A number of midweek games took place on Wednesday 9th November because of transfer tests being hosted at schools on Saturday 12th November.
Regent House hosted Sullivan Upper at the Circular Road venue in Newtownards.
Before the game all players took part in a Minutes Silence in memory of Ben Reid, the Regent House pupil who so tragically lost his life in a road accident during the recent half term break. The game was played in very wet and blustery conditions with the Regent captain deciding to play into the elements in the first half. Five minutes into the game the Sullivan backs dropped the ball providing the opportunity for the Regent team to capitalise. Regent right winger, Aaron Culbert took full advantage of the situation by kicking ahead to outpace the Sullivan defence and win the chase for the touchdown. Nathan Burns was successful with his conversion to put his team into an early 7-0 lead. Midway through the first half quick ruck ball provided the opportunity for the Regent scrum half, Alan Sinnamon, to break from from his 22m area. He made good ground before off-loading to Jamie McKnight who was running a good support line. Jamie found his fellow backrow forward, Jonny Baird, with a clever pass. Jonny raced over the half way line before passing to Aaron Culbert who ran in his second try of the game. The try was not converted but the Regent team now had a 12-0 lead. The Sullivan team responded positively for the remainder of the first half but found the Regent defence to be well organised and able to keep their line intact until the interval. Sullivan started the second half strongly and secured early possession from a lineout. From the resultant midfield plays, Sullivan maintained possession and eventually scored a try when they opened up the Regent defence through aggressive running from their centre. The try was not converted but the scoreline now read 12-5 in favour of the home team. Both teams attacked at every opportunity for the remainder of the second half displaying remarkable handling skills considering the atrocious conditions. Bothy defences held out ensuring Regent House celebrations at the final whistle with their hard earned 12-5 victory.
Friends’ School hosted Wellington College in a game played in extremely difficult conditions.
Wellington College took an early 3-0 lead when their outhalf converted a penalty opportunity following a Friends’ infringement at a ruck. The home side recovered when Ross Robinson opened up a hesitant Wellington College defence to score a fine individual try. Ross concerted his try to put his team into a 7-3 lead. Friends’ continued to dominate proceedings for the remainder of the first half and got rewarded for their efforts when Paul Wyatt ran in for an unconverted try to give the Lisburn team a 12-3 halftime lead. Paul scored his second try of the game in the second half to put the Friends’ team into a 17-3 lead. With the last play of the game the Welllington team scored an unconverted try to leave the final scoreline reading 17-8 in favour of the Friends’ School team. While the game was played in difficult conditions there were good performances from Zac Finlay, Dean Howes, Ross Robinson, Paddy Ferguson, Daniel Bell and Matthew Patterson for the Friends’ School team.
On Wednesday afternoon, in wet conditions at Galgorm Road, Ballymena Academy locked horns with Coleraine Academical Institution for the second time this season.
The Ballymena team was quickly out of the blocks with an early try from scrum half Jack Fleming and he added his, and Ballymena’s, second after 10 minutes with a well-finished try in the corner. Darren Geddis was successful with one of these conversions to give his team a 12-0 lead. However, Mikey Poskitt’s penalty for the Coleraine team reduced the deficit to 12-3. Matthew Rea increased the home team’s lead to 17-3 with a strong burst to the try line for an unconverted try. However, the Coleraine Inst team side stayed in touch when a Conor Shiels break saw Coleraine touch down below the posts for a try which Mikey Poskitt converted to reduce the arrears to 17-10. Before the half time break, Ballymena stretched further into the lead with tries from Jordan Foster and Nicholas Stirling. Another conversion from Darren Geddis meant the half time score read 29 – 10 to Ballymena. The second half was one-way traffic with Ballymena Academy adding four more tries. Sam McNabney and Paddy Millar touched down and Matthew Rea and Nicholas Stirling each added their second of the afternoon. Darren Geddis added three conversions to leave the final score reading 53 – 10 to Ballymena Academy.
