Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 4th January 2025.
Despite the onset of the Christmas Holiday period, a number of school teams were involved with both friendly and competitive games during that time.
On Monday 16th December, the Meadowbank Stadium in Magherafelt was the venue when Dalriada School provided the opposition for both the Ulster U17 and Ulster U18 Club teams.
The Dalriada U16 team was first on when they played the Ulster Clubs’ U17 team.
The Ulster Clubs’ U17 team won this game by 40-0 scoring six tries in the process.
Adam McIlveen, Carrickfergus RFC, with two, Sean O’Reilly, Virginia RFC, Noah McClelland, Coleraine RFC, with two and Ronan McConnell, were the try scorers to which Joshua Woods, Ballynahinch RFC, added five successful conversion kicks.
Next up was the Dalriada School 1stxv who played the Ulster Clubs’ U18 team.
The Dalriada School team won this game by 19-0 with tries from Angus Graham, Isaac Moore and Archie Graham.
Alfie Millar added the extras to two of these tries.
On Tuesday 17th December the draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of 16 and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen competitions took place in the AL Goodbody Lounge at the Kingspan Stadium.
The draws were completed by Dr Laurence Rocke, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU and Mr Andrew Sproule, Senior Project Manager at the Danske Bank.
The results of the draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen.
1/Banbridge Academy v Sullivan Upper School.
2/Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Wallace High School
3/Methodist College, Belfast v Belfast Royal Academy.
4/Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Wallace High School.
5/Dalriada School v Ballymena Academy.
6/Coleraine Grammar School v Regent House School.
7/Campbell College, Belfast v Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
8/Royal School, Armagh v Down High School.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen games must be played on/before Saturday 25th January 2025.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen. Preliminary Round,
Friends’ School, Lisburn v Larne Grammar School.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl preliminary Round of Sixteen game must be played on/before Saturday 18th January 2025
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen.
1/Lurgan College v Ballyclare High School.
2/Strabane Academy v Grosvenor Grammar School.
3/Carrickfergus Grammar School v Cambridge House Grammar School.
4/Friends’ School, Lisburn/Larne Grammar School v Belfast High School.
5/Portadown College v Antrim Grammar School.
7/Omagh Academy v Bangor Academy.
8/Dromore High School v Royal School, Dungannon.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games must be played on/before Saturday 25th January 2025.
Also on Tuesday 17th December, Belfast High School hosted Strabane Academy in the previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1st Round game.
The Belfast High School Medallion team won this game by 50-10.
Once the result of this game was known the draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of 16, as well as the 1/4 Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl and Trophy competitions were released.
The results of the draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 4 (Round of 16)
1/Down High School v Ballymena Academy
2/Dalriada School v Larne Grammar School
3/Ballyclare High School v Sullivan Upper School
4/Campbell College, Belfast v Belfast Royal Academy
5/Omagh Academy v Methodist College, Belfast
6/Wallace High School v Rainey Endowed School
7/Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Royal School, Dungannon
8/Antrim Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl 1/4 Final
1/Bangor Grammar School v Cambridge House Grammar School
2/Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Grosvenor Grammar School
3/Royal School, Armagh v Foyle and Londonderry College
4/Coleraine Grammar School v Regent House School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1/4 Finals
1/Banbridge Academy v Portadown College
2/Limavady Grammar School v Belfast High School
3/Bangor Academy v Dromore High School
4/Rathfriland High School v Lurgan College
Draw was complete by Mr Ian McConaghy, Principal of Dromore High School,
All matches MUST be completed ON or BEFORE Saturday 18th January 2025.
On Wednesday 18th December, Methodist College, Belfast 5thxv played Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 3rd Round game.
The Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup Round 2 game by 43-0.
Once the result of this game was known, the draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’3rdxv Trophy competitions were released.
The results of these draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 1/4 Finals.
1/Campbell College, Belfast 3rdxv v Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv.
2/Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv v Wallace High School 3rdxv.
3/Portadown College 3rdxv v Ballyclare High School 3rdxv.
4/Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4thxv v Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup 1/4 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 25th January 2025.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Trophy Round of Sixteen games.
1/Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv v Bye.
2/Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv v Wallace High School 4thxv.
3/Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock v Carndonagh Community College.
4/Ballymena Academy 3rdxv v Omagh Academy 3rdxv.
5/Regent House School 3rdxv v Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5thxv.
6/Foyle and Londonderry College 3rdxv v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3rdxv.
7/Royal School, Armagh 3rdxv v Sullivan Upper School 3rdxv,
8/Banbridge Academy 3rdxv v Methodist College, Belfast 5thxv.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Trophy Round of Sixteen games MUST be played on/before Saturday 11th January 2025.
On the same afternoon, Antrim Grammar School hosted Methodist College 3rdxv in a game the Antrim Grammar School 1stxv won by 31-0.
The Antrim Grammar School team scored five tries in the course of the game.
Johnny Robo, scored two, Jake Quigley scored two with Jack McNeilly touching down for one try.
Isaac Lynn added two successful conversions with Calum Lavery adding a third conversion.
On Thursday 19th December Methodist College, Belfast 2ndxv eventually played Ballyclare High School 2ndxv in their 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup game.
The Methodist College, Belfast 2ndxv won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools:’ 2ndxv Cup game by 29-5.
