Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 7th March 2020
As well as the two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-finals a number of other fixtures took place in the course of the week.
On Tuesday 3rd March Royal School, Armagh played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-finals at the Kingspan Stadium.
The Royal School, Armagh team came from 22-5 behind to win this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ semi-final by 29-22 and, with it, a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final on March 17th.
In the opening minutes, smart counter-rucking by the Royal Belfast Academical Institution forwards earned themselves an early penalty which full-back, Ronan Boyle, duly slotted over to give his team a 3-0 lead. Inst had the lion’s share of the territory for the first quarter, pinning Armagh inside their own 22, but a wayward Inst lineout gave the Royal School, Armagh team the opportunity to clear their lines. The Belfast Inst back line showed some enterprising rugby with the ball going through the hands, but a knock-on led to a scrum for Armagh. Excellent box-kicking from their scrum-half, Charlie Worth, helped the Armagh side get back on the front foot and into opposition territory. Inst withstood a sustained period of pressure on their own line with the Armagh forwards, directed by their impressive scrum-half, Charlie Worth, going hard around the fringes. Belfast Inst defended superbly and did well to force a turnover and scrum. However, they were unable to clear the danger which allowed the RS Armagh team to go on the attack again. Following a clever piece of play their second row, Nicholas Bothwell, powered his way over for the first Royal School, Armagh try on twenty seven minutes. Fly-half, Romain Morrow, was unable to make the difficult touchline conversion but the Royal School, Armagh team had a 5-3 lead. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team responded positively with Oscar Lowe and Jude Postlethwaite combining to send Ronan Boyle in for a try. The conversion kick was unsuccessful but the Belfast Inst team took an 8-5 lead into the break.
The second half had barely started when Oliver Metcalfe made a break down the right wing and stretched out the arm to score a super try. Ronan Boyle made a superb kick to add the extras and give the Belfast Inst team a 15-5 lead. This became 22-5 a short time later when Jude Postlethwaite exposed a gap in the RS Armagh defence before off-loading to Paddy Eames who was running a great support line. Paddy touched down for the try, which was converted by Ronan Boyle, to see the Belfast Inst team into what should have been an unassailable 22-5 lead.
However, the Royal School, Armagh team remained resilient by going on the attack and, following a series of forward picks and goes, their enigmatic scrum-half, Charlie Worth, darted his way past the hesitant Belfast Inst defence to score a try. Romain Morrow converted the try to reduce the deficit to 22-12. This became 22-19 just four minutes later when the Royal School, Armagh winger, Sam Cunningham, made a phenomenal break before throwing a long pass inside to James Allen who finished off the flowing move with a try. Romain Morrow added the conversion to narrow the gap to just three points with the score board now reading Royal Belfast Academical Institution 22 Royal School, Armagh 19. The Royal School, Armagh then took a 24-22 lead when Josh King broke off a maul to score an unconverted try going into the final ten minutes of the game. The Royal School, Armagh team then had an opportunity to extend their slender lead through a penalty but the kick was off-target. However, with the last play off the game, the Royal School, Armagh team sealed a famous 29-22 victory when Ethan McAtarsney went in at the corner following a flowing attack which was initiated by Charlie Worth. The try went unconverted but it was enough to give Royal School, Armagh the victory and, with it, a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final on 17th March.
Full-time score: Royal School Armagh 29 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 22
Royal School Armagh
15-9: Ethan McAtarsney, Sam Cunningham, Peter Taylor, Ross Taylor, Chris Whiteside, Romain Morrow, Charlie Worth.
1-8: Niall Carville, Sam Rainey (Capt.), Jude Roberts, Jayson Denley, Nicholas Bothwell, James Agnew, Josh King, Ryan Finlay.
Replacements: Josh Cunningham, Dylan Poyntz, James McBride, Kyle George, Andrew McSorley, James Hazelton, James Allen, Sam Harrison.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
15-9: Ronan Boyle, Oliver Metcalfe, Jude Postlethwaite, Oscar Lowe, Jack Dickson, Hugo Ellerby, Josh Patterson.
1-8: Adam Byrne, Rory Adair (Capt.), Stuart McAuley, Alex Weir, Sam McLarnon, Paddy Eames, Jonny Eagleson, Ben Cooke.
