With the long awaited thaw setting in immediately after the Christmas period, a number of schools did manage to play games between Christmas and the New Year.
Belfast High School entertained Portora Royal School in a game where the visitors were unlucky to lose their captain, Adam Farrell, in the warm up. The Enniskillen team welcomed back Rory Gibson and Jimmy Connors after injury but the loss of their inspirational captain was a bitter blow.
Click Here for 78 pictures of the game, you can then view the pictures individually or as a slideshow
The home team took a 7-0 lead when Jake Toan capitalised on some good work from his pack to score a try. Robbie Fryars added the conversion for the Belfast High School team. Portora Royal came back strongly with John McClaughry taking advantage of a hesitant High School defence to win a foot race, following a kick through, to touch down for an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 7-5. Robbie Fryars kicked to penalty for the Belfast High School to see them into a 10-5 lead. This lead was extended just prior to half time to 17-5 when Aaron Blair scored a try which Robbie Fryars converted. The home team dominated proceedings in the second half with tries from Matthew Boyd and Robbie Fryars. Robbie converted his own try to see his team through to a well-deserved 29-5 win.
[youtube EcrgIC1pAvA]
[youtube 9AFJCpZ_2ZY]
[youtube NuWMvBwo6ME]
[youtube MxkuUKDfzPs]
[youtube 8GGk1TjDJpI]
Ballyclare High School got back to winning ways when they hosted a depleted Belfast Royal Academy team at the Rashee Road. Both packs were evenly matched in the opening exchanges but it was the Ballyclare team that took the lead when winger, Andrew Butler, beat two defenders to run in for a try from the half way line. Jonny Holmes was unsuccessful with his conversion attempt but did kick two first half penalties to see his Ballyclare High School team safely into an 11-0 half time lead. The Ballyclare team dominated territory as well as possession but failed to take advantage of a number of line breaks. They did score two second half penalties to take a 17-0 lead. The Belfast Royal Academy team was positive with the ball in hand and got rewarded for their positive approach when Matthew Robinson scored an unconverted try with just minutes remaining. This ensured that the final score was 17-5 in favour of the Ballyclare High School team. The Ballyclare coaches took great encouragement from the performance of the team but it was Jonny Darling and debutant 2nd Row forward, Matthew Daley, who really caught the eye with their work rate throughout the game.
Wallace High School hosted Coleraine AI with both teams delighted to get game time after the enforced lay off. It proved to be a difficult game for the visitors with the Wallace team dominating all aspects of the game. Nathan McClatchey scored two tries with Jordan Heatley, Darryl Corbett, Colin Matthews and Zack McCall all registering one try each. David Scott kicked three conversions to secure a 36-0 win for the Lisburn team. The Wallace team got a bonus with Daniel Henry returning to the fray with a 20 minute cameo appearance following a hand injury. Zack McCall impressed with his time on the pitch following a knee operation. The Wallace High School team registered this win without the services of their hooker, Chris Taylor, who was on Irish Schools’ U18’s duty in Dublin.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution comprehensively defeated Bangor Grammar School by 33-7. Nathan Dugan, playing in the centre, touched down for the first Belfast Inst try when he took advantage of good work from Paddy Bell and Paddy Anderson in the Belfast Inst back row. A combination of a Matthew McGuigan kick and the speed of Nathan Brown led to a second Inst try with Gareth Lawlor touching down for a third try.
Click Here for 21 pictures of the game, you can then view the pictures individually or as a slideshow
Matthew McGuigan added all three conversions to see his team into a 21-0 lead. Belfast Inst scored a fourth first half try through Kevin McLean to see the half time score read 26-0 in their favour. The pace of the game fell off in the second half with the Belfast Inst team scoring a try through John McClure which was converted by Matthew McGuigan. In response, the Bangor team, on a rare incursion into the Belfast Inst half scored a try from Gareth Irvine. Daniel Kennedy added the conversion to see the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team record an impressive 33-7 win.
