Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 6th January 2024.
Despite schools being closed for the Christmas break some games were played in the lead up to the New Year and in the period of time before schools returned.
On Monday 18th December Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played a “Senior” Select xv against their near neighbours from St Michael’s College, Enniskillen.
The game was played at Mullaghmeen, home of Enniskillen RFC.
The scoreline at the no side whistle read Enniskillen Royal Grammar School “Select” xv 12 St Michael’s College, Enniskillen 19.
At one stage of the game the St Michael’s team had built up a 19-0 lead before the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team mounted something of a comeback.
Eoin Ratchford, Tiernan Swift and Cahal Kelly scored the St Michael’s College tries with Eoin adding the extras to two of the tries.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team points came through tries from Harry West and Odhran McLernon with Odhran adding one successful conversion kick.
This was a great exhibition game with both teams displaying a great deal of skill and athleticism.
Both schools hope that this game can become a regular fixture in the seasons ahead.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Enniskillen RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
Earlier that evening Dalriada School 1stxv and Medallion/U16xv teams played the Ulster Clubs’ U18 and U17 teams at the Meadowbank Stadium in Magherafelt.
The U17 game ended up with the Ulster team recording a 12-5 victory.
Alfie King scored an unconverted try for the Dalriada School team.
The Ulster Clubs points came through two tries from Austin McAreevey, Lurgan RFC, with one conversion from Sam Craig, Ballymena RFC.
The U18 game was a closely contested affair as well. The Ulster Clubs’ team won by 25-19.
Matthew Fox, Isaac Moore and Ben Stewart scored the Dalriada School tries with Gabriel Stubbs-Carton adding two successful conversions.
Ryan Duffy, Cavan RFC, Lorcan McLarnon, Rainey RFC, and Dylan Fox, Malone RFC, scored the Ulster Clubs’ tries. Fiontan Bradley, Ballymena RFC, had a fine game off the tee when he converted two of the tries as well as two successful penalty kicks.
On Tuesday 19th December Royal School, Armagh 2ndxv hosted Campbell College, Belfast 2ndxv in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup.
The Campbell College, Belfast 2ndxv team won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup 3rd Round tie by 29-14.
The draws for the 1/4 Final games in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate and Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy competitions were released to all schools week beginning Monday 18th December.
The results of the draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup 1/4 Finals
1/Belfast Royal Academy v Sullivan Upper School
2/Campbell College, Belfast v Wallace High School
3/Regent House School v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
4/Rainey Endowed School/Methodist College, Belfast v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup 1/4 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 20th January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate 1/4 Finals
1/Banbridge Academy v Bangor Grammar School
2/Ballyclare High School v Ballymena Academy
3/Friends’ School, Lisburn v Royal School, Dungannon
4/Rainey Endowed School/Methodist College, Belfast v Royal School, Armagh
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate 1/4 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 20th January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy 1/4 Finals
1/Bangor Academy 1stxv v Dalriada School
2/Belfast High School/Antrim Grammar School v Foyle and Londonderry College
3/Dromore High School v Down High School
4/Omagh Academy v Coleraine Grammar School
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Trophy 1/4 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 20th January
Also, on Tuesday 19th December Down High School and Royal School, Dungannon played their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 3rd Round game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 3rd Round game was played at Ballymacarn Park, home of Ballynahinch RFC.
The Royal School Dungannon team, coached by the experienced former King’s Scholar, Keith Patton, won the game by 42-10.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Ballynahinch RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
On the same day, Methodist College, Belfast played the Portugal U19 team at the end of the Methodist College training camp on the Algarve.
The Methodist College, Belfast coaches used this training camp to use an extended squad of players with all the players involved getting at least 20 minutes playing time against the Portugal U19 team.
The first session saw the Methodist College team gain a 12-0 lead before the strength of the Portugal U19 team came to bear with the final result reading Portugal U19 team 41 Methodist College, Belfast 12.
The Methodist College, Belfast points came through a Jack Tindal goal with an unconverted try from Lewis Doherty.
On Wednesday 20th December Friends’ School, Lisburn played Regent House School in a 1stxv friendly.
Both teams used this game, which the Regent House team won by 29-5, to give game time to an extended number of players in the lead up to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen games to be played on/before Saturday 27th January 2024.
The Regent House School team was 12-5 ahead by the break before going on to record their convincing win.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn points came through an unconverted try from Harry Moore.
The Regent House School team scored five tries through Tom Bell, Isaac Lowe, Sam McClements, Ewan Baker and Nathan Bell. Evan McGonigle added the extras to two of the Regent House School tries.
Later that evening the Coleraine RFC U18 team played a Ballymena Academy “Select” xv team under the lights at the Lodge Road venue.
The game, in which the Ballymena Academy team used 28 players, was played in hurricane conditions but was greatly enjoyed by every one of the players involved.