Once the result of this game was known, the draws for the 1/4 Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy were released.
The results of these draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup 1/4 Finals.
1/Regent House School v Ballymena Academy.
2/Campbell College, Belfast v Belfast Royal Academy.
3/Wallace High School v Methodist College, Belfast.
4/Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup 1/4 Final games must be played on/before Saturday 18th January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate 1/4 Finals.
1/Friends’ School, Lisburn v Foyle and Londonderry College.
2/Coleraine Grammar School v Rainey Endowed School.
3/Sullivan Upper School v Royal School, Armagh.
4/Ballyclare High School v Bangor Grammar School.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate 1/4 Final games must be played on/before Saturday 18th January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy 1/4 Finals.
1/Dalriada School v Royal School, Dungannon.
2/Omagh Academy v Antrim Grammar School.
3/Portadown College v Down High School.
4/Dromore High School V Banbridge Academy.
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy 1/4 Final games must be played on/before Saturday 18th January.
Just prior to the end of term, Belfast Royal Academy made the trip to Valencia in Spain with a squad of 39 players.
The Belfast Royal Academy teams were able to have training sessions at the excellent local CAU Club facilities and ended the tour with a 1stxv game against the CAU U18 team which they won by 40-0.
Max McKitterick, Hadwyn Hughes, Connor McVicker, Frank Davis and Adam Hewitt, with two, scored the Belfast Royal Academy tries to which Frank added five successful conversions.
On Friday 20th December, Ballyclare High School hosted Coleraine Grammar School in a training game where both sets of coaches used the run out as an opportunity to have a look at an extended range of players.
Young Ballyclare High School players such as Ross Ferguson, Andre Cooper and Patrick Cleary really benefitted from the experience as did emerging Coleraine Grammar School players such as Cody Moffat, Archie McLenaghan, Ben Todd, Luke McAuley and Alex Doherty.
On Saturday 21st December, Ballymena Academy hosted Dromore High School in a range of fixtures at the Old Galgorm Road venue.
The Ballymena Academy 1stxv won their game by 40-0 with their tries coming from Ben Collins, Peter Bailie, Jacob Casson, Isaac McClintock, Harry Lamont and Billy Wylie.
Reuben Allen was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
At the same time, Ballymena Academy 2ndxv, Dromore High School 2ndxv and Larne Grammar School played out a three team blitz which gave some 60 players the opportunity to have an end of term run out.
Players such as Dylan Ritchie, Alexander Madeley, Jack McMaster and Zak Fleming impressed with their performances for the Ballymena Academy team, Jonny Dallas, Ryan McDowell, Ethan Duncan and Thomas Patton played well for the Larne Grammar School team with Robert Russell and Alfie Clarke putting in good performances for the Dromore High School team.
On Saturday 28th December, two games took place with Banbridge Academy playing Regent House School and Belfast Royal Academy playing Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
With the IRFU Age Grade Camps taking place at the High Performance Centre in Abbottstown, all four of these teams were missing players who had been selected to attend either the IRFU U18 Schools’ Camp or the IRFU U19/U20 Development Camp.
The Banbridge Academy v Regent House School training game ended with the scoreboard reading Banbridge Academy 10 Regent House School 15.
The Banbridge Academy team scored two unconverted tries through Arturs Jonuss and Ryan Hanna.
The Regent House School team scored three tries through Lewis Robinson, Matthew Callaghan and Evan McGonigle.
The Belfast Royal Academy team continued their recent run of good form with a 31-17 victory against Royal Belfast Academical Institution, scoring five tries in the process.
Aaron Caldwell, Jayden Irwin, Ollie Cox, Ryan Calwell and Adam Hewitt scored the Belfast Royal Academy tries with Frank Davis adding the extras to three of the tries.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team points came through tries from Cian McClean, Zak Molyneaux and George Craigan with Adam Millar adding one successful conversion kick.
On Friday 3rd January, Regent House School played Ballyclare High School in a three session training game which gave both sets of coaches the opportunity to use extended squads of players as part of their preparation for forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Bowl Round of Sixteen games due to be played later in January.
Regent House School players such as Lewis Robinson, Ethan Spratt, Evan McGonigle, Sam McClements, Josh Colville, Jed Pountney, Ewan Baker and Harry Jackson enjoyed taking part in this different game format as did Ballyclare High School players such as Isaac Shiels, Ben Vance, Andrew Cooper, Zach Thompson, Josh McColgan, Ross Ferguson and Austin Adair.
Both squads, as well as their coaches, would like to thank Ards RFC for the use of facilities and hosting this run out.
On Saturday 4th January, only one of four scheduled games took place due to the frozen pitch conditions.
The scheduled games involving Ballymena Academy v Royal School, Armagh, Bangor Grammar School v Larne Grammar School and Omagh Academy v Portadown College were all cancelled.
However, the Pirrie Park pitch was in a position to host the Methodist College, Belfast team when they entertained Blackrock College, Dublin in a game the Blackrock College team won by 22-7.
The Methodist College, Belfast team scored one try through Oliver Gartley with Louis Curran adding the conversion.
The Blackrock College team scored four tries through Paddy Clancy, Johnny O’Sullivan, Marcus Cullen and Alex Doorley with Paddy adding the extras to one of the tries.
