Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 2nd September 2023.
The new Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ season got underway when Foyle and Londonderry College hosted Ballyclare High School on Wednesday 30th August.
Both teams used extended squads of players during the 3×20 minute sessions giving the coaches the opportunity to take stock at the start of what will be a busy season.
The end score resulted in a 22-22 draw with both teams scoring four tries, with one successful conversion, over the course of the three sessions.
The Foyle and Londonderry College tries came through James Kelly, who scored two, Cahir McKay, and Jack Brady. Thomas Williamson added one successful conversion.
The Ballyclare High School tries were scored by Daniel Graham, Isaac Shiels, who scored a brace, and Josh McColgan. Isaac completed a fine personal performance with one successful conversion.
Despite the fact that the Ulster Age Grade Inter-Provincial games, with quite a few schoolboy players involved, were being played over the weekend, a number of schoolboy fixtures took place.
On Saturday 2nd September the Annual Grosvenor Grammar School IH Graham Trophy Tournament took place, at the Cameronian Drive venue, when Grosvenor Grammar School hosted teams from Antrim Grammar School, Banbridge Academy and Rainey Endowed School.
Following a morning of enjoyable early season blitz tournament rugby, the Banbridge Academy team, with Jack Shaw among a number of impressive Banbridge players, emerged as undefeated winners.
Noah Haughey scored the only try of their game against Rainey Endowed School to ensure a 5-0 win.
Next up the Banbridge Academy team recorded a 21-0 win against Antrim Grammar School. Darragh Knox, Jack Shaw and Harry Wan scored their tries with Andrew Jackson adding two conversions and Harry Wan being successful with one.
In the final game Banbridge Academy won by 14-0 against the host team from Grosvenor Grammar School. Joey Mackrell and Daniel Hutchinson scored the tries with Andrew Jackson successfully adding both conversions.
The proceedings finished when Dr Frances Vassey, Principal of Grosvenor Grammar School, presented the Ian H Graham Trophy to Daniel Hutchinson, captain of the victorious Banbridge Academy team.
On the same morning a number of early season friendly games took place.
Ballymena Academy played Ballyclare High School in a 3×20 minute session game which was enjoyed by all the players involved.
The Ballymena Academy team emerged as 33-0 winners and scored five tries in the process.
Ben Millar ran in for a hattrick of tries with Ben Neely and Stevie Bristow each scoring one try. Robbie Coleman was successful with four conversion kicks.
Coleraine Grammar School played Foyle and Londonderry College and emerged from this high scoring game as deserved 38-22 winners.
The Coleraine Grammar School coach, with Ashley Blair now in charge, scored six tries during the game.
James McMillan put on a Man of the Match performance with three tries and four conversions. Myles Johnston ran in for a brace of tries with Max Watson touching down for the sixth try.
The Foyle College points, all scored in the final quarter, came through tries from Cahir McKay, Robbie Patterson, Darwin Nutt as well as one penalty try.
Dalriada School hosted Limavady Grammar School and won the game by 33-7.
Matthew Fox touched down for two tries with Zach Dunn, Josh Nicholl, Angus Graham and Ben Stewart touching down for one try apiece. Gabriel Stubbs-Carton and Paddy Cramsie each added one successful conversion.
The Limavady Grammar School points came through a try from Odhran Clenaghan which was converted by Cooper McCausland.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Omagh Academy in a “Derby” game from which the Enniskillen RGS team emerged as 31-24 winners.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored five tries through James Trotter, Jamie Morrow, Andrew Martin, Jake Woods and Cameron Smith. Tadhg Hambly added three successful conversions.
The Omagh Academy team, with 1stxv debutant players, Lewis Henderson, Jack Keys, Andrew King, Adam McClintock, Sam Harper, Matthew Brady, Eoin McCusker, Andrew Beggs and Matthew McClung on board, gave a very good account of themselves throughout the game.
They opened their account with a Samuel Busby penalty. This was followed by tries from Samuel Beattie and Lewis Henderson with Samual Busby adding both conversions. They finished the game strongly with Samuel Beattie touching down for his second try of the game, following an intercept, and Samuel Busby adding the extras.
Friends’ School, Lisburn played Bangor Grammar School in a very closely contested encounter which the Bangor Grammar School team won by 14-12.
The Friends’ School team scored two tries through scrum half, Gethin Mageean, and exciting outside back, Ethan Salt. Samuel Dillon was successful with one conversion.
The Bangor Grammar School team scored tries through Noah Courtney Gardner and Zak Cummings. Adam Bickerstaff was successful with both conversion kicks.
Regent House School recorded an impressive 31-10 result against Down High School.
The Regent House School points came through tries from Daniel Moore, Lewis Robinson, Matthew Callaghan, James Ward and Nathan Bell. Josh Colville was successful with three conversion kicks.
The Down High school team score two unconverted tries through Jonny Russell and Lewis Connolly.
Royal School, Armagh played Dromore High School and recorded an impressive 51-8 win against the Dromore High School team.
Archie Johnston, Carlton Quinn, and Zakir Majid each scored a brace of tries for the RS Armagh team with Thomas Blackhurst, Kai Sterritt and Cameron Dale each touching down for one try. Thomas Lowey added two successful conversions with Archie Johnston adding one.
The Dromore High School points came through a try from Livai Naga and a penalty from Daniel Ennis-McManus.
