Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 9th November 2019
To follow INTOUCH RUGBY on Facebook CLICK HERE to Follow InTouch Schools & Clubs Rugby in Ulster & Lifestyle Specials page on Facebook CLICK HERE for TWITTER CLICK HERE
With schools returning after the half term break some fixtures were played during the week in the lead up to potentially a good list of games on Saturday 9th November.
On Monday 4th November Omagh Academy travelled to the Meadowbank Sports Stadium in Magherafelt where they played an Ulster U18 Clubs “Select” xv. Both teams took the opportunity to play extended squads over a period of 3×25 minute games. At the end of the evening the Omagh Academy team won by eight tries to two tries.
The Omagh Academy team started strongly and spent the opening period deep in the Ulster Clubs’ Red Zone. However, a turnover ball enabled the Clubs’ team to counter from deep and they finished a flowing move with a fine try.
The Omagh Academy team recovered from this early set back with a try from Jack Moore and, shortly after this, a second try-this time from Daniel Cairns. As the game went on the Omagh Academy team, with a number of players returning to play following a long lay-off, continued to play an expansive style of rugby. Matthew Hunter, Rory Ritchie, Alex Colhoun, who was making his 1stxv debut, Oisin McBride, Reece Braden and Carl Logan each ran in for a try over the course of each of the periods of play. In the final third the Ulster Clubs’ U18 team got rewarded for their efforts in the course of the evening when they touched down for their second try.
On Wdnesday 6th November Down High School played Dromore High School in a game the Down High School team won by 29-14.
The Down High School points came with five tries from Ben Gibson, Rhys Phillips, who ran in for a hat trick, and Jonathan Graham. Luka Walsh added two successful conversion kicks to secure the 29-14 victory for the Down High School team.
The Dromore High School team scored two tries through Reuben Copes and Xander Lowham both of which were converted by Luke Allison.
Meanwhile in Ballymoney Dalriada School played their close rivals from Coleraine Grammar School in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 24-14.
The Dalriada School points came with tries from James McCormick and Will Scott with Aaron Gervais adding two conversions.
Shaw Fleck, Harry Mitchell and Luke Bell each scored a try for the Coleraine Grammar School team to which Rory Telfer added one penalty as well as three conversions. Tom Hutchinson impressed with his style of play for the Coleraine Grammar School team throughout the game.
Also on Wednesday 6th Wellington College, Belfast travelled to Lisburn where they played against the Friends’ School, Lisburn 2nd xv. The Wellington College team had built up a 12-7 by the interval with two tries late in the second half securing a 24-7 win.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn points came through a try from Sam Le Seelleur which was converted by Alex Topping.
The Wellington College, Belfast team scored tries through Chris Campbell and Aaron McNeill, each of whom scored a brace, two of which were converted by Tom Stanfield.
Meanwhile the Belfast Royal Academy team welcomed Bangor Grammar School to Roughfort where the Bangor Grammar School put on an impressive performance and emerged as worthy 47-0 winners. The Bangor Grammar School team took a 14-0 lead by the interval with tries from Angus Christie and Robbie Grant both of which were converted by Angus.
The Bangor team continued to dominate territory and possession in the course of the second half. They scored five tries through Angus Christie, who touched down with two more for his hat trick, Ben Gibson, Lewis Hatty and Paddy Dobie. Angus capped a fine personal performance with four more successful conversions to secure the 47-0 victory for the Bangor Grammar School team.
On Friday 8th November Rainey Endowed School hosted the Royal School, Dungannon team in a high scoring game the Royal School, Dungannon team won by 40-29. The Rainey Endowed School team scored five tries with Joel Bell, Ryan Brown, Ross Speers, Seb Hastings and Ben Brown all crossing the RS Dungannon whitewash. Ross Speers was also successful with two conversions.
For the Royal School, Dungannon team Jack Girvan and Charlie Conroy each scored two ties with Adam Junk and Jonny McCammond each touching down for one. Jack was also successful with five of his conversion kicks.