Belfast Royal Academy travelled to play Bangor Grammar School in a postponed game and recorded a welcome 12-7 midweek win.
Unfortunately, the Roughfort based team could not repeat this when Foyle and Londonderry College came to play them on Saturday 12th November. The Belfast Royal Academy took a 5-0 lead early in the game when Daniel Dass crashed over the Foyle line for an unconverted try. The Foyle team equalised with an unconverted Sean Devine try a short time later to take the score to 5-5. The Foyle and Londonderry College team took a 12-5 lead when Oisin Duddy ran in for a try which was converted by Neil Burns. Just before halftime David Campbell scored an unconverted try for the home to leave the scoreline reading 12-10 in favour of the Foyle and Londonderry College team at halftime. Jack Rainey scored and converted a try for the Belfast Royal Academy team after the interval to put them into a 17-12 lead. Midway through the second half Neil Burns scored a try for the visitors which was converted by Kyle Henderson to see the Foyle team regain a 19-17 lead. Stephen Chi sealed the game for the Foyle and Londonderry College team with an unconverted try in the closing stages of the game, a try which ensured they returned home with a 24-17 victory following a greatly improved performance in the course of this game.
Coleraine Academical Institution bounced back from the disappointment of their midweek defeat to Ballymena Academy with a hard earned 19-17 win against Portora Royal School.
Portora took a 7-0 lead fifteen minutes into the game when they capitalised on a poor kick from the Coleraine AI team to score a converted try. Ten minutes later the Coleraine AI flanker, Adam Ramsey took advantage of quick ruck ball to run in for a try. Michael Poskitt converted the try to give his team a 7-5 lead. Just before the interval the Coleraine AI extended their lead when Nick Logan was held up just short of the line but managed to off-load the ball toThomas Pethick. Thomas fought hard to get over the Portora Royal School line and touch down for a try. Mikey Poskitt added the conversion to give his team a 14-7 halftime lead. Midway through the second half Portora scored an unconverted try in the corner to reduce the arrears to 14-12. With only ten minutes remaining Portora Royal School took the lead when their left winger took advantage of good lineout ball from his pack and smart handling from his backs to score a try in the corner. The try was not converted but the Portora team now had a 17-14 lead. In the last play of the game the Coleraine AI team snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat when Peter Kidd made a telling break on the short side of a ruck to create an opening for his No 8, Nick Logan, to run in for a try. The try was not converted but the Coleraine team had won the game by 19-17. Peter Kidd, Nick Logan and Jonny Crowe all stood out for the Coleraine AI team while the Portora Royal School scrum half, full back and No 8 impressed with their performances in this keenly contested game.
Methodist College hosted Rockwell College from Cashel at Pirrie Park with the Methody boys hoping to continue their recent run of good results against teams from Munster.
Rockwell had the better of the game territorially but both defences were on top in the course of the first half ensuring a 0-0 scoreline at the interval. The Methodist College team had a greater percentage of the possession and territory in the second half and began to dominate at the set piece. However, the Rockwell College defence was resolute and the Methody team was left frustrated, at times, when they failed to turn pressure into points. The first points of the game came some six minutes from time when Rudolph Benade converted a penalty opportunity to give the Methody team a 3-0 lead. From the restart Rockwell College pressed and after the Methody defence had stood off the opposition the Rockwell College centre crossed for unconverted try to put his side 5-3 ahead with just 3 minutes remaining. Methody besieged the Rockwell College line with James Harrison, Rory Winters, Chris Gracey and Mark Gribben leading the way. After a number of phases the home team moved the ball to the right wing where the Rockwell left winger went for an intercept. He appeared to knock the ball forward but this was unseen by the match official. The ball bounced kindly back into his hands and he ran the length of the field to touch down under the Methodist College posts. The try was converted and the no side whistle sounded to leave Rockwell College as victors and the Methody team losing at home for the first time since Colston’s College defeated them at Pirrie Park in the 2007/8 season.
