Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 26th October 2019
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There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Group Stage game played on Wednesday 23rd October when Antrim Grammar School hosted the team from St Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock who were making their first ever appearance in the senior section of a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competition. It turned out to be a successful afternoon for the Our Lady and St Patrick’s College players who won the game by 22-17. The Antrim Grammar School team, for whom Adam Carville, Adam Pearce, Jack Maguire and Stewart Smyth all impressed with their performances, scored three tries through Jack Maguire, Adam Carville and Ryan Armstrong. Ross Mackay was successful with one conversion.
The Our Lady and St Patrick’s College team scored their points through tries from Jamie McConville, who touched down twice, and Finn Rodgers. Thomas McDevitt was successful with two conversions as well as one penalty kick.
There were six 1stxv friendly games played on Wednesday 23rd October.
Bangor Grammar School played Campbell College, Belfast in a high scoring encounter the Bangor Grammar School team won by 35-33. The Bangor Grammar School team took an early 7-0 lead when Harry McCracken touched down for a try which Angus Christie converted. The Campbell College team drew level when Jack Boal ran in for a try which was converted by Dara Gaskin. Bangor Grammar School then took a 14-7 lead when Robbie Grant touched down for a try which Angus Christie converted. Back came the Campbell College team with a try from Finlay Parkes, which was converted by Dara Gaskin, to see the score board read 14-14. On the stroke of halftime Lewis Hatty touched down for a try, converted by Angus Christie, to see the Bangor Grammar School team into a 21-14 lead at the interval.
Shortly after the restart the Campbell College team drew level once again when Arthur Johnson scored a try which Dara Gaskin converted. Three minutes later Conor Lusty ran in for a try, once again converted by Angus Christie, to give the Bangor Grammar School team a 28-21 lead. The same duo repeated that exploit four minutes later to increase the Bangor Grammar School lead to 35-21 going into the final quarter of the game The Campbell College team displayed a never say die attitude and scored two tries in the final two minutes of the game through Kyle Gill and Dara Gaskin. Dara was successful with one conversion to leave the final score board reading Bangor Grammar School 35 Campbell College, Belfast 33.
Grosvenor Grammar School hosted Ballyclare High School in a game the Ballyclare High School team won by 14-0. Following a scoreless first half Andrew Petrie and Owen Warren each ran in for a try for the Ballyclare High School team with two Mark Jackson conversion s securing the 14-0 win.
Larne Grammar School played Ballymena Academy 3rd xv in a game the Larne Grammar School team won by 17-7. Robbie Doey, Jack Withers and Steven Dickey scored the Larne Grammar School tries one of which was converted by Euan Glenn.
The Ballymena Academy points came through a try from Andrew Chesney which was converted by Sam Henry.
The Methodist College, Belfast team travelled to the Energia Stadium in Dublin where they played Rockwell College in a game the Methody team won by 36-14. The Methodist College team scored six tries in the course of the game. Harry McCartney, with two, Zach Porter, Jonny O’Kane, Louis Montgomery and Joe Dickson scored the tries to which Callum Davidson added three conversions.
A Royal Belfast Academical Institution “Select” xv played Wellington College, Belfast and recorded a substantial victory by the end of the game.
Royal School, Armagh played Omagh Academy in a game the Royal School, Armagh team won by 38-8. The Omagh Academy team took a 3-0 lead early in the game when Jake Reid converted a penalty opportunity. The Royal School, Armagh team responded with three first half tries from Sam Harrison, Sam Rainey and Matthew Monaghan, one of which was converted by Ethan McAtarsney, to take a 17-3 lead into the half time break.
Sam Rainey and Nicholas Bothwell scored early second half tries for the RS Armagh team, both of which were converted by Ethan McAtarsney, to see the home team into a 31-3 lead. An unconverted try from David Braden then reduced the Omagh Academy arrears to 31-8 but the Royal School, Armagh team secured their 38-8 victory when Jude Roberts crossed for a try which Ethan McAtarsney converted.
On Thursday 24th October Dromore High School played Portadown College at the Barban Hill venue. The Dromore High School team emerged as 13-12 winners at the end of a closely contested game. Ryan Rodgers and Jack Owens scored unconverted tries for the Dromore High School team with Luke Allison adding a penalty.
The Portadown College points came through tries from James Conn and Charlie Logan one of which was converted by Joe Orr.
On Saturday 26th October there was a heavily reduced number of schoolboy fixtures played due to the onset of the half term break.
Campbell College, Belfast played the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team in a closely contested game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won by 10-5.
Finlay Parkes touched down for an unconverted try for the Campbell College team with Ben Gallagher scoring the try for the Belfast Inst team. A Ronan Boyle conversion and penalty kick secured the 10-5 victory for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played the Foyle and Londonderry College team in a 3×25 minutes series of games which the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team eventually won by 43-20. The Enniskillen RGS points came through tries from Ryan Phair, Harry Ingram, Thom Morton, Henry Hutchinson, Ryan Daly, Devon Harron and Taine Haire. George Foster was successful with three conversions while Harry Ingram was successful with one.
The Foyle and Londonderry College team used an extended squad enabling the coaching staff to expose a number of younger players to the standard required for 1stxv rugby. All the Foyle College players stood up to the test and their endeavours were rewarded with four tries from Josh Milling, Elliott Nawn, Brendan Higgins and Eddie Campbell.
Royal School, Dungannon played Belfast Royal Academy in a game the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 33-19.
The Royal School, Dungannon points came through tries from Adam Junk, James Girvan and Adam Scott. James completed a fine personal performance with two successful conversion kicks.
The Belfast Royal Academy team scored five tries in the course of the game with Malachi Swen, Cameron Dougan, Ollie Parkes, Andrew Greer and Nick Kane touching down for one try apiece. Ryan Jameson was successful with three conversions while Ollie Parkes contributed one.
