Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 28th August 2021
On Thursday 16th August Coleraine Grammar School hosted Foyle and Londonderry College in a 3×20 minute game scenario which was well refereed by Jarvis Traynor. With both schools having players involved with Ulster Age Grade teams the opportunity was taken to play extended squads of senior players in the game.
The Coleraine Grammar School team scored three tries in the course of the run out with Matthew Beveridge touching down for two and his fellow flanker, Patrick Irwin, scoring one. Outhalf, Matthew Curry, was successful with two conversions.
The Foyle College team scored a fine individual try through Alan Thomas Mason and had good performances from players such as Chris Boyd, Alan Chambers and Jack Gamble, especially from a defensive point of view.
Both teams used upwards of 25 players over the three sessions and all involved thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
On Saturday 28th August the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team and the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team travelled to play their Munster counterparts at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin.
First up was the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team-a team that was playing their first Inter-Provincial game of the season. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team emerged from this game as deserved 22-15 winners which sets up a potential PWC IRFU Schools’ Inter-Provincial decider when the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team hosts Leinster Schools at the Newforge Arena on Saturday 4th September.
The overhead weather conditions at the IRFU HPC, Blanchardstown, Dublin were very warm with temperatures at 23 degrees as the game kicked off. The Munster team took an early 5-0 lead when Jacob Sheehan scored an unconverted try in the corner having taken full advantage of an Ulster handling error. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team responded in a very positive manner and No 8, Flynn Longstaff, punished Munster indecision to pick up and score from 5m out. Tristan Ferguson added the extras to see the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team into a 7-5 lead. Midway through the first period of play Munster Schools forced the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ pack to concede a scrum penalty. The Munster kicker, Gavin Rowsome, converted the penalty kick from 45m to see his team into an 8-7 lead-a lead they held until the interval.
Shortly after the restart the Munster lead was increased to 15-7 when they scored a try through Aidan Ryan to which Gavin Rowsome added the conversion. After this setback the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team responded positively with their captain, Patrick Fullarton-Healey, leading the way. Following a successful lineout Jacob Boyd made a telling break and found James Anderson running a great line of support on his shoulder. A clever off-load paved the way for James to run in for the try. Another successful Tristan Ferguson conversion saw the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ deficit reduced to 14-15. Further Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ pressure saw Josh Stevens, their hard-working flanker, run in for the touchdown following a strong pick and go. The try was unconverted but the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team now had a 19-15 lead. In the final few minutes of the game the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team secured their 22-15 victory when scrum half, Jonny McCracken, was successful with a penalty kick opportunity.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team.
1. Reece Braden (Omagh Academy) 2. Jake Bowden (Methodist College, Belfast,3. Jacob Boyd (Royal Belfast Academical Institution) 4. Joe Hopes (Campbell College, Belfast) 5. Patrick Fullarton-Healey (Captain) (Methodist College, Belfast) 6. James Anderson (Royal School, Armagh) 7. Josh Stevens (Methodist College, Belfast) 8. Flynn Longstaff (Campbell College, Belfast)
9. Jonny McCracken (Campbell College, Belfast) 10. Tristan Ferguson (Cambridge House Grammar School) 11. Lukas Kenny (Campbell College, Belfast) 12. Matthew Booth (Campbell College, Belfast) 13. Ryan Stewart (Royal Belfast Academical Institution) 14. Harry Hughes (Coleraine Grammar School) 15. Conor Drain (Ballymena Academy)
16. Sam Anderson (Royal School, Armagh) 17. Chris Massey (Campbell College, Belfast) 18. Josh Hanna (Wallace High School) 19. Andrew Chesney (Ballymena Academy) 20. Callum Simms (Royal Belfast Academical Institution) 21. Ben McFarlane (Methodist College, Belfast) 22. Tom Crowther (Campbell College, Belfast 23. Alex McBurney (Ballymena Academy) 24. Ben King (Ballymena Academy)
Manager-Gareth Beggs Head Coach-Jonathan Gillespie Assistant Coaches-Jonathan Graham/ Kyle McCall Logistics/Kit Manager=Tarek Qutteineh Athletic Development- Josh McIlroy Physio-Jonny Crowe Doctor-Ian Kennedy Video Analyst -James Cromie Nutritionist-Anne-Marie Mulholland
The mid-afternoon game saw the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Club team take to the stage and they went into this game in a very confident frame of mind having recorded an impressive 34-24 win in their last outing against the Connacht Clubs’ team the previous week.
