Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 26th February 2022
On Wednesday 16th February Regent House School and Royal School, Armagh played their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield 1/4 Final game.
The game was played in atrocious conditions but the Royal School, Armagh team overcame the conditions with relative ease and won the game by a comfortable 25-3 margin.
Zach Campbell converted a penalty opportunity for the Regent House School team.
The Royal School, Armagh team made good use of the territory and possession they controlled for the majority of the game. They scored four tries through Jack Steenson, Luke McCall, James Campbell and Harry Davey. Matthew Monaghan added the extras to one of the tries and converted a penalty goal opportunity.
As winners, the Royal School, Armagh team will now play Coleraine Grammar School at home on/before Saturday 26th February in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield.
On Saturday 19th February one game involving schoolboy players took place when a Ballymena Academy xv played an Antrim Grammar School U17 team. Both schools used extended squads and every player involved played for at least half a game. The emphasis was on fun and enjoyment with all the players involved benefitting greatly from the experience.
On Tuesday 22nd February two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Finals took place.
At the Royal School, Dungannon Dromore High School Medallion and Omagh Academy Medallion met in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy competition.
Dromore High School, inspired by the performances of players such as Ethan McCutcheon, Robert Russell, Jonny Beckett and Luke Dillon, won the game by 24-14.
In a game described as being an excellent advertisement for schoolboy rugby at Medallion level, the Omagh Academy team had good performances from players such as Samuel Cochrane. Jonathan Doak, Harry McIlwaine, and Andrew King.
Following the game Richard Clingan, Chairman of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Committee, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy to AJ Morton, captain of the victorious Dromore High School team.
Richard congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy and playing so well in the final. He thanked the referee, Teddy Sloan, and his team of officials, for their control of the game, Royal School, Dungannon for hosting the game, especially the ground staff who had prepared the WK Armstrong pitch so well, and the Danske Bank for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions.
At Friends’ School, Lisburn Royal School, Armagh 2ndxv and Coleraine Grammar School 2ndxv met in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate competition.
This game turned out to be a very close encounter from which the Royal School, Armagh team emerged as 15-14 winners.
The Royal School, Armagh points came through tries from David Allen and Ashton Clarke. Josh Watterson added the extras to one of the tries and became the “Hero of the Hour” for the Royal School, Armagh supporters with his successful final minute penalty to win the game.
The Coleraine Grammar School team scored their points through three Matthew Curry penalties as well as one try from Cormac Carr.
Following the game Evan Morton, representing the Ulster Branch of the IRFU, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate to David Eshagian, captain of the victorious Royal School, Armagh team.
Evan congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate and playing so well in the final. He thanked the referee, Kevin Murnaghan, and his team of officials, for their control of the game, Friends’ School, Lisburn, through Ivor Monaghan for hosting the game on such a wonderful playing surface and the Danske Bank for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions.
On Wednesday 23rd February Ballymena Academy hosted the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl competition when Banbridge Academy played Limavady Grammar School.
This game was played in front of a large group of enthusiastic supporters who saw the Banbridge Academy team record a hard -earned 19-10 victory.
The Banbridge Academy scores came through tries from the very impressive Ryan Hanna, Jonathan Howard and Alfie Geoghegan. Andrew Jackson added the extras to two of the tries. Calum Little and Noah Bell contributed greatly to the Banbridge Academy performance.
The Limavady Grammar School team controlled both territory and possession for long periods in the second half. They got some reward for their endeavours with a try from James Rhodes and a conversion and penalty from the talented James Laird.
Following the game John Andrews, Head of Boys’ Physical Education and Director of Rugby at Ballymena Academy, and current organiser of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 and Medallion Shield competitions, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl to Andrew Jackson, captain of the winning Banbridge Academy team.
John congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl and playing so well in the final. John thanked the referee, Ted Edwards, and his team of officials, for their control of the game, his Principal, Mr Stephen Black, colleagues and the ground staff, from Ballymena Academy for hosting the game and the Danske Bank for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions.
On the same afternoon at Campbell College, Belfast the Campbell College 3rdxv played the Campbell College 4thxv in the much delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate semi-final game.
The Campbell College 3rdxv won the game by 50- 14 and will now play Ballyclare High School in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate final on Saturday 26th.
On Saturday 26th February three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ finals, as well as two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield semi-finals, two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate semi-finals and two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield semi-finals, took place at various venues-both neutral and home.
At Osborne Park, home of Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Methodist College, Belfast 2ndxv and Campbell College, Belfast 2ndxv played in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup.
The Methodist College, Belfast 2ndxv team won the game by 12-0 with two tries from Lewis Doherty and one conversion from Jack Tindall.
