Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 4th November 2023
A number of games scheduled to have been played during the half term week had to be cancelled due to the prevailing weather conditions.
One midweek game did manage to survive the ravages of the heavy rain when the Royal School, Dungannon hosted the Rainey Endowed School on the WK Armstrong pitch.
This was a closely contested game right until the last few minutes of the game when, with the scoreboard reading RS Dungannon 19 Rainey ES 29, the Royal School team looked as if they were running in for a seven pointer. Somehow, the Rainey Endowed School team managed to halt the attack, secure possession, launch a counter attack from deep and finish with a converted try to record a hard-earned 36-19 victory at the no side whistle.
The Royal School, Dungannon points came through three tries from Reuben Hampton, Reuben Gibson and James Gibson. James added the extras to two of the tries.
The Rainey Endowed School scored six tries through Charlie McConville, Ben Bell, Owen O’Kane, Nathan Overend, Eoin McGuckin and Peter Craig. Owen O’Kane was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Two games did manage to get played on Saturday 4th November when Banbridge Academy hosted Regent House School and Portadown College entertained Limavady Grammar School.
The Banbridge Academy team defeated Regent House School by 31-14, having built up a 21-0 lead by the interval.
Thirteen minutes into the game the Banbridge Academy winger, Darragh Knox, ran in for the first try of the game, which was converted by Andrew Jackson, to see the home team into a 7-0 lead.
Five minutes later, a try from the Banbridge Academy full back, Joey Mackrell, converted by Andrew Jackson, increased the Banbridge Academy lead to 14-0.
This became 21-0, on the stroke of half time, when the Banbridge Academy hooker, Callum Little, scrambled over the Regent House School line to touch down for a try, which was converted by Andrew Jackson.
Early in the second half Tom Bell ran in under the Banbridge Academy posts to touch down for a try, which was converted by Evan McGonigle, to reduce the Regent House School deficit to 21-7.
However, shortly afterwards, an unconverted try from Andrew Jackson saw the Banbridge Academy lead extend to 26-7.
This became 31-7 when their talented centre, Luke Charman, touched down for an unconverted try for the now dominant Banbridge Academy team.
The Regent House School team then cleared their bench with players such as Jacob Mount making a successful return to play having regained full fitness.
Jacob was influential in the lead up to Tom Bell touching down for his second try of the game and the Evan McGonigle conversion saw the final scoreboard read Banbridge Academy 31 Regent House School 14.
The Portadown College team scored nine tries against Limavady Grammar School in the course of a 51-0 victory.
Bobby Newell touched down for two tries with Tom Neill, John McQuitty, Jack Todd, Jack Benson, Daniel Osborne, Sam Gilpin and Oscar Eakin touching down for one try apiece.
John Speers successfully converted three of the Portadown College tries.
Despite losing the game, players such as Odhran Clenaghan, James Laird, Killian Brolly, Ben Moore and James Mackey impressed with their performances for the Limavady Grammar School team.
At Medallion level the Portadown College team recorded a 33-12 victory against Limavady Grammar School.
