There were a number of midweek fixtures played prior to a full list of schools’ fixtures on Saturday 20th November.
Cambridge House finally got a win, after a number of close defeats, when they played Portadown College. The Cambridge House team had been playing well without getting the reward they felt they deserved. Cambridge House opened the scoring with a try from their impressive flanker, Mark Payne, following good work from his fellow forwards. Timmy Small converted this try to put his team into a 7-0 leads. Cambridge House No 8, Andrew Cundell, scored a second try for the Ballymena team after thirty minutes to give his team a 12-0 lead. Just before the interval Timmy Small kicked a penalty to give the Cambridge House team a deserved 15-0 half time lead. The second half started with Cambridge House controlling both scrums and linesout. Their captain, Matthew Harkness, scored two tries in the course of the second half, one just after the restart and his second with just minutes remaining. Timmy Small added one conversion to see the Cambridge House team through to a comfortable 27-0 victory.
Portadown College played Carrickfergus Grammar School a few days later with high hopes of getting back to winning ways after their defeat to Cambridge House. However, the Carrickfergus team had other ideas! Having lost heavily to Friends’ School in their previous midweek game, the Carrickfergus Grammar School team recovered and went on to record an excellent win against Portora RS. This win gave the team great confidence when they hosted a shell shocked Portadown College team. The home team totally outplayed the Portadown College team in the first half, scoring 33 unanswered points. Jonny Moore opened the scoring for the Carrickfergus team and converted his own try to put his team 7-0 ahead. Carrickfergus Grammar School maintained the momentum and their forwards paved the way for a Josh Brown try. Jonny Moore added the conversion to see the Carrickfergus team into a 14—0 lead. Ryan Hamilton then scored a try for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team which was not converted but the home team had a 19-0 lead. Stephen Welsh created the opportunity for Josh Brown to score his second try of the game with Jonny Moore touching down, shortly afterwards, for his second of the game. Jonny Moore converted both these tries to see his team into a very comfortable 33-0 half time lead. The Portadown team staged something of a revival in the second half and scored three unconverted tries with Andrew Richardson touching down twice and Josh McCullough once. The home team was only able to score three second half points with Jonny Moore converting a penalty kick but the final score was 36-15 in favour of the Carrickfergus Grammar School team, ensuring their good progress in recent games.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team hosted the Dalriada School team on Saturday without a number of key players in their back division. This situation was overcome by playing Marc Gordon, normally a second row forward, in the backline. The loss of leading try scorer, Jonny Moore, to a concussion injury after only eight minutes play, ensured a further reshuffle in the ranks of the Carrickfergus team. Despite these setbacks, the Carrickfergus team displayed great spirit and commitment throughout the game and made the Dalriada team work hard for their win. The Dalriada team travelled without Ben Henderson, Jonny McLaughlin, Jonny McMullan and Andrew Skelton who were unavailable due to injury. Players such as Jamie Gardiner, Angus Jenks, Jonny Allen and Stewart Fallows stepped in and performed well in the course of the game. Good work from Roger Bonnar and Ewan Strand, early in the game, laid the foundations for a John Laughlin try, which he converted himself, to see Dalriada take a 7-0 lead. The Carrickfergus team hit back immediately with an unconverted try from Matthew Logan, following good work from his forwards, to take the score to 7-5. Close to half time a clever kick from Dalriada caused confusion within the Carrickfergus Grammar School defence. This enabled Ewan Strang, Roger Bonnar and Jonny Allen to combine to send Ewan Strang in for a try. The conversion was missed but Dalriada had a 12-5 half time lead. In the second period of play both teams had opportunities to score further tries but both defences were well organised. The only score of the second half came from the home team with an Andrew Fulton penalty to see the final score read 12-8 in favour of the Dalriada team.
Following their good midweek victory against Regent House in the North Down Derby, Bangor Grammar School travelled to play the RS Dungannon team on Saturday. Recent good performances against strong opposition would have seen the Bangor team travel expecting to notch up another victory in this game but the RS Dungannon team had other ideas. The Dungannon team started the game strongly with Mark Wright and Andrew Clingan causing problems for the opposition at the breakdown, winning a lot of turnover ball. Bangor gave a silly penalty away in front of their posts which enabled Peter Nelson to kick the RS Dungannon team into a 3-0 lead. This seemed to reawaken the Bangor team and they took play into the Dungannon half. The home team proceeded to give a penalty away and up stepped Daniel Kennedy to convert the penalty attempt into points with a well struck kick. With the score now reading 3-3 at the interval, it should have been game on! However, the Bangor team seemed reluctant to take the game to the Dungannon team and sat back in the second half. The home team took full advantage of this and pressurised the Bangor team into giving away more silly penalties. Peter Nelson converted two of these to see his team through to a morale boosting 9-3 win against the Bangor Grammar School team.
