Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 27th November 2021
On Monday 22nd November Ballyclare High School played an Ulster U18 Clubs’ Age Grade team under the floodlights at Hatrick Park, home of Rainey Old Boys’ RFC.
The game was played over 3×20 minute sessions in order to allow the rotation of as many players as possible on both teams.
The first session saw the Ballyclare High School team score three tries through Alex Darragh, who touched down twice, and Owen Warren. Callum Cochrane was successful with all three conversions.
The Ballyclare High School team scored four tries in the second period of play. Jacob Scarlett, Luke McIlwrath, Alex Darragh and Peter Gillespie were the try scorers with Alex adding the extras to three of the tries and Callum Cochrane the fourth.
The Ballyclare High School team continued with their allout attacking policy in the final session of the evening. They scored three more tries through Charlie Lloyd, Neal McCrea and Darragh Flynn. Callum Cochrane was successful with two more of his conversion kicks.
The Ulster U18 Clubs’ team got some reward for their endeavours during the game. Ethan Graham, the Monaghan RFC fullback, who played recently for the Ireland U18 Youth team against their Italian counterparts, scored an unconverted try in the closing stages of the game.
Both teams, and their coaches, would like to thank Rainey Old Boys’ RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game on the excellent floodlit pitch.
Following the outcome of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 games played on Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th and Saturday 20th November the draw for the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield has been confirmed.
Grosvenor Grammar School v Strabane Academy
Dromore High School v Banbridge Academy
Regent House School v Our Lady & St Patrick’s College, Knock
Antrim Grammar School v Foyle and Londonderry College
Bangor Grammar School v Dalriada School
Omagh Academy v Larne Grammar School
Bangor Academy v Craigavon Senior High School
Limavady Grammar School v Royal School, Dungannon
These games are scheduled to be played on/before Saturday 4th December 2021.
Following the results of the three games having been played in the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup on Saturday 20th November the draws for the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup and the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy took place on Monday 22nd November.
The results of the draws are as follows :-
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd xv Cup Round 2
Belfast Royal Academy v Bangor Grammar School
Dalriada School v Regent House School
Dromore High School v Down High School
Limavady Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn
Royal School, Dungannon v Omagh Academy
Portadown College v Rainey Endowed School
These games are to be played on/before Saturday 4th December
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy Round 1
Lurgan College v Banbridge Academy
Foyle and Londonderry College v Bye
These games are to be played on/before Saturday 18th December
On Wednesday 24th November Bangor Grammar School entertained Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Bangor Grammar School team won by 43-7.
The Friends’ School team took an early 7-0 lead when Sam Netherton ran in for a try which was converted by Alex Topping.
The Bangor Grammar school team made a great recovery from this early setback and went on to score seven tries. Bryn McCartney touched down for a brace with Josh Walker, Calum Campbell, Jack McGreevey, Ben McLean and Zane Hanna each scoring one. Calum Campbell added the conversions to three of the tries with Alex Shaw converting one try.
On the same afternoon three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup games took place. Foyle and Londonderry College 3rdxv hosted the Carndonagh Community College 1stxv and the Carndonagh Community College team won this game by 28-12.
Limavady Grammar School 3rdxv played Coleraine Grammar School 3rdxv in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 34-5.
Royal School, Armagh 4thxv played Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4thxv and it was the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that celebrated a 41-0 victory at the end of the game.
On Friday 26th November Ballymena Academy played Kirkham Grammar School, one of the leading rugby playing schools in Lancashire.
The game was played in very difficult conditions with the Kirkham Grammar school team emerging as 22-3 winners.
Tristan Ferguson converted an early penalty opportunity to give the Ballymena Academy team a 3-0 lead.
However, the Kirkham Grammar School team, with their captain, Aron Pope, leading from the front, went on to score three tries through Harry Thompson, Will Riley and Yande Mkonge. Aron Pope was successful with two conversions as well as one penalty.
Meanwhile, on the same afternoon, Banbridge Academy were due to have played Grosvenor Grammar School on the floodlit pitch at Rifle Park, home of Banbridge Rugby Football Club. Unfortunately, due to the terrible weather conditions the game was cancelled.
On Saturday 27th November there was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game played when Larne Grammar School hosted their near neighbours from Carrickfergus Grammar School.
This game, which was played in verry difficult conditions, saw the Carrickfergus Grammar School team emerge as 20-14 winners.
The game was closely contested throughout with the Carrickfergus GS team taking a 13-7 lead into the break.
The Larne GS points, in the first half, came through a try from Beni Tasnadi which was converted by Robin Wynn.
Carrickfergus GS scored their first half points through two Ethan Law penalties and a Levi Cave try which was converted by Ethan Law.
Early in the second half the Carrickfergus Grammar School team scored a try through Tom Kennedy, which was converted by Ethan Law, to extend their lead to 20-7. The Larne Grammar School team responded with a try from Jayden Martlew, which was converted by Robin Wynn, to reduce their deficit to 20-14. Despite the many attacks launched by Larne Grammar School in the final ten minutes of the game the Carrickfergus Grammar School defence held firm.
