Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 26th September 2020
Following the U17 Development Training game some of the Wallace High School senior squad played against their Royal School, Armagh counterparts on Saturday 19th September, it was the full Wallace High School 1stxv that entertained the full Royal School, Armagh team on Saturday 26th September. At the end of an exciting game it was the Wallace High School team that emerged as 28-5 winners.
The Wallace High School team had built up a 14-0 lead by the interval with tries from Finn Rankin and Scott Wilson, both of which were converted by Harvey Patterson.
Further Wallace dominance in the second half enabled Scott Wilson to complete his hat trick of tries with Harvey Patterson adding two more conversions.
The Royal School, Armagh team displayed some great skills in the course of the game and an unconverted consolation try from Matthew Magowan ensured the final scoreboard read Wallace High School 28 Royal School, Armagh 5.
At 2ndxv level the Wallace High School team lost by 18-12 against the Royal School, Armagh 2ndxv.
At Medallion level the Wallace High School team won by 36-0 against the Royal School, Armagh Medallion team. The Wallace High School points came through tries from Jack Doherty, who touched down twice, Quinn Armstrong, Harry Tubman, team captain, Daniel Hearne and Harry Gormley. Lewis Stevenson was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Meanwhile, at the Osborne Park venue in Belfast, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution senior squad had a run out against the Ballymena Academy senior squad. There were new coaches involved with both teams with former Leinster player and Italian International, Ian McKinley, assisting the experienced John Andrews with the Ballymena Academy squad and Jamie Kirk, the recently appointed Directory of Rugby at Belfast Inst, working with the Belfast Inst squad.
The game was played over the course of four 15 minute quarters which provided the coaching staff the opportunity to use extended squads of players.
Despite there being no scores in the course of the first two quarters it was the Ballymena Academy squad that emerged as deserved 31-7 winners.
The first of the Ballymena Academy points came in the 3rd quarter came when, following a lineout on the Belfast Inst 10m line, clever play from Josh Drain, and a strong run from Conor Drain, presented Tim Bailie with the opportunity to finish things off with an unconverted try to give the Ballymena Academy team a 5-0 lead.
The final quarter of the game saw the Ballymena Academy team finish with a flourish of four tries. The first one came from Conor Drain who touched down for an unconverted try to increase the Ballymena Academy lead to 10-0. Adam Lamont and Andrew Lawlor then gained good ground with the ball in hand which led to a Richard Mallon try. Ross McKay added the conversion to see his team into a 17-0 lead. The hard working Harry Andrews then touched down for a try, to which Ross McKay added the extras, to increase the Ballymena Academy lead to 24-0.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team then got some reward for their endeavours when Paddy Eames touched down for a converted try.
The final try of the game came when Richard Mallon took advantage of an excellent cross field kick pass from Ross McKay to touch down for his second try of the game. Ross McKay added the conversion to secure the 31-7 victory for the Ballymena Academy team.
Meanwhile in Ballymena the Ballymena Academy Medallion team recorded an impressive 26-0 victory against their Royal Belfast Academical Institution counterparts. Deon Fleming, Callum Irvine, Josh Harvey and Jonny Wylie each scored a try for the Ballymena Academy Medallion team with Jonny’s try getting the “Try of the Match” Award. Ali Carson added two conversions with Robbie Coleman adding one conversion.
At the recently refurbished Campsie Playing fields in Omagh, the Omagh Academy senior players took part in an internal development game, excellently refereed by Aubrey Kerrigan, which proved useful for all the players and coaches involved.
The senior players at Omagh Academy had been working hard on their pre-season training since early August and, having all fulfilled the Return to Play protocols, were delighted to get into full game mode once again.
With a good mixture of both youth and experience across both the Omagh Academy navy and white teams the game started in a somewhat error strewn way. Mistakes were evident with new combinations involved and all the players adjusting to the match intensity of the game. A number of Year 12 players stepped up to the mark with Ben Henry, Oscar Murphy, Andrew Johnston and Joe Harpur all impressing with their performances. With both team settling eventually into the game it was the team in navy that begin to get the upper hand. Following a lineout in which ball was secured by Joe Duff, the ball was moved quickly across the backline and only an outstanding tackle from Alex Colhoun prevented Aaron Milligan from scoring the opening try of the game.
The second session of play saw an improvement in the skill level on display and more structure coming into the game. Andrew Johnston and Jake Reid, the respective out halves, started to ensure attacking opportunities arose for their teams. The first tr5y of the morning came from Joshua Kyle who created great space for himself before touching down for the try. Jake Reid added the conversion to give the navy team a 7-0 lead.
The final third of the game saw the Omagh Academy 1stxv “Select” play the Omagh Academy 2ndxv “Select” and this turned out to be an intriguing encounter. Alex Colhoun scored a try, which Andrew Johnston converted, to give the 2ndxv “Select” a 7-0 lead. This seemed to galvanize their more illustrious opposition into action and the experienced players such as David and Reece Braden, Matthew Keys, Joel Smyth, Joshua Kyle and Jake Reid all rose to the fore with their displays. Jake was at the centre of all that was good for his team and they went on to run in four unanswered tries through David Braden, Joel Smyth, Joshua Kyle and Jake Reid. Jake was successful with all four conversions to cap a fine personal display.
In Dromore a similar game took place at the Barban Hill venue when the senior players from Dromore High School got their first run out of the new season. Under the watchful eyes of coaches, Josh Pentland and Gareth Bronte, the senior players from Dromore High School played out what could only be described as an intriguing game which the more experienced of the two sides won by 17-12.
The game was refereed by Dan Carson who ensured both teams had the opportunity to express themselves with the ball in hand. Max Brush and Xander Lowham each scored a try for their respective teams in the course of the first half and conversions from Luke Allison and Nathan Hook saw the teams turn around at the interval with the scoreboard reading 7-7.
The Dromore High School 1stxv captain for the 20/21 season, Lewis Elliott, and Connor Bradfield, each scored an unconverted try to see their team into a 17-7 lead. The final try of the game came from Taylor Beacom-Hurle which ensured the final score was 17-12 in favour of the more experienced Dromore High School team.
All the players involved in the game were delighted to get some game time at this stage of the season and they are looking forward to their game next week when they will entertain the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Regent House School senior rugby players played out their second internal game of the season with the Regent House team in black recording a 52-12 victory against the Regent House team in red.
Cameron Gazzard, with a hat trick of tries, Glen Smyth with a brace of tries, Curtis Ewing, Zach Campbell and Adam McCracken were the try scorers for the Regent House team in black. Six conversions from Zach Campbell secured their fifty two points.
For the Regent House School team in red, which at one stage in the proceedings had a 12-5 lead, Adam Finlay and Andy Brown scored their tries, one of which was converted by Ryan McPeake.
