Grosvenor Grammar School team had Aaron Boyd to thank for scoring their unconverted try.
Meanwhile, Omagh Academy and Rainey Endowed School met in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Section 2 game.
This was a closely contested game which the Rainey Endowed School team edged by 21-14.
Callum Doherty, and the excellent Sam Beattie, scored the Omagh Academy tries with Isaac Rainey adding both conversions.
The Rainey Endowed School team try scorers were Billy Allen, Rossa Bell and James Cappell. James completed the game with three successful conversion kicks.
In another Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Section 2 game, Banbridge Academy played Dromore High School in a game the Banbridge Academy team won by 57-7.
A scintillating break by winger, Darragh Knox, led to the first Banbridge Academy try. Darragh fed hooker, Connor Magee, and his deft offload allowed Number 8, Ryan Hanna, to touch down underneath the posts for the opening try which Dan Hutchinson converted. Following a scrum turnover, Dan Hutchinson then fed fullback, Luke Charman, who outpaced the cover defence to score in the corner. Prop forward, Thomas Williamson, added the next Banbridge Academy try with centre, Jacques McCauley, adding a quick double after some superb work on the floor from Ryan Hanna. Dan Hutchinson added the extras to leave the halftime score reading 31-0 in favour of the Banbridge Academy team.
The home side made numerous changes during the break but it was another Ryan Hanna turnover then led to Luke Charman touching down for his second try of the game. Year 11 replacement out half, Andrew Jackson, then spotted a gap in the Dromore defence to race in underneath the posts for a try which he duly converted. Ryan Hanna then capped an impressive performance by sprinting down the touchline from inside his own half to evade a number of would-be tacklers for a fine individual try. Harry Wan then completed the home scoring after a superb Andrew Jackson pass cut out 3 defenders.
Dromore High School had the final say when their winger, Sam Cushnie, touched down in the corner for a converted try following some excellent build up play to leave the final score reading 57-7 in favour of the Banbridge Academy team
In a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Section 1 game, Campbell College, Belfast hosted Methodist College, Belfast in another very closely contested Section 1 game. This time it was the Methodist College team that emerged as 12-10 winners following a game that went right to the wire.
Toby Thompson scored a try for the Campbell College team to which Ryan Davidson added the conversion as well as a penalty.
The Methodist College points came through an unconverted try from Ben Gillen and, with the last play of the game, a try from Tyrese Abolarin, which was converted by Jack Tindal.
At 1stxv level Belfast Royal Academy played Royal School, Dungannon in a game the Royal School, Dungannon team won by 40-14.
The Belfast Royal Academy points came through second half tries from Peter Richardson and Ben Lonsdale with Ryan O’Hara adding two conversions.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored six tries in the course of the game. Alex Kennedy scored a hat trick of tries with Ryan Evans, James Girvan and Ethan Carberry each touching down for one try. James was also successful with five of his conversion kicks.
Royal School, Armagh played Omagh Academy in an early evening floodlit game at the Palace Grounds.
The Royal School, Armagh team blasted into an early 21-0 lead before finishing the game as 31-17 winners.
Sam Cunningham, Matthew Monaghan, Luke McCall and James Anderson, with two, were the Royal School, Armagh try scorers. Matthew Monaghan was successful with one conversion while Josh Waterson added two.
The Omagh Academy points came through tries from Josh Robinson, who finished off in fine style after a well-executed driven maul following a lineout, Daniel Armstrong, who finished of a series of picks and go and Ben Henry, who touched down following good work from Reece Braden and Alex Colhoun. Andrew Johnston was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
Both teams, their coaches and supporters, would like to thank City of Armagh RFC for the use of changing facilities and the use of their excellent floodlit pitch.
On Friday 22nd October Dalriada School and Down High School played their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Section 2 game.
This was another closely contested Section 2 game from which the Dalriada School team emerged as 14-12 winners.
The Dalriada School team had built up an 8-0 lead by the interval with an unconverted try from Angus Graham which was closely followed by a successful penalty kick from Gabriel Stubbs-Carton.
Gabriel Stubbs-Carton then kicked another penalty early in the second half and, close to the end of the game, his third penalty of the game secured the win for the Dalriada School team.