Following the game Philip Gregg, Senior Vice President of the Ulster Branch of the IRFU, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup to Johnny Riddell, the captain of the winning Methodist College, Belfast team.
Philip congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup and playing so well in the final. He thanked the referee, Lee Evans, and his team of officials, for their control of the game, Royal Belfast Academical Institution for hosting the game and the Danske Bank for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Meanwhile, at Cambridge House Grammar School, Limavady Grammar School 2ndxv and Dromore High School 2ndxv met in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy competition.
The Dromore High School team had built up a 7-0 lead by the interval before going on to win the game by 20-0.
Keenan Cochrane scored the first half try to which Lewis Bond added the extras. A second half try from Jack Allen, alongside one Lewis Bond conversion, as well as two successful penalties, secured the 20-0 win for the Dromore High School team.
Following the game Paul Hart, Chairman of the Ulster Youth Committee, representing the Ulster Branch of the IRFU, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy to Lewis Bond, captain of the victorious Dromore High School 2ndxv team.
Paul congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy and playing so well in the final. He thanked the referee, Terry Cooke, and his team of officials, for their control of the game, Cambridge House Grammar School for hosting the game and the Danske Bank for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions.
At the JC Picken Playing Fields at Roughfort, Ballyclare High School 3rdxv and Campbell College, Belfast 3rdxv played in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate competition.
The Campbell College, Belfast 3rdxv won the game by 35-0.
Following the game Terry McCracken, representing the Ulster Branch of the IRFU, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate to James Franklin Woodridge, captain of the winning Campbell College, Belfast team.
Terry congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate and playing so well in the final. He thanked the referee, Andrew Pyper, and his team of officials, for their control of the game, Belfast Royal Academy, and especially Anton and his ground staff, for hosting the game and the Danske Bank for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions.
In the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Campbell College, Belfast on the Pirrie Park Paddock Pitch.
Following a hard-fought game the Campbell College, Belfast team emerged as deserved 15-7 winners.
The second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield semi-final took place at Friends’ School, Lisburn where Ballymena Academy played Royal School, Armagh.
This game proved to be another excellent advertisement for the standard of play at Medallion level and was won by the Ballymena Academy team by 24-19.
Among the large group of enthusiastic supporters watching this game was Wayne Mitchell, National NTS & Talent ID Manager from the Irish Rugby Football Union. Wayne had been in Cork the previous evening watching the Ireland U20 team defeating Italy in the U20 Six Nations Tournament and felt the talent on display for both teams in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield semi-final game was well worth the journey.
This was the second game Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competition game to be played on the Friends’ School, Lisburn 1stxv pitch this week. A special mention should be made of the work done by Martin Brolly and his assistant groundsman, Philip McCutcheon, in preparing the pitch so well for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate final game as well as this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield semi-final game.
The final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield will take place at Queen’s University RFC on Tuesday 8th March at 2-30pm.
In the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Down High School played Sullivan Upper School.
The Sullivan Upper School team won the game with a comprehensive 38-0 victory.
Rainey Endowed School entertained Larne Grammar School and won the closely contested game by 9-7.
The final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate competition will be played at a venue, date and time to be confirmed.
In the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield competition Royal School, Dungannon hosted Down High School and won the game by 27-22.
Alfie Cameron scored two tries for the Royal School, Dungannon team with Reuben Gibson and Alex Kennedy each touching down for one try. Joshua Clarke was successful with two conversions as well as one penalty.
The Down High School points came through tries from Cameron McCaughey, Ross McKee and Jonathan Frazer. Rhodri Philips added the extras to two of the tries as well as converting one penalty.
Royal School, Armagh entertained Coleraine Grammar School and, like the final stages of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate final played earlier in the week, it was the Royal School, Armagh team that emerged victorious when they converted a last- minute penalty to win the game-this time by 20-18.
The Royal School, Armagh team scored three tries through Harry Davey, James Campbell and Finn Fehnert. Matthew Monaghan converted one try and then claimed “Hero of the Hour” status with his final kick of the game penalty to secure the 20-18 victory.
The Coleraine Grammar School team played some superb rugby and scored two tries through Rory Telfer and Mark Cusick. Rory was also successful with one conversion and two penalty kicks.
The final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield competition will be played at Queen’s University RFC on Thursday 10th March at 2-30pm.
There was one friendly 1stxv game played on Saturday 26th February when Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Larne Grammar School.
The Friends’ School team won the game by 39-0 with Alex Murphy scoring two tries and Samuel Dillon, Alex Topping, Ben Martin, Sam McKenzie and Finlay Crawford each scoring one try. Paddy Moore and Ben Topping each added the extras to one try.