Methodist College entertained Coleraine AI at Pirrie Park and prior to the game there was a One Minute Silence observed in memory of Ranger Aaron McCormick who tragically lost his life in Helmand Province on Remembrance Sunday. Ranger McCormick was a former pupil of Coleraine Academical Institution and played rugby on the Coleraine AI 1stxv. Following this Act of Remembrance, it was the Methody team that got off to the perfect start when, in the first minute, winger Patrick Colquhoun was put clear 30 metres from the Coleraine line. He proceeded to outpace the Coleraine AI defence to open the scoring for Methody with a try. Centre Mark Gribben converted this try to give Methody a 7-0 lead. The home team proceeded to dominate possession and territory and the pressure told after 16 minutes when, after a number of phases, out half Matthew McFaul burst through a gap in the Coleraine defence to score close to the posts. Mark Gribben had the simple task of extending Methody’s lead to 14-0 with his conversion. During the remainder of the half Coleraine had difficulty in keeping Methody at bay and further tries followed from second row Ryan Annett as well as wing forward Christopher Gracey. Both of these tries were converted by Mark Gribben leaving Methody with a comfortable 28-0 lead at the break. The Methody team continued where they had left off when play recommenced and extended their lead with a try from Peter Logan which Mark Gribben converted to see his team extend their lead to 35-0. Patrick Colquhoun completed his hat trick with two unconverted tries, the second of which came from a counter attack started deep in the Methodist College half. These tries put the Methody team into a 45-0 lead going into the closing stages of the game. The Coleraine AI team got some reward for their persistence and endeavour when Paddy Farrell scored a try following a good interchange of play involving both forwards and backs. Michael Poskitt added the conversion from the touchline to see the final score read 45-7 in favour of the Methodist College team.
Campbell College and Royal Belfast Academical Institution met at Fox’s Field in one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes of the domestic season. The home team dominated the proceedings in the first half with Charles Gallagher, John Creighton and Chris Farrell impressing with their performances. Campbell College opened the scoring with an unconverted try from Moss Rogers to put them into a 5-0 lead. Glenn Bailie added a second try for the Campbell College team shortly afterwards, Rory Scholes was successful with his conversion to see the home team into a 12-0 half time lead. The second period of play saw a Belfast Inst revival with Michael Kilpatrick and Paddy Bell getting through a great deal of work. Paddy Bell reduced the arrears to 12-5 with a fine individual try which was not converted. The Belfast Inst team got rewarded for their endeavours when Zach Welshman scored a try with the last play of the game. Matthew McGuigan held his nerve to convert the try and see the game end with a scoreline of 12-12.
Ballyclare High School hosted Foyle and Londonderry College at the Rashee Road venue on Saturday. The home team started the game strongly and opened their account with a penalty from Jonny Holmes. The same player went on to score two tries in the first half. Jonny converted one of his tries to see his team into a 15-0 half time lead. In the second half the Foyle team got some reward for their positive attitude to the game when Ian Vance scored a try. Chris Campbell converted the try to reduce the arrears to 15-7. However, Ballyclare High School increased the tempo of the game and went on to score tries through Jonny Darling, Andrew Butler and Peter Kennedy. Jonny Holmes added one conversion to see the Ballyclare High School maintain their unbeaten record with a comfortable 32-7 win.
Regent House suffered their second successive defeat against a local team when they hosted a very confident Down High School team. Having lost midweek to Bangor Grammar School, the Newtownards boys were determined not to slip up in this game. However, the Down High team had other ideas! They scored three first half tries with Ben Shields, Aaron Cairns and Matthew McKeown getting the touch downs. Justin Rea added one conversion to see his team into a 17-0 half time lead. In the early stages of the second half, the Regent House team came back strongly scoring two unconverted tries through Steven Colwell and Willie Mayne to reduce the arrears to 17-12. However, the Down High School team stamped their authority on the game with an Aaron Cairns try which was converted by Justin Rea to extend their leads to 24-12. Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 2nd Row forward, John Donnan, scored the final try of the game for the Down High School team to ensure an impressive 29-12 win in this game.
