A number of teams played midweek games in the lead up to a full list of fixtures on Saturday 26th November.
Portadown College travelled to play Banbridge Academy and came away with a resounding midweek victory.
The Portadown team scored two first half tries with Ben Matchett and Nathan Montgomery getting the scores. The conversions were unsuccessful but the Portadown team had a 10-0 lead midway through the first period of play. The Banbridge team responded positively and got reward for their efforts when Paddy Hayes slotted a penalty kick over after twenty five minutes. There were no further first half scores, leaving the visitors with a 10-3 halftime lead. The Portadown team extended this lead to 17-3 when Ryan Calvert scored a try which Ben Matchett converted. The Banbridge Academy team reduced the arrears to 17-8 when their elusive winger, Michael Wilson, outpaced the Portadown College defence to run in for an unconverted try. The Portadown team scored two more converted tries in the final quarter of the game to see them through this game as deserved 31-8 winners.
Portora Royal School travelled to Osbourne Park to play Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the second of the midweek games.
The Portora boys could not match the power and pace of the Belfast Inst team, a team determined to get back to winning ways following their recent defeat to Campbell College. The home team ran out as convincing 50-0 winners.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution continued this good form when they hosted one of the top schoolboy teams in Leinster, the players from the North Dublin School, Belvedere College, on Saturday 26th November.
Belfast Inst played with the wind in the first half and quickly had a 3-0 lead when Garteth Lawlor kicked an early penalty. The Belfast Inst team was applying pressure in the pack at this stage and winning line outs with Paddy Anderson and Daniel Lyness impressing with their ability. Matthew Keane kept his team on the front foot with good tactical kicking. It was not really a day for back play but there were some nice moves involving Nathan Brown and Colin Campbell who was determined to get himself involved as much as possible. The Belvedere College team was on the back foot for most of this first half and when they were caught offside midway through the first Gareth Lawlor slotted his second penalty to give the home team a 6-0 lead. On the stroke of half time Belvedere played the ball on the ground and Gareth Lawlor converted his third penalty to see his team through to a 9-0 half time lead. The second half started with Belvedere more determined to win ball up front. However, they made some basic handling errors and the solid Belfast Inst defence pushed them back. The first try of the game came when the Inst scrum half, Matthew Keane, took a quick tapped penalty. Matthew broke down the fifteen metre line, drew the Belvedere College defence and passed for Rory Bell to score an unconverted try in the corner to give his team a 14-0 lead. The weather ensured that the game was impacted upon with both teams having difficulty in controlling possession. The final score of the match came when Matthew Keane made a break down the blind side of a scrum. His kick ahead was poorly dealt with by the Belvedere College defence, allowing Gareth Lawlor to pounce on the ball and touch down for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Belfast Academical Inst team finished the game as deserved 19-0 winners. Both teams attempted to play rugby despite the difficult weather conditions and were encouraged to do so by the referee.
Following last week’s win away to Sullivan Upper, the Limavady side was full of confidence when the team took to the pitch to play against Portora RS at the Ballyquin Road venue.
Limavady Grammar maintained their unbeaten streak with a comfortable 54-0 victory against the visiting side. The first half saw an excellent start by the home team, despite playing against strong winds and rain. They dominated both open play and close exchanges resulting in tries coming from No 8 Andrew Miller, who touched down twice, wingers Jack Elliot and Aaron Rainey. Unfortunately only one of the tries was converted which left the score at the half time whistle 22-0 in favour of the home team. The second half was a repeat of the first and, with the wind at their backs; the home side increased the intensity. The forwards dominated the set pieces resulting in the home team maintaining possession for most of the game and the backs moved the ball well into space resulting in tries coming from Adam Miller, Aaron Rainey who completed his hat trick, Stuart Hull, Stephen Montgomery and Tom McClelland. As in the first half only one try was converted. This left the final score at the end of the second half 54-0 ensuring that Limavady Grammar School continue with their unbeaten run of results this season.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Regent House at a very wet and windy Roughfort.
