Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 5th March 2022
On Monday 28th February Limavady Grammar School played a senior team against the Ulster Youth’s U18 team at the Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt.
The Ulster Youth’s team scored six tries in the course of the game through Ben Neilly, Coleraine RFC, who touched down twice, Ethan Canavan, Rainey RFC, Maiteu McCardle, Monaghan RFC, Niall McLaughlin, Coleraine RFC, and JF Burns, Coleraine RFC. JF was also successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Limavady Grammar School team scored their points through tries from David Quinlan and Dylan McAuley with one conversion each from Cooper McCausland and Dylan McAuley.
On Tuesday 1st March Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Methodist College, Belfast in the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final games. The Methodist College, Belfast team became the first confirmed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup finalists after defeating a spirited Royal Belfast Academical Institution by 43-15 at the Kingspan Stadium.
Methody enjoyed a decent spell of territory in the opening minutes; David Armstrong bringing his forwards into the game, and backs, Lorcan Hanratty and Ben McFarlane making strong carries. A knock-on outside Inst’s 22 gave possession back and took Inst out of danger.
It wasn’t long, however, before Methody had a scrum, and No 8, Michael Crothers, made a break. He was brought down but the team in white were awarded a penalty opportunity. Ben McFarlane obliged to put them 3-0 up.
The Belfast Inst team was first to break the try scoring deadlock on eight minutes when their No 8, Bryn Ward, showed great strength to power over for an unconverted try following a well-worked driven maul.
With their 5-3 lead in the bag Belfast Inst were almost over for another maul try though Jacob Boyd, but Methodist College were quickly over the ball to get the penalty and clear the danger.
Methody claimed their first try on 14 minutes, with winger, Joe Dickson, making a searing run down the left wing to dot down in the corner. Ben McFarlane fired over the tough conversion from the touchline to see his team into a 10-5 lead.
Just three minutes later, Royal Belfast Academical Institution chipped away at the deficit through the boot of Josh Eagleson who landed the penalty to reduce the arrears to 10-8.
Belfast Inst found themselves temporarily down to 14 when a player was sent to the bin and Methody profited immediately. Impressive openside flanker, Josh Stevens, took advantage of some great support play and crashed over the whitewash for a try. Ben McFarlane added the extras to see his team into a 17-8 lead.
This became 22-8 when Ryan Kidd touched down for an unconverted try after 32 minutes.
Inst responded immediately with another dominant maul and this time it was blindside flanker, Daniel Moore, who rumbled over for their second try. Josh Eagleson added the conversion to leave the scoreboard reading Royal Belfast Academical Institution 15 Methodist College, Belfast 22 at the interval.
Methody then stormed out of the blocks after the break and Joe Dickson raced clear for his second try of the afternoon. Ben McFarlane expertly drilled over the two points to extend the Methody lead to 29-15.
The wind was in the Methodist College sails and they claimed their fourth try on 42 minutes when centre, Lorcan Hanratty, burst through a despairing Belfast Inst defence to touch down for a fine individual try. Ben McFarlane converted the try to extend the Methody lead to 36-15.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution responded positively and showed some lovely hands as they looked to fight back. However, a penalty for Methody allowed Ben McFarlane to relieve the pressure.
Methody struck again on 58 minutes, and their backs showed great skill and awareness in the build-up to a try. A flowing move eventually sent Liam Black in for their sixth try of the afternoon and Ben McFarlane duly slotted the extras to extend their lead to 43-15.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution fought hard in the final few minutes of the game but Methody kept them pinned back to see the game out and seal their place in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup with a well-deserved 43-15 victory.
On Wednesday 2nd March Campbell College, Belfast played Wallace High School in the 2nd of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final games.
Campbell College Belfast will meet Methodist College Belfast in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final after defeating Wallace High School by 28-6 in the Semi-Final at the Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday.
In the early stages of the game Campbell looked threatening with ball in hand with their impressive 2nd Row forward, Joe Hopes, making a couple of telling carries. Wallace held firm in defence under sustained pressure and had Charlie Beattie to thank for relieving the pressure with an impressive exit.
Campbell College then regained possession which they used to good effect. Following a 5m lineout, and a series of picks and go, the Wallace High School defence was eventually breached when Charlie Booth showed great strength and awareness to cross the whitewash for a try. Peter Caves added the extras to see the Campbell College team into a 7-0 lead.
The Campbell College team was now controlling the territory and, after 24 minutes, recorded their second score of the game. Henry Johnston proved unstoppable as he raced in under the posts to touch down for the try. Peter Caves made no mistake with the conversion to see his team extend their lead to 14-0.
Wallace High School then enjoyed a period of pressure and, on a number of occasions, used their strong attacking maul to good effect to make good ground. However, the Campbell College team had Flynn Longstaff to thank for making his presence felt at the breakdown and relieving any pressure with turn over ball. These turnovers were at critical times and ensured that the Campbell College team was able to take their 14-0 lead into the break.