Also on Friday 8th Ballymena Academy hosted Campbell College, Belfast on the pitch at Eaton Park, home of Ballymena RFC. Among the large group of supporters at the game, which the Ballymena Academy team won by 34-19, was former Ballymena Academy, King’s Scholar’s RFC, Ballymena RFC, Ulster and Ireland centre, and immediate past President of the Irish Rugby Football Union, Ian McIlrath, a man with an in-depth knowledge of the game, especially at schoolboy level.
The Ballymena Academy team, with Josh Drain efficiently directing operations from the scrum half position, opened the scoring with a try from Matthew French, which was converted by Ross McKay, to see the home team into a 7-0 lead. A Ross McKay penalty increased that lead to 10-0 before Finlay Parkes touched down for an unconverted try for the Campbell College team which reduced their deficit to 10-5. On the stroke of half time the impressive Adam Lamont scored an unconverted try for the Ballymena Academy team to see the Ballymena Academy team into a 15-5 lead at the break.
Early in the second half strong carries from Joe Mawhinney, Andrew Donald and Andrew Lawther took play deep into the Campbell College “Red Zone”. The ball was recycled quickly and good handling from the Ballymena Academy back division saw Paul Gocher finish the flowing move with a try. Ross McKay added the extras to see his Ballymena Academy team into a 22-5 lead. The Campbell College team responded with an excellent second try from Finlay Parkes, which was converted by Dara Gaskin, to reduce their arrears to 22-12. Adam Lamont then scored another try, once again converted by Ross McKay, to put the Ballymena Academy team into a 29-12 lead. Once again, the Campbell College team came back with a try-this time from Conor Macauley. Dara Gaskin converted the try to see the scoreboard read Ballymena Academy 29 Campbell College, Belfast 19. In the closing stages of the game Adam Lamont secured his “Man of the Match” award when he blasted over the Campbell College line to touch down for his hat trick of ties to secure the 34-19 victory for the Ballymena Academy team.
Both teams would like to thank the Ballymena Rugby Club for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
The Royal School, Armagh team went on tour to the South West of England where they played two games against two of the strongest school teams in the area, Ivybridge College and Exeter College.
In the first game against Ivybridge the Royal School, Armagh team recorded a 31-5 victory. Sam Rainey, Peter Taylor, Neil Carville, Charlie Worth and Ross Taylor each scored a try to which Charlie Worth added three conversions.
In their second game, against Exeter College, which the Royal School, Armagh team won by 43-27, Ryan Finlay, Christie Paul, Nicholas Bothwell, Chris Whiteside, Matthew Monaghan, James Campbell and Josh King each touched down for a try. Four Matthew Monaghan conversions secured the 43 points for the Royal School, Armagh team.
On Saturday 9th November quite a few scheduled games fell foul of the horrendous weather conditions prevailing at the time. However, a number of games did survive.
Larne Grammar School played Limavady Grammar School in a game the Limavady Grammar School team won by 15-12. This was a very closely contested game played in the most difficult of conditions. Credit was due to all the players, as well as the referee, Alan McCourt, for providing such an entertaining game for those supporters who did manage to survive the elements.
The Larne Grammar School team scored their points through tries from Robin Wynn and Glenn Carson. Euan Glenn was successful with one conversion. Kristopher Wilson and Stuart McAllister both impressed with their performances for the Larne Grammar School team.
For the Limavady Grammar School team Joshua Howe weighed in with a brace of tries with Jamie Clements touching down for a third try which secured the 15-12 win for his team.
Portadown College played a Wallace High School 2nd xv “Select” team and won the game by 34-7. Jay Lismore capped a fine personal performance for the Portadown College team when he ran in for a hat trick of tries. Team captain, Ryan Neill, scored one try as did Cody Black and Jordan Robb to which Joe Orr added two conversions.
Jay Kinnear scored a converted try for the Wallace High School team.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted Blackrock College, Dublin in a game the Blackrock College team won by 24-3. Blackrock College impressed with their ability to control both territory and possession for large parts of the game. Their well-organised defence ensured that the only real opportunity the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team had to score was when Ronan Boyle converted a penalty kick.
Methodist College, Belfast made their way to Clane in Co Kildare where they were hosted by the Clongowes Wood College team. The Clongowes Wood College team had built up an 8-0 lead by the interval before going on to win the game by 23-5. Callum Doherty scored the consolation unconverted try for the Methodist College, Belfast team.
