It is said in life what comes around, goes around. This can also be true in terms of life in rugby football. In a Schools’ Cup Semi-Final game played in 1992 featuring Wallace High School and Methodist College, quite a few of the players on that occasion are still involved in Rugby Football in a variety of ways but primarily in the coaching of the game. On that occasion Derek Suffern played at Number 8 for the Wallace High School team and he is now coaching the Wallace High School team. His outhalf in that game was a sylph like Neil Hinds, now Head of Physical Recreation and Movement Studies at Wallace High School and assisting Derek with coaching the 1stxv. Brian Leslie was the Wallace High School hooker that day against Methody and he takes his Banbridge Academy team to play Methodist College in the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final on Saturday. Gracing one of the Wallace High School wing positions in 1992 was Gavin Monteith who will be responsible for coaching the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team in their Quarter-Final game against Ballyclare High School on Saturday. One of the Wallace High School props in 1992 was Chris Webster who is currently the Ulster Domestic Operations Manager. The Wallace High School coach during that season was Brian McLaughlin, now Head Coach with Ulster Rugby. What of the Wallace High School opponents that day, Methodist College? They too have connections with Ulster Rugby as well as this seasons Schools’ Cup Quarter-Finals. Methody hooker and captain in 1992 was Colin Martin who currently teaches in Methody and coaches the school U14 team. Colin, of course, has had a coaching role with the Methodist College 1stxv in previous seasons. Methody flanker in 1992 was Aaron Moore who now teaches and coaches in Ballymena Academy, another of the current Quarter-Finalists. Jeremy Davidson played on the 1992 Methodist College team before going off with a Declan Kidney and Keith Patton coached Irish Schools’ Tour to New Zealand. Jeremy, of course, achieved great heights as a player with Ulster, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions before taking up coaching roles, including a recent position with Ulster Rugby. The Methody coach in 1992 was David Wells whose son, Nicky, has now assumed the responsibility for coaching the Methodist College 1stxv.
There are four Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final games scheduled to be played on Saturday 25th February.
Wallace High School will see themselves as clear favourites to win their Schools’ Cup game at home against Bangor Grammar School. The Wallace High School team was almost back to full strength when they overcame the challenge provided by Limavady Grammar School in the 4th Round of the Schools’ Cup. On that occasion players such as Jordan Heatley, Zack McCall, Josh Ard, Matthew Ballentyne, David Scott and Jordan Grattan all impressed with their endeavours in the course of the game. However, it was the return of Nathan McClatchey, from a long term injury, as a replacement in that game that brought a great deal of satisfaction to the Wallace High School coaches and players. Even with just a cameo appearance in that game, Nathan displayed the skills he has developed as an attacking player which saw him win Ulster U19 honours earlier in the season. Should he play on Saturday, the Bangor Grammar School team will need to monitor him closely. The Bangor Grammar School team travelled to Ballymoney in the previous round and had to work hard to overcome the challenge provided by Dalriada. Despite going behind in that game the Bangor Grammar School team displayed sufficient character, commitment and desire to record a well-deserved victory. They will need to display all these qualities when they travel to Lisburn on Saturday if they are to come away with anything in terms of a result. Jonny Gordan, Ryan Wilson and Max Montgomery are key players in the Bangor Grammar School pack. They will need to be at their best on Saturday. In the Bangor Grammar School back division players such as Daniel Kennedy, Andrew Mellon, Cameron Strut, Michael Weir and Peter Eves have impressed with their performances during their Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. These players will hope they can do enough in the course of their third Schools’ Cup game on the road this season to escape from Lisburn with what would be classified as a famous victory if they were to defeat the Wallace High School team. They did so last year in the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield. Can they achieve a similar result this season? This game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am at the Magheralave Road venue.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution came successfully through a tricky Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 4th Round game with RS Dungannon by 33-5. The Belfast Inst team controlled that game from start to finish and played some excellent rugby throughout. They had fine individual performances from representative players such as Matthew Keane, Paddy Anderson, Ben Alexander, Nathan Browne and John McClure. However, it was Gareth Lawlor who displayed great skills in that game contributing a lot with his game management, deft kicking and ability to score with the ball in hand. The Belfast Inst coaches, Gavin Monteith and Richard Hedley, realise they will have to ask for even more from their charges if they are to overcome the Ballyclare High School team, a team that learnt a lot about themselves when they defeated the Royal School, Armagh team in the previous round. It is the Ballyclare High School pack that has laid the foundations for the success the team has experienced this season. Jonny Craig, Marc Logan and Paddy Reid form an energetic front-row trio that has tested teams all season with their ability at scrum time as well as their hard work with the ball in hand. Matt Dailly and Scott Barr are effective lineout operators who also work hard in the loose. Grant Bartley captains the team from the backrow and receives great support from Jonny Darling and Jordan McKinstry at the break down. Chris Millar and Jack Irvine form a competent half back combination and, in the outside backs, they have players such as Jonny Holmes, Jonny Douglas, Eddie McKee and Peter Ferguson who love to run in the tries. The Belfast Inst team will have to pay particular attention to the strength and skills of the hard running Ballyclare High School winger, James Beattie. James is an emerging talent who has caught the eye of the Ulster Schools’ Selectors. Both these teams reached the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Semi-Final stage last season. One of them will lose out this season! This game is scheduled to kick-off at the Osbourne Park venue at 11-00am.