The Ballymena Academy team won the game by 12-0 with Michael McLean and Daniel Vercoe Rodgers each scoring a try to which Reuben Allen added one conversion.
Coleraine RFC not only provided facilities and hosted the game but all the players, as well as their management teams, were treated to excellent post-match hospitality which was much appreciated by everyone involved.
On Friday 22nd December Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Regent House School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield.
This was a closely contested game which the Regent House School team won by 17-15 and, with it, a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round of Sixteen Medallion Shield draw.
With the onset of a well-deserved break over the Christmas period no school games took place on Saturday 23rd December.
On Wednesday 27th December Wallace High School was due to have played Coleraine Grammar School but, for a variety of reasons, this game was cancelled.
On Thursday 28th December Methodist College, Belfast entertained St Gerard’s School from Bray.
The St Gerard’s School team was 21-0 ahead by the break before going on to win the game by 36-24.
The Methodist College, Belfast team was missing a number of key players but scored four second half tries through Callum Godfrey, Lewis Doherty, Oliver Gartly and Jack Tindal. Jack was also successful with two of his conversion kicks.
The St Gerard’s School, Bray team scored six tries in the course of the game. Hugh Gilmore touched down twice with Ronan Kelly, Martin Sweeney, Zenon Chambers and Ultan Woods touching down for one try each. Zenon completed a “Man of the Match” performance with three successful conversions.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Belfast Royal Academy and won this excellent eight try game by 28-20.
Charlie Gray, James Clark, Adam Boyd and Jamie Beattie each scored a try for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team with Alex Place adding the extras to all four tries.
The Belfast Royal Academy team points came through unconverted tries from Alex French, Ryan Calwell, Frank Davis and Matthew McQuiston.
On Saturday 30th December Rainey Endowed School was scheduled to have played Royal School, Armagh but, due to the prevailing weather conditions, the game was cancelled.
On Wednesday 3rd January a number of games took place.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Ballyclare High School 3rdxv hosted Banbridge Academy 3rdxv.
The Ballyclare High School 3rdxv won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate game by 46-17.
Meanwhile in Dublin, Sullivan Upper School travelled to play St Mary’s College in a game the St Mary’s College team won by 43-19.
Evan Monaghan, Jack Halpin, Jack Moloney, Conor Halpin, Aaron O’Brien and Cillian Jacobs were among the St Mary’s College try scorers in the course of the game.
The Sullivan Upper School took some time to settle into the game and, when they did, scored three tries. Will Sheridan, Joss Davidson and Ollie Keown scored the tries with Harry McKeown adding two successful conversion kicks.
On Friday 5th January Dromore High School hoisted Wellington College, Belfast in the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy competition.
The Dromore High School team won this 1st Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy game by 40-0.
On the same afternoon Campbell College, Belfast hosted Clongowes Wood College in a game which marked the end of a short training trip undertaken by the Clongowes Wood College SCT.
The Campbell College, Belfast team was missing a number of key players and the Clongowes Wood College, one of the favourite teams to win the upcoming Leinster Schools’ Cup, won the game by 40-0.
Players such as Ross Doyle, Ross Adams, Luke Fitzgerald, Calum McDonald and Conor Lysaght impressed with their performances for the Clongowes Wood College team.
On Saturday 6th January, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate game, the remaining five Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 3 games took place alongside two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy games as well as a series of 1stxv friendly games.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3rdxv hosted Limavady Grammar School 3rdxv and won the game by 36-7.
In the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Coleraine Grammar School played Bangor Grammar School in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 8-0.
Dalriada School played Rainey Endowed School and won the game by 33-13.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Limavady Grammar School and recorded a 47-7 victory.
Foyle and Londonderry College hosted Portadown College in a game the Foyle College team won by 24-17.
Royal School, Armagh played Omagh Academy and won the game by 17-7.
In the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Cambridge House Grammar School played Bangor Academy in a game the Bangor Academy team won by 12-7.
Lurgan College hosted Larne Grammar School and recorded a 12-3 victory in the same competition.
Once the results of all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 3rd Round games and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1st Round games were known, the draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen games, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl 1/4 Finals and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1/4 Final games were made.
The draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen games, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl 1/4 Finals and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1/4 Final games were conducted by Mr Ian McConaghy, Principal, Dromore High School.
The results of these draws are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen games
1/Belfast Royal Academy v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
2/Campbell College, Belfast v Methodist College, Belfast
3/Ballyclare High School v Foyle and Londonderry College
4/Regent House School v Antrim Grammar School
5/Coleraine Grammar School v Royal School, Armagh
6/Ballymena Academy v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
7/Royal School, Dungannon v Dalriada School
8/Wallace High School v Sullivan Upper School
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen games MUST be played on/before Saturday 20th January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl 1/4 Final games
1/Down High School v Portadown College
2/Grosvenor Grammar School v Bangor Grammar School
3/Omagh Academy v Rainey Endowed School
4/Limavady Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl 1/4 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 20th January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1/4 Final games
1/Ballymoney High School v Banbridge Academy
2/Dromore High School v Belfast High School
3/Ballyclare Secondary School v Lurgan College
4/Strabane Academy v Bangor Academy
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy 1/4 Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 20th January.