Ballymena Academy continued their recent run of good form when they travelled to play the Rainey Endowed team in Magherafelt.
The Rainey team was missing a number of first team players but took the opportunity to give debuts to players such as Mark Cavanagh, Jonny Stewart and Matthew McCready, all of whom played well. Jordan Foster opened the scoring for the Ballymena Academy team with an excellent finish after a well-worked passage of play by the Ballymena pack. Darren Geddis added the conversion to give his team a 7-0 lead. Rainey reduced the arrears to 7-3 with a successful penalty attempt from Martin Connolly but Ballymena extended their lead when Nicholas Stirling raced clear to finish below the posts. Nicholas added his second of the morning just before half time and Darren Geddis’s third successful conversion took the score to 21 – 3 in favour of Ballymena Academy at halftime. The second half was one-way traffic as Ballymena quickly added four more tries through Michael Caithness, Eddie Kosch, Jordan Foster as well as a hat-trick try for Nicholas Stirling. Two successful Darren Geddis conversions had increased Ballymena’s lead to 45 – 3 but an injury in the Rainey front row saw the referee take the decision to sound the final whistle a few minutes early.
Portadown College hosted a very committed Cambridge House team and started the game strongly showing patience and control throughout.
An infringement from a Cambridge House player resulted with a straight forward 3 points for centre Michael Busby. Continued pressure saw the Portadown Number 10, Ryan Calvert, pick up from the tail of a ruck to drive low to score. An excellent conversion from Michael Busby moved the score to 10 – 0 in favour of the Portadown College team. Portadown continued to create chances but failed on a number of occasions to execute the final pass. This was highlighted by the Portadown winger, Louis Pearson, who ran a try in over the line but continued on his run to score over the dead ball line!. A breakaway try by the Cambridge House centre under the Portadown posts brought the Cambridge side back into the game with the scoreline reading 10 – 7. The Portadown College team responded by dominating all facets of the play, enjoying much of the remaining possession. They were rewarded with a further try by Number 10 Ryan Calvert to take the score to 15 – 7. Portadown College continued to press but again failed to convert their chances leaving the final score as a comfortable 15 -7 win for the Portadown College side.
Banbridge Academy played Belfast High School in an entertaining and high scoring game at the Lurgan Road venue.
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Banbridge Academy scored the first points of the game when Aaron Kennedy ran in for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead after ten minutes of play. This lead was extended to 12-0, some five minutes later, when the Academy winger, Rory Thompson, rounded his opposite number to touchdown for a try. Aaron Kennedy was successful with his conversion attempt. The Belfast High School team responded positively with a converted try after twenty minutes to reduce the arrears to 12-7. Five minutes later the Banbridge team scored another try through Carl Stirling which Aaron Kennedy converted to take the score to 19-7. The Belfast High School team scored an unconverted try just before the interval to take the score to 19-12. From the restart the home team scored another try through Rory Thompson with Aaron Kennedy adding the conversion to take the halftime score to 26-12 in favour of the home side. After a first half which saw seven tries scored the second half turned out to be much more measured. The Belfast High School team controlled possession in most stages of the second half and scored two converted tries to take the score to 26-26. Just as it seemed the draw would stand as a result, the Banbridge Academy team was awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of injury time. Up stepped Aaron Kennedy who coolly slotted the ball over the bar and between the uprights to secure a 29-26 victory for his Banbridge Academy team.
The Campbell College team was missing a number of representative players, including Mark Best and Glenn Baillie, when they hosted a very determined Grosvenor Grammar School team on Saturday.