Antrim Grammar School played Lurgan College, a team they had previously defeated by a large margin in a recent encounter. The Antrim team was made to work much harder for their win in this game by a very spirited Lurgan College team. The Antrim team scored three tries with Jake McClay, Neil McCullough and David Jones being awarded the touch downs. Ryan Bailie added one conversion as well as a penalty to account for the 20 Antrim Grammar School points. In response, Lurgan College kicked four penalties from Josh McKay to leave the final score reading 20-12 in favour of the Antrim Grammar School team. Despite losing this game, the Lurgan College team will look forward, with confidence, to opening the 2010/11 Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition when they meet Strabane Grammar School in the first of the Round 1, Round Robin series of games on Saturday 27th November.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted an ever improving Rainey Endowed team at Roughfort and the home team was made to work hard for their 14-0 victory. The Belfast Royal Academy team dominated proceedings in the first half. They scored tries through Robbie Jamison and Matthew Robinson with Robbie Jamison converting both to put his team into a 14-0 half time lead. The Rainey team came back with a strong second half performance but they were unable to find a way through a well organised and disciplined BRA defence. The Academy team might have scored on a number of occasions in the closing stages of the game but their attempts were thwarted by good Rainey Endowed cover defence. The game finished as a hard earned 14-=0 win for the Belfast Royal Academy team.
Royal School, Armagh travelled to Dublin to play their annual fixture against Dublin High School. The Armagh team dominated the opening exchanges in a very physical encounter. They score a try with David Starrett getting the touch down following good work from his pack. Harry Boyd added the conversion to put the RS Armagh team into a 7-0 lead. Harry Boyd made the home team pay for indiscretions at the break down when he converted three first half penalties to put the RS Armagh team into a 16-0 half time lead. The Dublin HS team came back strongly in the second half and scored two tries, one of which was converted. Stuart Hooks scored a try for the RS Armagh team which Harry Boyd converted. This ensured that the RS Armagh team returned home with a hard earned 23-12 win. Duncan Steed, Andrew Black, Stuart Hooks and Neil Faloon all impressed for the RS Armagh team but it was Matthew Clarke that took the “Man of the Match” award following his all action display throughout the game.
Portora RS had to add Robert Connors to their extensive injury list prior to departure to play Castleknock College team in Dublin. The young Portora RS team put on a very committed performance against a physically superior Castlekonock team. Despite displaying valiant defensive qualities throughout the game, the Portora team eventually succumbed to a 56-0 defeat. James Ferguson was the star of the show for the Portora team for his all action approach, in both attack and defence, throughout the game.
Portadown College had been struggling of late losing games they would normally have expected to win. The Co Armagh team got back to winning ways with a very strong performance against an inconsistent Sullivan Upper team. The Sullivan team started well and took a 3-0 lead when Ross Adair converted a penalty opportunity. They built on this lead and scored an excellent try through Michael Scott. This try was not converted but the Sullivan team had an 8-0 lead. The Portadown team regrouped and began to play themselves back into the game with strong runs from centre Matthew Trouton and No. 8 Josh McCullough. The Portadown College team wasrewarded with their first try when, following some excellent forward play, the back line moved the ball wide for winger, Andrew Richardson, to run in a try. Michael Busby converted the try to reduce the arrears to 8 – 7. Further Portadown College pressure resulted in a break from their lively scrum half, Adam McMaster. This caused chaos in the Sullivan defence and with only the fullback to beat, AdamMcMaster fixed the defender to release centre, David Busby, to score unchallenged under the posts. Twin brother Michael, converted the try to give the home team a 14 – 8 half time lead. Both teams tried to spread the ball at every opportunity in the second half making the game an exciting spectacle to watch. However, both teams had well organised defences. The continued persistence of the Portadown team was rewarded with a well taken lineout on the Sullivan 22 which enabled Matthew McCracken to score following a well organised driving maul. Matthew Busby failed with the conversion attempt but his now had a well-deserved 19 – 8 lead. Sullivan scored a well worked second try through Oliver Loughead late in the game but it was a case of too little, too late for the Sullivan team. The Portadown team was delighted to hear the no side whistle and went on to celebrate their 19-13 victory.
The Omagh Academy team made the much vaunted Wallace High School team work hard for their 21-14 victory in an exciting game at the Campsie playing fields. The home team dominated territory as well as possession in the opening stages of the game. The Omagh pack, with Gary Sherrard, Benji Knox, Jonny Sproule and Richard Hemphill all causing problems for the visitors, dominated the set piece exchanges. Indeed, the Omagh team was unfortunate not to have taken a lead into the half time break. As it turned out, it was the Wallace team that scored the only try of the first half when David Scott touched down following a break away run from his own half. David converted his try to see his team into an unlikely 7-0 half time lead. Wallace High School scored two further tries in the second half through Cal McIlwaine and Nathan McClatchey. David Scott added the conversions to put the Wallace team into a 21-0 lead. Despite losing Ashley McIlwaine and Dean Barr to injury early in the second half, the Omagh team never stopped working. Despite these setbacks, the Omagh team never let their heads drop. They took the game to Wallace in the final quarter with their pack dominating. Good work from their pack enabled Adam Longwell to touch down for a try which Matthew Deazley converted to reduce the arrears to 21-7. Immediately after the restart following this try, the Omagh pack worked their way deep into Wallace High School territory. After a number of phases of play, the ball was released to the Omagh backs enabling Ryan Mitchell to touch down in the corner. Matthew Deazley kicked a superb touch line conversion to take the score to 21-14. With the last play of the game the home team felt they had scored a try only for the touch judge to indicate a foot in touch! It was a relieved Wallace High School that left the pitch as 21-14 winners.