Methodist College hosted Royal School, Armagh in a very close game at Pirrie Park. The RS Armagh team opened the scoring in this game when Stuart Hooks, recently capped by Irish Schools, turned over Methody ball just inside the Methody half. Stuart powered his way through the Methody defence to touch down for a try. Harry Boyd added the conversion to see the RS Armagh team into a 7-0 lead.
Click Here for 84 pictures of the game, you can then view the pictures individually or as a slideshow
Despite this setback, the Methodist College team regrouped and scored two unconverted tries through Mark Gribben and Matthew McFaul to take the score to 10-7 at the half time whistle. Early in the second half Harry Boyd levelled the score at 10-10 when he converted a penalty opportunity following a Methody infringement at the breakdown. There was little to separate either team although the Methody team appeared to have an advantage with their lineout. Two Mark Gribben penalties late in the game gave the home team a deserved 16-10 victory at the end of this intriguing encounter. For the Methody team, Rory Winters, Mark Gribben and James Harrison all impressed while Stuart Hooks, Thomas Johnston and Timmy McNeice all stood out with their performances for the RS Armagh team.
[youtube aGrvUo4dF8s]
[youtube DvlqhYLRQdA]
[youtube QHddecQg5jU]
[youtube Wc_5lUsEwTs]
[youtube fVMzCBkwY5w]
Limavady Grammar School travelled to Magherafelt to play against an ever improving Rainey Endowed team. Both teams had been hit by the recent weather conditions and the opening exchanges were punctuated by a series of basic handling errors. The Rainey Endowed team was missing a number of key backs for the game but the performance of the Rainey pack more than compensated for this. Rainey started brightly and should have put right wing Matthew Stewart in for a try in the corner but the opportunity was denied due to good Limavady Grammar School defence. The Limavady responded in a very positive manner and should have scored when Adam Blair had the Rainey line at his mercy only to see the ball go forward. The Limavady Grammar School did get the first try of the game when Nathan Barr and Shay McIntosh combined to put Ryan McCool into space. Ryan initiated a series of passes which eventually saw Shay McIntosh cross the Rainey line for a try. Nathan Barr added the extras to see his team into a deserved 7-0 lead. The Limavady team continued to pressurise the Rainey defence but the Rainey defensive system was well organised and denied the opposition opportunities to score. After a number of smart kicks from their young out half, Aran Murphy, Rainey got into an attacking position. From a lineout close to the Limavady Grammar School line, Mark McErlean took a great catch. The Rainey pack drove the ball over the line enabling Damien Devlin to get the touch down. Martin Connolly added the conversion from the touchline to level the score at 7-7. With the game finely balanced, Martin Connolly kicked a penalty to give the Rainey Endowed team a 10-7 lead. The Rainey pack was now controlling the set pieces with the front row of James Kelso, Owen Devlin and Jack McCalmont dominating. On the stroke of half time, Rainey pushed hard for their second try and after a series of drives close to the Limavady Grammar School line, captain Luke Steele crossed for a try. Martin Connolly again converted to leave the half time score 17 – 7 to the Rainey team. Limavady started the second half brightly and forced Rainey to defend. However, the Rainey team gradually got back into the game. Behind the scrum Damien McMurray was having an influential game, marshalling a young back line. Michael Dawson and Jonathan Lees were dominating the forward exchanges. However, despite a number of opportunities for the Rainey team the Limavady Grammar School defence remained intact until late in the game. With just a few minutes remaining an excellent break by fullback Philip Caulfield paved the way for Luke Steele to drive over for his second try of the game. Martin Connolly once again added the conversion to take the score to 24 – 7. Close to the final whistle the Rainey left winger, Jamie Noble, intercepted a stray Limavady Grammar School pass and almost went on to score only to be stopped by a very good Limavady cover tackle. There was no more time for the Limavady team to reduce the arrears thus ensuring a 24-7 victory for the Rainey Endowed School team.