Replacements: Josh Cuthbert, Liam Greene, Sam Collins, Tyrone Simms, Adam Cooke, Ben Beattie, Ryan Stewart, Jack Leathem.
On the same afternoon Enniskillen Royal Grammar School Medallion hosted Methodist College, Belfast Medallion in the replay of their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate semi-final game. The Methodist College, Belfast team won the game by 17-10 and will now play Dromore High School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate at Friends’ School, Lisburn on Saturday 14th March.
On Wednesday 4th March Wallace High School and Methodist College, Belfast met in the second of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final games and it is the Wallace High School team that will face Royal School, Armagh in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final on 17th March after defeating Methodist College Belfast 22-17 in a thrilling encounter at the Kingspan Stadium.
The Wallace High School team started the game at a frantic pace and their all-out attacking style asked early questions of the Methodist College, Belfast defence. In fact, only for a fantastic piece of defensive work from Callum Davidson, the Wallace High School team might have taken a second minute lead. As it was the Wallace High School team took a 3-0 lead when Nathan Doak converted a penalty opportunity with just three minutes on the clock. Methodist College then enjoyed a spell of pressure with a penalty and ensuing lineout in the Wallace High School “Red Zone”. However, a crucial turnover allowed Nathan Doak to put boot to ball for an enormous clearance kick which relieved the pressure. The Methody team had opportunities to come back into the game in the opening quarter but excellent counter-rucking from the Wallace pack led to a number of turnovers which enabled the Wallace team to regain possession. Midway through the first half the Methody centre, Callum Davidson, spotted an opportunity during a period of advantage to make a fantastic cross-field kick which found Callum Doherty on the right wing. Callum crossed the whitewash for the first try of the game, which went unconverted, to give the Methodist College, Belfast team a 5-3 lead. The Wallace High School team responded quickly and centre, Jack Dillon, weaved his way through the Methody defence to touch down under the posts. Nathan Doak added the extras to see the Wallace team into a 10-5 lead. A minute later Ben Carson flew through a gap in the Methody defence and touched down for a try, which was converted by Nathan Doak, the see the Wallace High School team into a 17-5 lead at the break.
The Methody team came out to start the second half firing on all cylinders secure in the knowledge they had a lot to do if they were to get back into this game. However, Wallace’s watertight defence, allied to the boot of Nathan Doak, meant the Belfast side found it difficult to turn pressure into points. Despite showing real patience when camped on the Wallace line it took another thundering tackle from Jamie McNeight to disarm the Methodist College attack and relieve the pressure on the Wallace High School defence. Following this, the Wallace team went on the attack and got rewarded for their endeavours when the influential Jamie McNeight finished off a flowing attack with an unconverted try in the corner to put his team into a 22-5 lead. Back came the Methody team and they took advantage of a temporary reduction in the Wallace High School numbers by launching a series of attacks which finished when Conor Spence touched down for an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 22-10. This score boosted the confidence of the Methodist College team and a late attack ended with a try from hooker, Harry McCartney. Callum Davidson converted the try to leave the final score board reading Wallace High School 22 Methodist College Belfast 17
Wallace High School
15-9: Jamie McNeight, Harry Wallace, Jack Dillon, Ben Carson, Finn Rankin, Nathan Doak, Lewis Nelmes.
1-8: Cameron Doak, Joel Dundas, Scott Wilson, Thomas Brolly, Charlie Irvine, Peter Heasley, Harry McMeekin, Reuben Crothers (Capt.).
Replacements: Evan Gilliland, Robbie Davis, Nicholas Macklin-Copeland, Matthew Thompson, Philip Kennedy, Harvey Patterson, Carter McCluskey, Joel Wiseman.
Methodist College Belfast
15-9: Conor Spence, Callum Doherty, Peter O’Hagan, Callum Davidson, Andrew McMurray, Luke Graham, Luke Simms.
1-8: Jack Watson, Harry McCartney, Dan Dougan, Matthew Humphreys, Adam McNamee, Zack Porter, Adam Reid (Capt.), Michael Crothers.
Replacements: Johnny O’Kane, Callum White, Finn McAdam, Patrick Fullerton-Healy, Louis Montgomery, Alex Armstrong, Ethan Bryce, Lorcan Hanratty.