The Banbridge Academy team has surprised a lot of commentators by reaching the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Final stage this season. Having won their first two Schools’ Cup games on the road, they had the luxury of a home again as well as a comfortable win against Cambridge House in the previous round. However, the draw for the Quarter-Final stage has not been kind to the Co Down team. They are on the road once again, this time to the pristine paddock pitch at Pirrie Park, home of Methodist College, Belfast. The Banbridge Academy team will lack nothing in terms of confidence for this game. Brian Leslie, the Banbridge Academy coach, has discovered a renewed confidence among the squad due to their impressive Schools’ Cup run. They know they go into the game against Methodist College as massive underdogs but it would be foolish to write them off totally. Colin McGregor leads his team well and has high expectations of his players. Alex Thompson in the second row has displayed enormous potential in the course of the cup run while David McKeown is a tireless worker in the course of any game. Aaron Kennedy and Marc Stevenson form an effective half back combination while Jordan Buchannon, Chris Watts and Glen Rowan love to get the opportunity to run with the ball in hand. The Methodist College team has an experienced squad from which to select their team. They came away from Magherafelt with the job well done in their Round 4 encounter against the Rainey Endowed School. Rory Winters provides great leadership for his team and can count on representative players such as Chris Gracey, Mark Gribben and James Harrison to assist when the going gets tough. Mark Lagan has successfully filled the space left by the injured Ross Kane while Mark Campbell has displayed great ability with his performances in the 2nd Row. James Gallagher has successfully made the transition to senior schools’ rugby and will receive plenty of advice from his brother, Charlie, as to how to prepare for such an important game. The Methodist College team has strength, speed and ability out wide with Rudolph Benade and Paddy Colhoun looking for every opportunity to attack. Connor McKee is an emerging talent in the centre while David McElhinney provides great service as the link between the forwards and backs. This game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am at the Pirrie Park venue.
Ballymena Academy host Campbell College in a game that brings together the last two winners of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
Both teams had reasonably comfortable wins in their 4th Round games and both teams realise they will need to up their performances if they to come through this Quarter-Final game successfully. The Ballymena Academy team has relied on the experience of players such as Matthew Rea, Sam McNabney, Adam Kirk and George Hargy in their pack. However, they have a backline that enjoys working with the ball in hand. In Jack Fleming they have a very talented scrum half and his battle with his opposite number from Campbell College, Josh Fullerton, could be central to the outcome of this game as well as being of interest to any visiting Provincial or National U18 Schools’ Selectors! Jack forms an effective half back partnership with Darren Geddis, a player who has grown in confidence as the season has progressed. Nicholas Sterling is an exciting runner and while Thomas Gaston and Peter Storey are players the Campbell College defence will need to monitor closely. John Andrews and Gavin Murray, the Ballymena Academy coaches, will be well aware of the threat posed in the Schools’ Cup by any Campbell College team. Having lost narrowly to the Campbell College team earlier in the season, the Ballymena Academy coaches and players will be setting out their stall to ensure there is no repeat of that result. The Campbell College team was workmanlike in their victory against Grosvenor Grammar School in the previous round. The coaching staff of Brian Robinson, Gareth Fry and John McKinney showed concern at the lack of precision displayed by their charges in the second half of that game. They will not wish for a repeat performance! Jack Cooke and Seb McBrien are key forwards for the Campbell College team and central to the desires of their backline for the provision of quality ball. If they can get sufficient quality possession for their backs to use and the backs can me more precise, the Campbell College team will fancy their chances. Players such as Josh Fullerton, Rob Haldane, Mark Best, Harry Howard and Jack Owens are potential match winners in their own right. If they can put everything together for the benefit of their team on Saturday, this game could have all the hallmarks of being a Schools’ Cup classic! This game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am at the Galgorm Road venue.
Following the Quarter-Final results coming through the draws for the Semi-Finals of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Subsidiary Shield competitions will take place at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution grounds at Osbourne Park on Saturday 25th February.
There are three Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield games scheduled to take place on Saturday 25th February.
Cambridge House will host Limavady Grammar School at the Cambridge Avenue venue in Ballymena at 10-30am. Rainey Endowed School will play Royal School, Dungannon in Magherafelt at 11-00am while Coleraine Academical Institution will host Grosvenor Grammar School at the Castlerock Road venue with an 11-00am kick off.
There are two Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Semi-Finals scheduled for Saturday 25th February. Regent House will host their near neighbours, Sullivan Upper, at 10-30am while Belfast Royal Academy will play Down High School at Roughfort with a 10-45am kick off.
The first of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Finals will take place at Dungannon Rugby Club on Wednesday 29th February when Omagh Academy play Larne Grammar School in the final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy. This game will kick off at 2-00pm.