After the break, Wallace worked hard to get into a promising area of the field, and soon forced the Campbell College defence into conceding a penalty. Matthew Halliday duly obliged and stepped up to convert the penalty and reduce the deficit to 14-3.
Wallace High School were now in the ascendancy and asked questions of the Campbell College defence. Campbell coughed up another penalty, which Matthew Halliday converted, to further reduce the Wallace High School deficit to 14-6.
Campbell College didn’t take long to respond to the Wallace High School scores. They had the opportunity to show the threat their attacking maul could carry and, after a number of close calls, co-captain, Zac Solomon, eventually crashed over the line to claim their third try of the game. Peter Caves then nailed the difficult conversion to see his team into a 21-6 lead.
Campbell College had the final say of the game when, in the last-minute, their winger. Oliver Topping, ran clear before touching down for their fourth try of the game. Peter Caves made it four from four off the tee with the excellent conversion to secure the 28-6 win for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
The final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, featuring Methodist College, Belfast and Campbell College, Belfast will be played at the Kingspan Stadium on Thursday 17th March at 3-00pm.
On Wednesday 2nd March Methodist College, Belfast and Regent House School played a Development xv game looking towards next season.
The Methodist College, Belfast team won the game by 14-7 with Jacob Lewis and Ollie Neill each scoring a try and Jack Tindal adding two conversions.
David Hunter scored the Regent House try with Zach Campbell kicking the conversion.
Two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Finals took place on Saturday 5th March.
In the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Rainey Endowed School played Belfast High School at the Ballyclare High School playing fields.
Played in front of a large group of enthusiastic supporters from both schools the Rainey Endowed School team won the game by 42-16.
The Rainey Endowed School team scored six tries, all of which were converted, during the game. Team captain, Adam Montgomery, touched down for a brace of tries with Cameron Smyth also touching down for two. Nathan Overend and Billy Allen were the other Rainey Endowed School try scorers and Louis Regan displayed great prowess off the tee with six out of six successful conversions.
The Belfast High School points came through two tries from Alex Montgomery with Cameron Banford adding two penalty kicks.
Following the game John Wilson and Hugh Logan, representing the Ulster Branch of the IRFU, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl to Adam Montgomery, captain of the victorious Rainey Endowed School team.
John and Hugh congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl and playing so well in the final. They thanked the referee, Neil Stewart, and his team of officials, for their control of the game, Ballyclare High School, through the Principal, Dr Michelle Rainey, and Director of Rugby, Michael Orchin-McKeever, for hosting the game on such a wonderful playing surface. The Danske Bank was thanked for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions. John then specially addressed those players who will finish school this year and asked them to stay involved with the game of rugby by affiliating with club rugby and take their undoubted abilities into the club game in the seasons ahead.
In the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Lurgan College played Portadown College at the Banbridge Academy playing fields.
Both teams were determined to play the game with the ball in hand and it was the Lurgan College team that emerged as 21-12 winners at the end of an entertaining encounter.
The Lurgan College team scored two tries through Peter Bird and Charlie Williamson with Peter adding one conversion as well as three successful penalty kicks.
The Portadown College team scored their tries through Scott Craig and Sam Herbert with Adam Neill adding one successful conversion.
Following the game Bobby Stewart, a former President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy finalist medals to players from both teams and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy to Angus Cunningham, captain of the victorious Lurgan College team.
Bobby congratulated the players from both teams for reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy and playing so well in the final. He thanked the referee, Neil Robertson, and his team of Lee Evans and Barry O’Hara, for controlling the game, so efficiently, Banbridge Academy, through the Principal, Mr Robin McLoughlin, and Master-in -Charge of Rugby, Brian Leslie, for hosting the game on such a wonderful playing surface and the Danske Bank for their interest in, and continuing sponsorship off, all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions. Bobby then specially addressed those players who will finish school this year and asked them to stay involved with the game of rugby by affiliating with club rugby and take their undoubted abilities into the club game in the seasons ahead.
Cambridge House Grammar School played Foyle and Londonderry College in an U17 Development game which finished as a 7-7 draw.
The Cambridge House Grammar School points came through a try from Joshua Dobbin which was converted by Ben Robinson.
The Foyle and Londonderry College try was scored by James McKillop with Adam Killeen adding the conversion.
The annual Royal Belfast Academical Institution U14 Tournament took place in excellent conditions at Osborne Park. Eight teams took part with the emphasis on skill development, participation, fun and enjoyment.
In the Cup final Royal Belfast Academical Institution defeated Methodist College, Belfast by 7-0, Campbell College, Belfast defeated Belfast Royal Academy by 20-0 in the Plate final, Dromore High School defeated Coleraine Grammar School by 17-7 in the Bowl final and Wallace High School defeated Ballymena Academy by 12-0 in the Trophy final.
