Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 3rd October 2020
With all participating schools having completed their Return to Play protocols five games at 1stxv level took place on Saturday 3rd October.
Dromore High School entertained the Friends’ School, Lisburn team at the Barban Heights venue in a game which the Dromore High School team finished as 61-0 winners.
The home team had built up a 42-0 lead by the interval before going on to score three more tries in the second half.
It was Xander Lowham who set the standard for the Dromore High School team and he finished the game with a hat trick of tries. Ethan Mount scored two tries and was successful with seven conversion kicks. The remainder of the Dromore High School points came through tries from Ryan Rodgers, Kyle Stirling, Taylor Beacom-Hurle and Nathan Hook who was also successful with one conversion kick.
Ballymena Academy hosted Methodist College, Belfast in an entertaining and high scoring game from which the Ballymena Academy team emerged as 32-26 winners.
The Methody team took an early 7-0 lead when Jonny O’Kane was driven over for a try which was converted by Ben McFarland. The Ballymena Academy team responded quickly and, when a driven maul close to the Methody line was collapsed, the referee had no hesitation in awarding the Ballymena team a penalty try which brought the scores level at 7-7. The Ballymena Academy team then took a 14-7 lead when a clever chip kick from Josh Drain was gathered and taken on by Ross McKay. A clever off-load from Ross found his half back partner, James Wright, who was delighted to finish things off with a try. Ross added the extras to secure the points. Back came the Methody team and a midfield break from the halfway line was finished off by Ben McFarland with a try. Ben converted the try to bring the scores level at 14-14. Once again the Ballymena Academy players responded positively and a great break from Jordan Millar was taken on by Alex McBurney. Alex then found Conor Drain with a clever pass and Conor duly touched down for the try. Ross McKay added the conversion to see the Ballymena Academy team into a 21-14 lead. Just before the break it was Ben McFarland who brought the scores level at 21-21 when he finished off a period of Methodist College pressure with a try which he converted.
Shortly after the restart the Methodist College, Belfast team took a 26-21 lead when Conor Spence ran in for an unconverted try. Thirteen minutes later Ross McKay reduced the Ballymena Academy deficit to 26-24 when he converted a long range penalty opportunity. Five minutes later a telling break from Ross was finished off with an unconverted try from Conor Drain to see his team into a 29-26 lead. With little time remaining another Ross McKay penalty secured the 32-26 victory for the Ballymena Academy team at the end of this exciting game.
Omagh Academy hosted the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team in a three session training game from which the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team emerged as seven try victors.
The game was split into three sessions, each of twenty minute durations. The first session saw the Omagh Academy team start strongly displaying good commitment, and no little skill, in all aspects of play. However, it was the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team that scored two tries in the course of this session with Callum Smyton and Jason Bothwell touching down for the tries both of which were converted by Eddie Keyes.
In the course of the second session the Omagh Academy team gave debuts to young players such as Andrew Johnston and Joshua Robinson both of whom impressed with their performances at this level. Following good work from David Braden and Joshua Kyle the Omagh Academy team was unfortunate not to get points on the board with Jamie Wood denied the try having been stopped just short of the line. Shortly after this the Enniskillen RGS team scored twice with Sam Milligan and Stephen Balfour touching down for tries to which Eddie Keyes added one conversion.
The third, and final session, saw the Omagh Academy team take control in the opening stages but it was the Enniskillen RGS team that finished strongly. Despite the best intentions of Omagh Academy players such as Jamie Wood and Craig Freeborn the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team ran in three further tries through Matthew Wilson, David Stinson and Sam Balfour. Two conversions from Eddie Keyes secured the 45-0 win for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team.
Royal School, Armagh played the Belfast Royal Academy team and, despite going 5-0 down early in the game, won the game by 38-5. It was Jack McKee who sored the Belfast Royal Academy try following good work from one of their Year 12 debutants, Oliver Scott.
Following this, and despite the best intentions of the Belfast Royal Academy players and especially team captain, Elliott Donaldson, and Keaton Morrison, it was the Royal School, Armagh team that took control of the game. They ran in six tries with Ross Taylor and Ali Morrow each touching down for two and Dylan Poyntz and Andrew McSorley each scoring one. Four successful James Allen conversions secured the 38-5 victory for the Royal School, Armagh team.
Wallace High School and Campbell College, Belfast got together at the Magheralave Road venue and played out an entertaining game which the Campbell College team won by 31-7.
The Wallace High School team took a 7-0 lead when they scored a try from Scott Wilson, which was converted by Harvey Patterson, ten minutes into the game. The Campbell College team replied with two first half tries from Zac Solomon and Finlay Parkes, both of which were converted by Danny Williamson, to take a 14-7 lead into the break.
The Campbell College team controlled most of the game in the course of the second half. They were rewarded for their endeavours with tries from Luke Collins, Danny Williamson and Jonny McCracken. One more Danny Williamson conversion secured the 31-7 victory for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
