Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 30th September 2023.
As well as a series of 1stxv games scheduled to have been played during the week, and on Saturday 30th September, the next series of games in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Shield and Plate competitions took place.
However, the prevailing weather conditions on Wednesday 27th saw a number of these games either cancelled or postponed.
On Wednesday 27th September two games took place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Group A when Wallace High School, the current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup, played Ballymena Academy and Methodist College, Belfast played Dromore High School.
The Wallace High School team maintained a strong grip on the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup following their hard earned 12-0 victory against Ballymena Academy.
Meanwhile, at Pirrie Park the Methodist College U16 team lost by 28-20 to a very competent Dromore High School U16 team.
In Group B of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup the games involving Belfast Royal Academy and Royal Belfast Academical Institution, and Sullivan Upper School and Campbell College, Belfast, fell victim to the prevailing weather conditions on Wednesday 27th.
The game involving Belfast Royal Academy and Royal Belfast Academical Institution was re-scheduled to be played on Thursday 28th September.
The game involving Sullivan Upper School and Campbell College, Belfast was re-scheduled to be played on Friday 29th September.
In Group A of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield the Rainey Endowed School U16 team was to have entertained the Regent House School U16 team. Unfortunately, this game fell victim to the weather conditions as well. This game was re-scheduled to be played on Thursday 28th September.
In Group B of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield the Dalriada School U16 team was to have played the Ballyclare High School U16 team. This game was re-scheduled to be played on Thursday 28th September.
In the same group the game involving Omagh Academy and Limavady Grammar School was rescheduled for Saturday 30th September.
At the same time the game involving Omagh Academy 1stxv and Strabane Academy 1stxv was cancelled.
The scheduled game involving Wellington College, Belfast and a Royal Belfast Academical Institution “Select” xv also fell victim to the weather conditions.
Later that evening two Foyle and Londonderry College teams travelled to play Coleraine RFC at U18 and U14 levels.
The Coleraine RFC U18 team defeated the Foyle College U18 team, which comprised of a number of extended Senior Squad members, by 18-0.
Despite losing a very competitive game by 14-12, the Foyle College U14 team played very well and enjoyed particularly the experience of playing under the floodlights at the Lodge Road venue.
The Foyle College players and staff would like to thank Coleraine RFC for the opportunity to play under lights and for the hospitality provided post-match.
Three of the previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Competition games were played on Thursday 28th September.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Group B, the Belfast Royal Academy U16 team played the Royal Belfast Academical Institution U16 team. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won the game by 40-19.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield Group A game, the Rainey Endowed School U16 team defeated the Regent House School U16 team by 57-17.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield Group B game the Dalriada School U16 team hosted the Ballyclare High School U16 team in a game the Ballyclare High School U16 team won by 35-7.
Also on Thursday 28th September, Bangor Academy hosted Foyle College in their first Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate game.
The Bangor Academy team emerged as 31-29 winners at the end of this high scoring game.
Lurgan College will now host Bangor Academy in the final game of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate.
On Friday 29th September Methodist College, Belfast travelled to Lancashire where they played Kirkham Grammar School, finalists in the National Cup U18 Final back in March, and one of the top rugby playing private schools in England.
The Kirkham Grammar School team lived up to their reputation and recorded a 52-12 victory.
The Kirkham Grammar School team scored eight tries in the course of the game. Ollie Davis touched down for two with Oscar Considine, Seb Kelly, Harry Reay, Morgan Dryhurst-Jones, Cian Jackson and Willis Gut scoring one try apiece. Ollie Davis added six successful conversions with David Hulse adding one.
The Methodist College team was awarded a penalty try and scored an unconverted try through Joe Thompson.
The Kirkham Grammar School team will travel to play Ballymena Academy in November. Their coach, Jonny Roddam, is looking forward to returning to Northern Ireland. As a Lancashire Schools’ hooker, back in the late nineties, Jonny played against Ulster Schools’ for the Atkins Cup at Armagh RFC. His opposite number in that game was one Rory Best!
On the same afternoon the previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Group B game, featuring the Sullivan Upper School U16 team and the Campbell College, Belfast U16 team, was played. The Campbell College, Belfast U16 team won the game by 40-0.
On Saturday 30th September, as well as one previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield Group B game, a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1stxv games took place.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield Group B Omagh Academy hosted Limavady Grammar School in a game the Omagh Academy team won by 15-8.
At 1stxv level Ballyclare High School played Foyle and Londonderry College and won the game by 24-19.
The Ballyclare High School scored four tries through Isaac Shields, who ran in for two, Aaron Beattie and Jude Wilson. Harry Thompson was successful with two of his conversions.
The Foyle College points came through a brace of tries from James Kelly, one try from Markus Smith and two conversions from Darwyn Nutt.
Banbridge Academy hosted Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and won the game by 21-7.
The Banbridge Academy team had built up a 7-0 lead by the interval with a try from Luke Charman which was converted by Andrew Jackson.
Early in the second half the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team levelled the scores at 7-7 when Cameron Smith ran in for a try which was converted by Tadhg Hambley.
On the back of some great work from Jonny McCrum, the Banbridge Academy team scored two further tries through Adam Logan and Ryan Hanna. Two more conversions from Andrew Jackson secured the 21-7 victory for the Banbridge Academy team.
Bangor Grammar School played Belfast High School and recorded a comfortable 55-23 victory.
Rory Fulton and Noah Courtney Gardner each scored two tries with Bryn Watson, Cal Banyard, Jack McGreevy, Frazer Fulton and Ryan Gowdy running in for one try apiece. Adam Bickerstaff added five successful conversion kicks.