Both teams had the opportunity to put points on the board early in the game through penalties but both kickers were having an off day and missed the kicks. The Grosvenor Grammar School team eventually opened the scoring when Sam Purden scored a try following a clever backrow move from the Grosvenor loose trio. Peter Davison added the conversion to give his team a 7-0 lead, a lead they held until the interval. The Campbell College team dominated possession as well as territory in the opening exchanges of the second half and their enterprising approach saw them run in three converted tries to take a 21-7 lead. In the final quarter of the game the visitors rediscovered some of their first half form and scored an unconverted try when Matthew Allen crashed over following good work from Matthew Cahoon, Nick Jones and Stuart Smyth, to leave the final score reading 21-12 in favour of the Campbell College team.
Wallace High School and Royal School, Armagh met at the Magheralave Road venue with the Armagh team dominating totally the proceedings in the first half of the game.
Daniel Reaney ran in for two tries with Duncan Stead adding a third, Ali Wright added two conversions as well a penalty to see his team through to a 22-0 halftime lead. The Wallace High School team took advantage of a more relaxed RS Armagh approach in the second half of the game. The Lisburn team scored two tries through Jordan Heatley and David Scott with James McCallen adding one conversion. On rare visits to the Wallace High School 22m area the RS Armagh team was awarded two penalties which were converted by Ali Wright to ensure a 28-12 win for his team. The RS Armagh team welcomed Michael Hoey back from injury and had good displays from Duncan Stead, Daniel Reaney and Darryl Morton. Ali Wright took the “Man of the Match” award with his all-round display in the course of the game.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Royal Belfast Academical Institution and made the visitors work for their hard earned victory.
The RS Dungannon team welcomed back their No 8, Stephen Rogers, who had been unavailable since September due to an injury picked up playing for the Ulster U19 team. The Belfast Inst team started the game well, asking questions of the RS Dungannon defence. The defence held up for a period of time but eventually the Belfast Inst team managed to cross the RS Dungannon line for an unconverted try, following a series of phase plays, to take a 5-0 lead. The RS Dungannon team responded positively and took the game deep into Belfast Inst territory. Two Jack Milligan penalties were the rewards for pressurising the Belfast Inst defence which gave the home team a 6-5 lead which they held until the interval. The Inst team scored a converted try early in the second half to give them a 12-6 lead. The home team responded with a Peter Cashel try following good work from Stephen Rogers. Jack Milligan converted the try to put his team into a 13-12 lead with the game moving into the final quarter. The visitors scored two late tries, one of which was converted to give them a 24-13 lead. Despite intensive pressure in the last few minutes from the RS Dungannon attack, the Belfast Inst defence held firm ensuring they recorded a hard earned, but deserved, 24-13 win.
Carrickfergus Grammar School recorded a 32-0 victory against Friends’ School for whom Ross Robinson, Zac Finlay and Jack McMullan all played well.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team scored four tries and kicked three conversions as well as two penalties in the course of the game.
Ballyclare High School entertained Bangor Grammar School at the Hollinger Playing Fields. The Bangor team started the game strongly and the Ballyclare High School defence had to be well organised to thwart the constant wave of Bangor Grammar School attacks. Having defended well in the opening exchanges, the Ballyclare forwards carried ball out of defence. Quick ball from an ensuing ruck allowed Jonny Douglas to create space and leave the Bangor Grammar School full back clutching at straws as he ran in for a try. Jack Irvine converted the try to give his Ballyclare High School a 7-0 lead. Bangor Grammar School continued to attack the Ballyclare High School line but, just before the interval, the home defence forced a turnover. The impressive Ballyclare High School prop, Paddy Reid, carried the ball over the half way line before off-loading to his flanker, Michael Kirk. Michael showed a great turn of speed to run in a try from 40m. The try was not converted but the Ballyclare High School team had opened up a 12-0 lead at the interval. The second half saw both teams commit a catalogue of errors. The Bangor team dominated the territory but allowed the Ballyclare team to turn over a lot of ball. Despite winning all the turnover ball, the Ballyclare High School team committed some sixteen handling errors in the second half ensuring there were no further scores in the game. The Ballyclare team was pleased with the 12-0 victory but recognise there is much work to be done if they are to eradicate the handling errors prevalent in their second half performance in this game.