The no-side whistle sounded and it was the Carrickfergus Grammar School team that celebrated their 20-14 win and, with it, a trip to play Regent House School in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on/before Saturday 11th December.
Both teams, and their coaches, would pay tribute to the referee, Mark Hermin, for the way in which he handled the game which was played in the most difficult of overhead and underfoot conditions.
There was also one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Round 1 game played when Lurgan College 3rdxv played Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv.
Despite a spirited display from the Lurgan College team it was the more experienced Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv team that finished the game as 24-0 winners.
Some 1stxv friendly games fell foul of the inclement weather conditions but quite a few 1stxv friendly games were still played on Saturday 27th November.
Ballyclare High School played Dalriada School in a game the Ballyclare High School team recorded a comfortable 57-5 victory.
Owen Warren scored a hattrick of tries for the Ballyclare High School team as did Darragh Flynn. Peter Gillespie and Josh Laney each scored one try and there was one penalty try as well. Callum Cochrane was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
The Dalriada School team scored their unconverted try through Luke Stewart.
Belfast High School played Friends’ School, Lisburn and it was the Friends’ School team that emerged as 26-7 winners.
Alex Topping scored two tries for the Friends’ School team with Alex Murphy and Ben McBurney scoring one try each. Alex Topping capped a fine personal performance with three successful conversions as well.
Cameron Banford scored a converted try for the Belfast High School team early in the second half.
Cambridge House Grammar School hosted a Dromore High School “Select” xv in a game which saw the Dromore High School team emerge as 43-15 winners.
Roi Nelson, Matthew Evans and Luke Elliott each scored an unconverted try for the Cambridge House School team.
Alistair Wright, Ethan Mount, Max Brush, Chris McBride, Jonny Scott, Jonny Pepper and Rian Evans were the Dromore High School try scorers with Ethan Mount adding four successful conversions.
Campbell College, Belfast played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School at the Queen’s University playing fields at The Dub. This was a game in which the Campbell College team was at full strength and they went on to record a 73-5 victory.
Ollie Topping scored two tries for the Campbell College team as did Lucas Kenny. Cal Florence, Matthew Booth, Cameron Faith, Joseph Jeffrey, Zac Solomons, Dylan Parks and Flynn Longstaff each touched down for one try. Jonny McCracken was successful with nine of his conversion kicks.
Tim Harte scored the unconverted try for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team.
Both teams, and their coaches, would like to thank David Chambers, and his colleagues at Queen’s University RFC, for the use of facilities and hosting this game on the excellent pitch at The Dub.
Coleraine Grammar School played the Royal School, Dungannon team in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 44-10.
Nathan Ogborne, Benji Logan, David Milford, Harry Hughes and Matthew Beveridge each weighed in with one try for the Coleraine GS team while Rory Telfer touched down for two tries and added three conversions as well as one penalty.
The Royal School, Dungannon points came through unconverted tries from Ryan Evans and Christie Brace.
Down High School continued their recent run of good form when they played Portadown College and won the game by 42-5.
Ryan Connolly touched down for a hattrick of tries for the Down High School team with Brian Mitchell, Fionn Carey, Reuben McKibbin, Joe Dooley and Josh Sweeney each scoring one try. Joe Dooley was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
Ben Lewis scored a consolation unconverted try for the Portadown College team.
Limavady Grammar School were due to play Foyle and Londonderry College at the John Hunter Memorial Grounds, home of Limavady Rugby Football Club. However, due to inclement weather conditions, the game was postponed and has now been re-arranged for Wednesday 1st December
Methodist College, Belfast hosted Wallace High School in a game the Methodist College team won by 45-5.
The Methody team scored seven tries during the game with Chris Bradley and Harry Pratt each touching down for a brace. Lorcan Hanratty, David Armstrong and Peter O’ Hagan then touched down for one try apiece. Ben McFarlane was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
Cameron Doak scored a consolation unconverted try for the Wallace High School team.
Rainey Endowed School were due to play Omagh Academy but the game was cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions prevailing prior to kick off.
Regent House School played Belfast Royal Academy and were delighted to come away with a 12-10 victory at the end of the game.
Noah Greenald and Ryan Copeland each scored a try for the Regent House School team with Zach Campbell adding the extras to one of the tries.
Josh Manson and Henry George each touched down for an unconverted try for the Belfast Royal Academy team.
The scheduled game involving Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Royal School, Armagh did not take place.
However, a Royal Belfast Academical Institution “Select” xv played Lurgan College in a game the Belfast Inst team won by 29-14.
Freddie Clarke scored two tries for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team with Alex Place, Charlie Davidson and Will Kernohan each scoring one try. Alex Place was successful with two conversion kicks.
The Lurgan College scores came through two tries from the talented Peter Bird who added the conversions as well.