Belfast High School scored three tries through Joey Ashby, Ben Gardner and Lucas Thompson with Archie Cruickshank adding two penalty kicks as well as one conversion.
It was a case of “One foot in both camps” when Campbell College, Belfast hosted Blackrock College, Dublin.
John Creighton, current Games Master at Blackrock College, made a successful return to his Alma Mater, and previous place of employment, when he witnessed his charges from Blackrock College record a hard earned but, ultimately, well-deserved 35-15 victory.
James McConnell and Tayo Olusayna each scored a try for the Campbell College team with Henry Ralston weighing in with one conversion and one penalty.
The Blackrock College team scored five tries through Niall Smyth, Niall O’Shaughnessy, Johnny O’Sullivan, who scored twice, and Paddy Moore. Johnny was successful with all five of his conversion kicks.
Carrickfergus Grammar School played Lurgan College and won the game by 17-12.
Justin Irwin, Jacob Craig and Ellis Bell scored the Carrickfergus Grammar School tries with Ellis Branagh adding one conversion.
The Lurgan College points came through an unconverted try from Adam Ewart and a try from Craig Hibble which was converted by Ben Maxwell.
Coleraine Grammar School hosted Ballymena Academy in a game the Ballymena Academy team won by 43-7.
Joel Madden scored the Coleraine Grammar School try which was converted by the impressive Clark Logan.
The Ballymena Academy team scored seven tries with Reuben Allen and Conor McKenna each scoring two and Steve Bristow, Callum Mustoe and James McIlroy each scoring one try. Robbie Coleman added three conversions with Reuben Allen adding one.
Friends’ School, Lisburn played Larne Grammar School and had to work hard for their 22-14 victory.
The Friends’ School team scored three tries through Ethan Salt, Rob Henerson and Ryley Murphy. Ross Glover added two successful conversions as well as one successful penalty.
The Larne Grammar School team touched down twice with tries from Charlie Patterson and Daniel Halliday with Ethan Duncan adding two successful conversions.
Grosvenor Grammar School played Cambridge House Grammar School in a game the Cambridge House Grammar School team won by 31-5.
The Grosvenor Grammar School points came through an unconverted try from Conor Allen.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team ran in five tries through Justin Mark, Josh Dobbin, Jamie Burrell, Craig Galloway and Paddy Roberts. Paddy capped a fine personal performance with three successful conversions.
Methodist College, Belfast played a “Senior Select” team against Down High School and won the game by 15-12.
Methody props, Jacob Lewis and Luca Vericat, each scored one try with Lucas Curran adding one conversion as well as one penalty.
The Down High School points came through a brace of tries from Ryan Connolly, one of which was converted by Josh McCaughey.
Portadown College hosted Rainey Endowed School in the annual Vinny Doyle Memorial Cup and, with their 24-17 win, the Vinny Doyle Memorial Cup will remain in the Rainey Endowed School Trophy Cabinet.
The Portadown College team scored their points with tries from Jack Todd, who ran in for two, and their energetic scrum half, Danny Guy. Danny was also successful with one conversion kick.
The Rainey Endowed School maintained their recent run of good form and scored three tries, three conversions and one penalty in the process.
Steffan Lloyd Evans, Billy Allen and Tom Pitts scored the tries with Owen O’Kane adding all three conversions as well as one penalty.
Regent House School played Dromore High School and impressed in the course of their 54-14 victory.
Evan McGonigle, Nathan Bell, Matt McBride, Tom Bell, Nathan Hamilton, with two, Ethan Spratt and Sam McClements were the Regent House School try scorers. Evan McGonigle had a fine morning off the tee with seven successful conversions.
The Dromore High School team contributed much to the game with their committed performance. They got some reward for their endeavours when Josh Brown and Macauley McCandless-Woodside each scored one try with Daniel Ennis-McMannus successfully adding both conversions.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution travelled to Dublin 6 where they played Terenure College in a game the Terenure College team recorded an impressive 56-5 win.
Josh Mooney, Michael Kennedy, with two, Paddy Curry, Elliot Mallon, Mike Murphy, Jamie Colman and Lorcan Fiery scored the Terenure College tries with Caspar Gabriel adding successfully all eight conversions.
Ben McCausland scored a consolation unconverted try for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
Before meeting up with their hosts in Royal School, Armagh the Crescent Comprehensive College team, with the experienced Chris Cullinan in charge, used the game as an opportunity to travel up from Limerick two days prior to the game.
They held a pre-match training session at Newforge Country Club, where they were welcomed by the Newforge CEO, Alistair Magowan. The squad then took an historical tour of Belfast and finished their day with a swim at Helen’s Bay.
The Royal School, Armagh team won the game by 29-7 with Zakir Majid, Niall Conn, Harry Dougan, Thomas Dougan and Cameron Cummings scoring their tries to which Josh Lowey added two conversions.
The Crescent Comprehensive College team contributed a lot to the game. They got rewarded with a goal following some enterprising play when Sam Jordan took great advantage of a superb Fionn Rowsome break before touching down for a try which was converted by Evan Cusack.
Sullivan Upper School played Belfast Royal Academy and had to work hard before emerging as 19-12 winners.
The Sullivan Upper School points came through tries from half backs, Hamish Johnson and Ollie Keown, with winger, Max Readman, running in for a third. Hamish Johnson added two successful conversion kicks.
The Belfast Royal Academy team scored two tries through Josh Manson and Josh McLaughlin with Connor McVicker adding one conversion.