On the same afternoon Royal School, Dungannon and Larne Grammar School played in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy at the Rainey Endowed School playing fields. The Royal School, Dungannon team won the game by 39-14.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored seven tries in the course of the game with James Allen scoring two and Peter Busby, Jack Girvan, James Girvan, Michael Tate and Jonny McCammond each scoring one. James was also successful with two conversions.
The Larne Grammar School points came through tries from their captain, Steven Dickie and their impressive centre, Jack Withers. Euan Glenn was successful with both of his conversions.
Both teams would like to thank Rainey Endowed School for hosting the game and provision of facilities and Graffin Parke for doing the post-match presentations.
Meanwhile at Banbridge Rugby Club Dromore High School and Banbridge Academy met in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl. The Dromore High School team won the game 33-17 at the end of an exciting game of schoolboy rugby. This game was played in superb conditions with both teams contributing greatly to the occasion. The Dromore High School team took an early 14-0 lead through tries from Adam Mulligan and Ryan McDowell, both of which were converted by Luke Allison. The Banbridge Academy team replied with one try from Ben Bradshaw, which was converted by Harry Patterson, to see the half time score reading Dromore High School 14 Banbridge Academy 7
Five minutes after the restart the Banbridge Academy arrears were reduced to 14-12 when Peter Coughlin touched down for an unconverted try. Dromore High School then increased their lead to 21-12 when Luke Allison touched down for a try which he converted. Back came the Banbridge Academy team with an unconverted try from Marc Murphy to leave the scoreboard reading Dromore High School 21 Banbridge Academy 17. After this, and despite the best intentions of the impressive Banbridge Academy backrow trio of Ben Bradshaw, Marcus McNeill and Adam Hanna, the Dromore High School team scored two more tries through Adam Whitten and Taylor Beacom-Hurle. One more successful conversion from Luke Allison secured the 33-17 win for the Dromore High School team.
Both teams would like to thank Banbridge Rugby Club for hosting the game and provision of facilities and David Napier for doing the post-match presentations.
On Saturday 7th March Bangor Grammar School played Down High School in the semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield. The Bangor Grammar School team won the game by 54-12 and scored eight tries in the process.
Rory Christie scored a hat trick of tries with Angus Christie, Patrick Dobie, Riley Westwood, Harry McCracken and Conor Lusty each touching down for one try. Angus Christie was successful with six conversions with Conor Lusty kicking one conversion.
The Down High School team scored two tries through Joe Charles with Luka Walsh adding one conversion.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted Coleraine Grammar School in the second semi-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield. The Campbell College, Belfast team won the game by 48-17 and scored seven tries in the course of the game.
Dara Gaskin, Finlay Parkes, Jack Boal and Danny Williamson each scored a first half try with Paddy McAlpine, Zac Solomon and Conor McCauley each scoring a try in the second half. Jack Bonnar completed a fine personal performance with five successful conversions as well as one penalty.
The Coleraine Grammar School team scored three tries through Cameron Wallace, Harry Mitchell and Rory Telfer to which Harry Caskey added one conversion.
The final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield, featuring Bangor Grammar School and Campbell College, Belfast, is scheduled to take place at the Queen’s University RFC pitch on Wednesday 18th March at 2-30pm.
In the final of the Danske Bank 3rdxv Cup Ballymena Academy 3rdxv played Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv at the Belfast Royal Academy playing fields at Roughfort. Following an exciting game it was the Methodist College, Belfast 3rdxv that emerged as 24-10 winners.
Both teams would like to thank Belfast Royal Academy, especially Anton and the ground staff, for the use of facilities and hosting the game as well as Barney McGonigle for doing the post-match presentations.
The Belfast Royal Academy staff were busy on Saturday morning as they also hosted a Year 8 Tournament, with players from eight different schools taking part, at Roughfort. The final game of the morning saw the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team defeat the Campbell College, Belfast team by 3 tries-2 tries.
Meanwhile at Osborne Park the annual Royal Belfast Academical Institution U14 Tournament took place with teams from twelve schools participating. The final game of the morning saw the Ballymena Academy team defeat the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team by 12-0.