The Ulster Carpet’s Clubs’ U18 team recorded a hard earned but, ultimately, deserved victory winning their game against the Munster U18 Clubs’ team by 17-12. This was another game played in glorious weather conditions at the IRFU HPC and now sets the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team up with a potential PWC IRFU Age Grade Inter-Provincial decider when they host the Leinster Clubs’ U18 team at the Newforge Arena on Saturday 4th September.
After an initially tentative opening to the game Ben Gibson continued with his recent run of good form when he touched down for an unconverted try to see the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team into a 5-0 lead. Almost immediately the Munster Clubs’ team responded with a try from Conall Doyle, which was converted by Jimi Fenton, to see his team into a 7-5 lead. Just after the first water break fullback, Ethan Graham, used his devastating pace to good effect when he won the foot rush, following a clever kick, to touch down for an unconverted try which gave the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team a 10-7 lead-a lead they held until the break.
Both teams were tentative in their play in the opening phases of the second half. However, midway through the half Clark Logan cleverly spotted a gap in the Munster defence and took full advantage to run in for a try. Ben Gibson added to his growing reputation with a fine conversion kick to see the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team into a 17-7 lead going into the final quarter of the game. With little time remaining the Munster team scored their second try of the game through Frankie Gillane but the no-side whistle sounded shortly afterwards leaving the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team to celebrate their 17-12 victory.
Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team
1 Nathan Ogborne Coleraine Grammar School/Ballymoney RFC 2 Sam Green Malone RFC 3 Tom McAllister Ballyclare High School/Ballyclare RFC 4 Luke McIlwrath Ballyclare High School/Ballyclare RFC 5 Mark Lee Rainey RFC 6 Jamie Jackson Portadown College/Portadown RFC 7 James Spence Ballyclare High School/Ballyclare RFC 8 James McKillop Foyle and Londonderry College/City of Derry RFC
9 Oliver Smyth Belfast Royal Academy/Academy RFC 10 Ben Gibson Bangor Grammar School/Bangor RFC 11 Nathan Hook Dromore High School/Dromore RFC 12 Michael Burnett City of Armagh RFC (Captain) 13 James Girvan Royal School, Dungannon/Dungannon RFC 14 Zach Scarlett Ballyclare High School/Ballyclare RFC 15 Ethan Graham Monaghan RFC
Replacements:
16 James McCammon Royal School, Dungannon/Dungannon RFC 17 Blake McClean Royal Belfast Academical Institution 18 Stephen Callaghan Inishowen RFC 19 Ruairi Doyle Friends’ School, Lisburn/Lisburn RFC 20 Tom Muldrew Sullivan Upper School/Malone RFC 21 Clark Logan Coleraine Grammar School/Coleraine RFC 22 Jordan McCauley Coleraine Grammar School /Ballymoney RFC 23 Leon Thornton Malone RFC
Manager-Eamon McCormick Coach-Darryl Maxwell Assistant Coach-Nick Stirling Athletic Development-Josh McIlroy Doctor-Ian Kennedy Physio-Jonny Crowe Video Analyst-James Cromie Kit/Logistics-Bob Matson
The last of the 2021/22 PWC IRFU Age Grade Inter Provincial games, involving the Ulster Age Grade teams, will take place at the Newforge Arena on Saturday 4th September when the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team, the Ulster Carpet’s U18 Clubs’ team and the Ulster U19 team will host their Leinster counterparts. The action-packed afternoon will kick off at 1-00pm with the U19 team in action, followed by the Clubs’ team in the mid-afternoon slot and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team will round off the action at 5-00pm.