The Down High School team scored two tries through Mark Foster and Ryan Connolly with Jonny Russell adding one conversion.
On the same afternoon Belfast High School entertained Friends’ School, Lisburn in a 1stxv friendly game which the Belfast High School team won by 17-15 with all the points coming in the second half.
The Belfast High School team scored two tries through Adam Bennett and Brandon Clarke. Both tries were converted by Cameron Banford who also added one penalty kick.
The Friends’ School team score three unconverted tries through Sam Netherton, who touched down twice, and Alex Topping who scored one try.
On Saturday 23rd October one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Section 1 U16 Cup game was played.
At the Old Galgorm Road venue, Ballymena Academy played their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Section 1 game against the Royal Belfast Academical Institution U16 team.
This was a game played in front of enthusiastic groups of spectators which the Ballymena Academy team won by 10-0. Michael McLean and Reece Williamson, a young backrow player who put in a “Man of the Match” performance, each scored an unconverted try for the victorious Ballymena Academy team.
At 1stxv level Cambridge House Grammar School hosted Dalriada School in a game the Dalriada team won by 31-7.
The Dalriada School team scored five tries through Hugo Clarke, who touched down twice, Zak Kincaid, Andrew Gilmour and Peter Donaldson. Peter capped a fine personal display with three successful conversions.
Joshua Dobbin scored the Cambridge House Grammar School try which was converted by Dan Chestnutt.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Foyle and Londonderry College in an exciting game the Enniskillen RGS team won by 27-25.
Jack Courtney, Oliver Hamill, Tim Harte, with two, and Peter Read, were the try scorers for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School with Darragh Love adding one conversion.
The Foyle College team scored four tries through James McKillopp, Adam Killeen, James Gamble and Frank McDonnell with Adam Killeen adding one conversion as well as a penalty.
Rainey Endowed School played Limavady Grammar School in a hard-fought game from which the Rainey Endowed School team emerged as 17-14 winners.
The Rainey Endowed School try scorers were Nathan Quigley, Mikki Kelly and Jack McCavana with Louis Regan adding one conversion.
The Limavady Grammar School points came through a brace of tries from Dylan McAuley with Benjamin Howe adding both conversions.
Wallace High School entertained Belvedere College from Dublin in a game the Belvedere College team won by 19-10.
Finn Rankin scored the Wallace High School try with Matthew Halliday successfully adding the conversion as well as a penalty kick.
The Belvedere College team scored three tries in the course of the game. Paddy Dillon touched down twice for the Dublin visitors with Senan Hogan running in for a third. Senan was also successful with two conversions.
The draws for the first and second rounds of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield competition took place recently.
Danske Bank Medallion Shield 2021/22
Round 1 To be played on/before Saturday 20th November 2021
1. Wellington College, Belfast v Larne Grammar School
2. Strabane Academy v Lurgan College
3. Bangor Academy v Bye
4. Craigavon Senior High School v Belfast High School
5. Dromore High School v Bye
6. Grosvenor Grammar School v Bye
7. Omagh Academy v Bye
8. Our Lady St Patrick’s College, Knock v Bye
Round 2 To be played on/before Saturday 4th December 2021
1. Grosvenor Grammar School v Strabane Academy/ Lurgan College
2. Dromore High School v Banbridge Academy
3. Regent House School v Our Lady & St Patrick’s College, Knock
4. Antrim Grammar School v Foyle and Londonderry College
5. Bangor Grammar School v Dalriada School
6. Omagh Academy v Wellington College, Belfast/ Larne Grammar School
7. Bangor Academy v Craigavon Senior High School/Belfast High School
8. Limavady Grammar School v Royal School, Dungannon
With all the group stage games having taken place in Section 3 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup the group winners were Regent House School, Limavady Grammar School and Portadown College. Foyle and Londonderry College were the highest placed runners up having had one bonus point to keep them one point ahead of the challenge provided by Grosvenor Grammar School and Friends’ School, Lisburn.
The draw for the semi-finals was made by Mr Stephen Black, Chairman of the Ulster Rugby Committee.
The result of the semi-final draw for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Section 3 teams is as follows :-
Regent House School v Foyle and Londonderry College
Limavady Grammar School v Portadown College
These games are scheduled to be played on/before Saturday 6th November at the home grounds of the first team listed.