The Yellow Door Restaurant sponsored Friends’ School senior squads had their tour to Scotland severely disrupted by the adverse midweek weather conditions which left the tour party twenty four hours late in getting to Scotland. Because of this the squads lost out on their prestigious fixture with Fettes College, one of the leading Public School teams in Edinburgh. The Friends’ School 1stxv did play a fixture against Stirling County RFC U19’s which they lost by 24-15. There were good performances in this game from Paul Anderson, Paddy Pringle and Michael Cochrane with all three scoring tries. Paddy Ferguson and Ben McMullan impressed with their performances throughout the game as well. The Friends’ School 2nd xv played a game against Perth RFC U19’s and lost by 21-8. Peter Ferguson scored all the points for his team who were drawing 3-3 at the interval. The decision was taken to play all of the replacement players in the second half. Despite positive performances from these players the Perth team proved to be too strong in the course of the second half. The entire tour party went on to watch the Scotland v South Africa game at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon. The entire party would like to thank the Principal of Friends’ School, Mrs Elizabeth Dickson, the Governors of Friends’ School, the parents and guardians of the players, the staff under the leadership of Mr Stephen Robinson and Mr Norman Gamble as well as Mr Andy Dougan from the Yellow Door Restaurant for their support for the tour.
Grosvenor Grammar School hosted a Festival of Rugby involving teams from Larne Grammar School, Banbridge Academy, St David’s College from Wales,
Altrincham Boys’ School from Cheshire and Lomond and Helensburgh from Scotland.
The six teams involved were competing for the inaugural Graham Cup, a Trophy presented by the former Head of Physical Education and Master in Charge of Rugby at Grosvenor Grammar School, Mr Ian Graham.
A former player with King’s Scholars RFC and President of the Ulster Branch, Ian Graham was in attendance at the Festival to present the Trophy at the end of a closely contested competition. The schools played in two pools before play offs to decide the final places with Lomond and Helensburgh beating St David’s (12-5) in 5th/6th place play off, Altrincham beating Larne (19-12) in 3rd/4th place play off and in the final Grosvenor and Banbridge drew 0-0. This result ensured that both teams shared the Graham Cup. The Player of the Tournament Award, sponsored by Grosvenor RFC, was awarded to Hugo Harbinson from Banbridge Academy.
Click here for 192 picture slideshow with team shots and action shots of Grosvenor Grammar School, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Lomond & Helensburgh Rugby, Banbridge Academy, Larne Grammar School, St David’s College – pictures courtesy of David Irvine for high resolution e: georgedirvine@aol.com
With the Ballymena Academy side unavailable on Saturday 20th due to internal commitments, their fixture against Belfast High School was moved forward to Monday 15th November.
Ballymena travelled to the Shore Road missing several regulars due to injury and the dry, sunny conditions allowed for the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup holders to play some expansive rugby.
In a one-sided first half, the Ballymena forwards dominated at the set piece and breakdown with Peter Wallace and Adam Kerr particularly effective around the field. The Belfast High team was successful with an early penalty attempt by Matthew Huntley to give them a 3-0 lead. However, Ballymena responded by running in ran five tries through Nicholas Stirling, Peter Wallace, Peter Storey, Jordan Foster and Caleb Morrison. Caleb was successful with all five conversions to leave the half time score at 35-3.
In the second half, Belfast High School enjoyed more territory and possession than they had done in the first period of play and, after a sustained period of continuity, crashed over the Ballymena line for a well- deserved try awarded to Ryan McGonigle. Matthew Huntley converted the try to reduce the arrears to 35-10. 
The Ballymena team continued to exploit the wide spaces and added four more tries in quick succession. Peter Wallace and Jordan Foster both added their second of the afternoon and were joined on the score sheet by Darren Geddis and Jack Fleming. Caleb Morrison added the extras for each of these tries and left his mark on the game with an outstanding individual try in the final minute. From the scrum half position, Caleb broke from a five metre scrum and beat several defenders to go the full length of the pitch and touch down below the posts.
