Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 24th February 2024.
On Monday 19th February Rainey Endowed School 2ndxv played Royal School, Dungannon 2ndxv in the much-delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate semi-final.
At the end of an exciting game, it was the Rainey Endowed School 2ndxv that emerged as 27-19 winners.
The Rainey Endowed School team will now play Ballymena Academy 2ndxv in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate at Ballyclare High School on Saturday 2nd March.
On Tuesday 20th February, Royal School, Dungannon was the venue when Portadown College played Rainey Endowed School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl.
This game proved to be a very close encounter with the Rainey Endowed School team recording a 22-21 victory.
Following the game, Graffin Parke and Bobby Stewart, both former Presidents of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, made the presentations of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl to the winning captain well as the finalist medals to the players from both schools.
Both teams, and their coaching staff, were congratulated on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl, the referee, Gary Treanor, was thanked for his control of the game, Royal School, Dungannon, through Richard Clingan and Gareth McClintock, was thanked for the use of facilities and hosting the game and the Danske Bank was thanked for their continuing sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions. The parents and guardians of all the players were thanked for the support and encouragement they had given the young players throughout the season.
Later that evening, Campbell College, Belfast 2ndxv played Methodist College, Belfast 2ndxv in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup.
Following another close encounter, the final scoreboard read Campbell College, Belfast 21 Methodist College, Belfast 17. The Campbell College, Belfast team will now play Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup at CIYMS RFC on Friday 1st March at 5-00pm.
This semi-final game was played at Belmont, home of CIYMS RFC, and both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank CIYMS RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
On Wednesday 21st February, Ballymena Academy played Antrim Grammar School in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate.
The Ballymena Academy team recorded a 34-5 victory at the end of the game.
In the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate, Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv played Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv.
Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv won this game by 24-5 and will now play Ballyclare High School 3rdxv in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate. This final will be played at Carrickfergus Grammar School on Wednesday 28th February at 2-30pm.
On Thursday 22nd February, Ballyclare High School played Foyle and Londonderry College in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl.
The Ballyclare High School team won this very closely contested game by 13-12 with Ben Vance and Harry Thompson each touching down for an unconverted try. Jacob Scarlett was successful with one penalty kick.
The Foyle and Londonderry College team scored two tries through Robert Rankin and Markus Smith with one successful conversion from Darwyn Nutt.
Meanwhile, at Friends’ School, Lisburn, Banbridge Academy played Belfast High School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy final provided a skilful encounter with both teams determined to play with the ball in hand on an excellent surface.
At the end of this exciting game, it was the Banbridge Academy team that emerged as 24-21 winners.
Following the game, Sam Grattan, representing the Ulster Branch, made the presentations of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy to the winning captain as well as the finalist medals to the players from both schools.
Both teams, and their coaching staff, were congratulated on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate, the referee, Shane Toolan, was thanked for his control of the game, Friends’ School, Lisburn, through Ivor Monaghan, was thanked for the use of facilities and hosting the game and the Danske Bank was thanked for their continuing sponsorship of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions. The parents and guardians of all the players were thanked for the support and encouragement they had given the young players throughout the season.
On Friday 23rd February, Strabane Academy hosted Antrim Grammar School in the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy semi-finals.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy semi-final proved to be another extremely closely contested game which the Antrim Grammar School team won by 18-17.
The Strabane Academy points came through an unconverted try from Caihair McGrath and four successful penalty kicks from Johnny Orr.
Jack McNeilly and Jake Quigley scored the Antrim Grammar School tries with Alexander Lynn adding one conversion as well as two successful penalty kicks.
Due to ground conditions at Strabane Academy, this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy 1/2 Final game was switched to an excellent surface at Foyle and Londonderry College.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators, are extremely grateful to the Principal, Governors and staff of Foyle College, and especially David Barnett, for making this excellent facility available at such short notice.
Grosvenor Grammar School played Dalriada School in the delayed 1/4 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy.
The Dalriada School team won the game by 22-15 and will now travel to play Omagh Academy in the 1/2 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy.
Conor Allen and Stefan Buick each scored a try for the Grosvenor Grammar School team while Ross Millar added one successful conversion with Jude Anderson adding one successful penalty.
The Dalriada School team scored four tries through Joe Lynas, Angus Graham, Luke Stewart and Alfie Millar. Gabriel Stubbs-Carton was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
On Saturday 24th February, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-finals took place.