At 1stxv level a number of friendly games took place.
Banbridge Academy played Down High School and recorded a hard-earned 19-12 victory.
On the back of a “Man of the Match” performance from Noah Haughey, the Banbridge Academy team scored three tries through Fergus Always, Nazie Mulligan and Luke Charman. Andrew Jackson added two successful conversions.
The Down High School team scored their points through tries from Lewis Connolly and Ben Spiers with Josh McCaughey adding one successful conversion.
Ballyclare High School played Rainey Endowed School in a game the Rainey Endowed School team won by 59-21.
The Ballyclare High School team scored three tries through Andrew Cooper, Aaron Beattie and Josh McColgan. Harry Thompson was successful with all three conversions.
The Rainey Endowed School team scored eleven tries with James Cappel touching down for a hattrick, Stefan Lloyd Evans, Billy Allen and Rossa Bell each scoring a brace and George Stone and Peter Craig running in for one try apiece. Owen O’Kane and Ben Bell each added one conversion.
Belfast High School played Grosvenor Grammar School and won the close encounter by 14-12.
Andrew Campbell and Joey Ashby scored the Belfast High School tries with Archie Cruickshank adding both conversions.
The Grosvenor Grammar School points came through one try each from Ross Millar and Stefan Buick with Ross adding one successful conversion kick.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Dromore High School and recorded a relatively comfortable 36-19 victory.
The Belfast Royal Academy team scored six tries through Ethan Pavlovic, Oran Cole, Ryan Calwel, Matt McLaughlin, Jack Webb and Josh Harold. Frank Davis added three successful conversion kicks.
The Dromore High School contributed much to the game and their endeavours were rewarded with three tries.
Callum Bradley, McKensie Garnham and Luke Dillon scored the tries with Daniel Ennis-McMannus adding two successful conversions.
Carrickfergus Grammar School was scheduled to have hosted Cambridge House Grammar School but, for a variety of reasons, the game was cancelled.
Coleraine Grammar School entertained their near neighbours from Dalriada School in a close game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 23-21.
Clark Logan and Joel Madden each scored a try for the Coleraine Grammar School team with Jordan McAuley adding two successful conversions as well as three penalty kicks.
The Dalriada School team scored three tries with a penalty try as well as individual tries from Zach McIlhagga and Joe Lynas. Gabriel Stubbs-Carton converted both these tries.
Methodist College, Belfast travelled to Dublin where they played Blackrock College with a team missing a number of key players.
The Methodist College team had to eventually field quite a few Year 12 players in the game which saw the Blackrock College team record an impressive, all-consuming victory.
Michael Armstrong scored a consolation try for the Methodist College, Belfast team with Jack Tindal adding the successful conversion
The Blackrock College players such as Brian O’Flagherty, Charlie Moloney, Derry Molony, Jack Pollard, Joe Reddan, Jack Angelo, Niall Smyth, Michael Walsh, Conor O’Shaughnessy and Peter Clancy all impressed with their performances through the game.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution had a training camp in Portugal which finished with a game against Presentation Brother’s College, Cork.
Both teams used their extended squads in the course of the game which finished with the Presentation Brother’s College, Cork team recording a 36-19 victory.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution scorers were Ross Dillon, James Clark and Blake McClean with one try apiece. Alex Place added the extras to two of the tries.
The Presentation Brother’s College, Cork team had players such as Mark Hetherington, James O’Leary, Liam Tuohy, Harry Murphy, George O’Keefe and Gene O’Leary Kareem who impressed with their performances throughout the game.
Royal School, Armagh was scheduled to have played Ballymena Academy but the game was cancelled due to poor pitch conditions.
Royal School, Dungannon and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played out a 3×20 minute sessions training game which enabled the coaching staff from both schools to use extended squads.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored 24 points with the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scoring 7 points.
Ben Doyle, John Carroll, Nathan Hamilton and Ryan Hamilton each scored a try for the Royal School, Dungannon team with James Gibson adding the extras to two of the tries.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team points came through a try from Jake Irwin which was converted by Odhran McLernan.
Wallace High School played St Mary’s College, Dublin at the Clonevin Park venue and lost the game by 32-17.
Michael McCavery, Sam Warwick and Ben Moore scored the Wallace High School tries with Lewis Stevenson adding one successful conversion.
The St Mary’s College team scored five tries through Evan Moynihan, who touched down twice, Chris Maguire, Aaron O’Brien and Jack Halpin. Gavin Foley added three successful conversion kicks.