He converted his own try to maintain his 100% record and to take his points tally to 30 for the day. The referee’s whistle sounded with the final score reading 70-10 in favour of the well organised Ballymena Academy team.
HOLLINGER PARK OPENED AS HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUE GREAT RUN
Last Saturday morning was a memorable day for the sporting afficiandos of Ballyclare High School held the official opening of another major venue. Early in the morning a group of staff,former pupils,members of the Governors,N.E.E.L.B. officials,representatives of Ballyclare Rugby Club and Templepatrick Cricket Club plus former Headmaster Mr.Cecil Millar and Newtownabbey Mayor Paula Bradley met in the school for an excellent breakfast. Afterwards the Headmaster Mr.David Knox welcomed everyone but especially former Vice Principal Wilbert Hollinger and described the efforts made by him over several decades at the school to improve the facilities particularly for sport. The last of these schemes was the re development of the sports grounds at Rashee road and it was decided to name the complex Hollinger Park which now has two quality sand based rugby pitches;a cricket square and associated car parking. Former Head of P.E. at the school Tommy Young also spoke of the work done by Wilbert in several fields of sport. Mr. Hollinger thanked the Headmaster for his comments and expressed his gratitude at having the grounds named after him.Following the speeches the party travelled the short distance to the new pitches and the unveiling ceremony was carried out by Mr.Hollinger prior to the first use of the grounds for the match between Ballyclare High 1st XV and Foyle College.
We managed to get a clip of Wilbert Hollinger & Dan Soper commenting on the opening of the new pitches, and below report pictures and video clips of tries and interviews with coaches from both I XV & II XV Ballyclare high School v Foyle & Londonderry College
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It was fitting that the High School 1st XV held on to their great unbeaten tag on the new grounds against a very gutsy Foyle side who scarcely deserved to lose by this margin. This first match produced a lot of good attacking rugby from both teams and an early run by Peter Fergison led to Paddy Hamill almost getting over but Foyle cleared.Jonny Holmes kicked deep and again Hamill made ground leading to a penalty which the fly halfkicked to put the home side 3-0 ahead. Ballyclare got to the visitors line with forward pressure and Holmes cut through for a try which he converted to increase the lead. Foyle responded with a run by the impressive Hanna but Holmes cleared the danger and followed up to get over for his second try out wide. Foyle ended the half pressing on the Clare line following a short penalty but the home side held a 15-0 interval lead.
Click Here for pictures from I & II Ballyclare High v Foyle & Londonderry College – CLICK HERE –
Ballyclare re-started with intent and Marc Logan made ground for number eight Johnny Darling to race over from the 22, conversion wide. Foyle countered with attacking play and got a deserved try from Steve Chi converted by Chris Campbell to make it 20-7. But an interception at pace by Andrew Butler brought him a score again converted by Holmes to increase the home lead. The visitors countered with a surge in mid field by their useful centre before Butler again broke clear only for the pass to go to ground. Then a break by Jonny Douglas and Mitchel McComb could have led to a try but for lack of support. The home pack drove to the line and despite good defending by Foyle , Butler raced upfield and the forwards made ground to allow Peter Kennedy to get in at the corner for a try not converted. The 32-7 win helps to keep the fine run going for Ballyclare which now must be a record. Overall it was a good team performance with threating pace from the backs notably in the second half.
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The scheduled game involving Cambridge House and Limavady Grammar School was postponed by Cambridge House. It is hoped the fixture can be rescheduled for a mid-week date later in the season.
The Ulster Schools’ Charitable Trust Week was launched recently by Ex Larne Grammar School, Queen’s University RFC, Ballymena RFC, Ulster, Ireland, Barbarians RFC and British and Irish Lions player, Trevor Ringland. This deserving cause will be supported by all the rugby playing schools in the Province with each schoolboy rugby player being asked to contribute £1-00 between Saturday 4th December and Saturday 11th December. Each school is asked to aim to raise a minimum of £100-00. When a school reaches £1000-00 in total over a period of time, a plaque commemorating this achievement will be presented to the school by a well- known rugby personality. Michael Quinn and Ollie Campbell have already presented a number of plaques to schools in Ulster who have contributed £1000-00 or more to the CharitableTrust Fund. All rugby playing schools in the Province of Ulster are asked to send cheques for the money gathered together to Mr John Wilson, Principal, Larne Grammar School as soon as possible after the money has been raised. Many schools raise money for this worthwhile fund using Charity Days as well as various other fundraising methods. All contributions will be welcome.