Portadown College hosted Campbell College, Belfast in a game in which the Campbell College, Belfast team recorded a comprehensive 40-0 victory.
Players such as Cal McKinney, James McConnell, Oli Parkes, Henry Ralston, Tayo Olusanyo, Josh Bunting and Rus Lovo all featured strongly for the Campbell College, Belfast team in the course of this game.
Meanwhile, at the Barban Hill venue, Dromore High School hosted Royal School, Armagh, the current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield.
The Royal School, Armagh team won this game by 24-12 and will now meet Campbell College, Belfast in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield.
That Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield final will be played at Queen’s University RFC on Wednesday 13th March.
Daniel Ennis-McManus and Eren Strydom each scored one try for the Dromore High School team with Daniel adding one successful conversion.
The Eoyal School, Armagh team scored three tries through Nili Tiupulotu, Thomas Dougan and Niall Conn. Jost Lewey had a successful morning off the tee with three successful conversions as well as one successful penalty.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl semi-final, Cambridge House Grammar School played Down High School played out a closely contested game which the Cambridge House Grammar School team won by 14-12.
Justin Marks was the “Hero of the Day” for the Cambridge House Grammar School team when he scored two tries and added the extras to both.
The Down High School team scored two tries through Ryan Connolly and Matthew Douglas with Josh McCaughey adding one successful conversion kick.
Cambridge House Grammar School will now play Ballyclare High School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl.
Also on Saturday 24th February, the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield competition took place.
Coleraine Grammar School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution at the JC Picken playing fields at Roughfort, in a game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won by 33-15.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Belfast Royal Academy, and especially DJ Creighton and, Anton, the Head Groundsman, for the use of facilities and hosting the game on such an excellent playing surface.
Meanwhile, at the Rainey Endowed School in Magherafelt, Dalriada School played Sullivan Upper School in a game the Sullivan Upper School team, with the last kick of the game, won by 13-12.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Chris Campbell, and his staff at the Rainey Endowed School, for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield final, featuring Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Sullivan Upper School, will take place at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 5th March.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate semi-final, Methodist College, Belfast played Ballyclare High School in a game the Methodist College, Belfast team won by 17-0.
Methodist College, Belfast will now play Ballymena Academy in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate.
As well as all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competition games played during the week, a number of 1stxv friendly games took place.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School Senior squad went on tour to Barcelona where two games were played against San Cugat RFC and Spartan’s Granollers RFC U18 teams.
These games signalled the end of the Carrickfergus Grammar School rugby journey for a number of Year 14 players. Included on that list is Josh Jordan, who, following a lengthy recent spell on the sidelines due to injury, made a successful return to play comeback with his try scoring exploits while on tour.
Dawson Taylor, Tyler Playfair, team captain, Ellis Branagh, vice-captain, Alex Pherson, Ellis Bell and Max Matuszewski were other players who impressed with their performances in the course of both games.
While in Barcelona the tour party had the opportunity to visit the magnificent Sagrada Familia as well as the Nou Camp Stadium where they watched the Barcelona v Granada La Liga soccer match.
In a 1stxv friendly game, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School was to have played the Virginia RFC U18 team.
However, when it became apparent the Virginia U18 team was unable to fulfil the fixture, the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team was able to look to the future and play what was, in the main, an Enniskillen Royal Grammar School U17 “Select” team against Sligo Grammar School.
The Sligo Grammar School team won this game by 33-12 with Seamus Greene and Cameron Smith each scoring a try for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team to which Tadhg Hambly added one successful conversion.
Gerard Murthagh, Ambrose Devine, Dylan McGloat and Diarmaid O’Connell, with a brace, were the Sligo Grammar School try scorers. Mark Tempany was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Larne Grammar School played Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Larne Grammar School team won by 22-12.
Charlie Patterson, Luke Farquhar and Thomas Patton scored the Larne Grammar School tries with Ethan Duncan adding two conversions as well as one penalty.
On the back of good performances from players such as Gethin Mageean and Ethan Salt, the Friends’ School, Lisburn team scored two tries through Angus Crawford and Rob Henderson. Harry Moore was successful with one conversion kick.
The Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv team played the Instonian’s Club U16 team in a game the Campbell College, Belfast team won by 43-12.