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The Regent House team scored an unconverted try after just five minutes play when Gary Wright touched down to give his team a 5-0 lead. Seven minutes later, Daniel Dass took advantage of a good drive from his Belfast Royal Academy forwards to crash over for a try. The conversion attempt was missed but the scoreline now read 5-5. The overhead and underfoot conditions were impacting on the game and the only other score of the first half came from the trusty boot of Nathan Burns. Nathan converted a penalty opportunity to ensure an 8-5 half time lead for his Regent House team. Ten minutes after the restart Belfast Royal Academy scored a converted try to take a 12-8 lead. Ten minutes later there was a repeat performance to see the home team into a 19-8 lead. However, the Regent House team displayed great character and responded in a very positive manner. The Regent No 8, Chris Wright touched down for an excellent try which was converted by Nathan Burns to reduce the arrears to 19-15. Gary Wright then proceeded to run in for his second try of the game. The conversion was missed but the Regent team now had a 20-19 lead with only a few minutes remaining. In injury time a Belfast Royal Academy drop goal attempt was charged down but a Regent player was deemed to have been in an off-side position. From the resultant penalty, the Belfast Royal Academy kicker was successful to see his team through to a 22-20 victory.
Following their difficult midweek encounter against Portadown College things did not get any easier for Banbridge Academy when they had to travel to Grosvenor Grammar School on Saturday 26th November.
The home team started brightly and opened the scoring after just three minutes when their captain, Stuart Smyth, crossed the Banbridge Academy line following a lineout catch and drive. The conversion attempt was missed but the Grosvenor team had a 5-0 lead. Grosvenor’s second score after ten minutes was an exact replica with Stuart Smyth scoring his second unconverted try to put his team into a 10-0 lead. The home side controlled territory and possession and the back line got in on the act hen Ben Coard scored under the posts following fine play by Scott Irvine and Paul Kennedy. The usually reliable Peter Davison who was having an off day with the boot, missed the conversion but the Grosvenor Grammar School team now led by 15-0. From the restart quick ruck ball and fabulous handling between forwards and backs put the Grosvenor Grammar winger, Steven Kirk, into space. Stephen beat his man to score a try from long range which was converted by Peter Davison to give the home team a 22-0 lead. Banbridge Academy mounted a spirited reply and scored an unconverted try in the corner with Gareth Liggett getting the touch down to keep themselves in the game at 22-5. Any hope of a comeback were quickly put out as the home side hit back with a score by second row, Steven Marshall, following fine off- loading in the tackle by the dynamic Isaac Thompson. Further pressure saw scrum half, Neil Adams, crash over from a Matthew Cahoon pick at No 8, to complete the first half scoring with Grosvenor Grammar School taking an impressive 32-5 halftime lead. Playing into the elements in the second half, Grosvenor Grammar School continued to dominate with their hooker, Stuart Smyth, completing a hat trick following a neat inside pass by Charlie Adams. Peter Davison converted to take the score to 39-5. As the Grosvenor pack continued to dominate their prop, Matthew Allen, forced his way over following a period of pressure on the Banbridge line. His try was converted by Peter Davison to take the score to 46-5.The scoring was completed by prop Nic Jones who went over for the 2nd consecutive week in the corner following more fine back play. The try was not converted but it ensured a 51-5 win for the Grosvenor Grammar School team. Despite being outplayed for most of the game the Banbridge Academy team had good performances from players such as Alex Thompson and David McKeown.
St. Mary’s College made the journey from Dublin for the annual fixture against Ballymena Academy.
On a blustery and wet morning, the home team started the first half with the wind in their backs. After a period of pressure in the St. Mary’s 22m area, Ballymena Academy moved the ball wide and Nicholas Stirling showed excellent pace to score a try in the corner. Darren Geddis added the conversion and was successful moments later with a penalty to increase the lead to 10-0. Ballymena continued to dominate possession, but a charged-down kick saw St. Mary’s break away and, despite a period of good defensive play by Ballymena, recycle quick ball to crash over in the corner for an unconverted try. Just before the half-time whistle, the Ballymena pack set up a dynamic maul but was stopped just short of the line. This set the platform for Nicholas Stirling to power over for his second try of the morning and it left the half-time score reading 15 – 5 to Ballymena. St. Mary’s were successful with a penalty just after the interval and a converted try shortly after this meant that the score was now level at 15-15. The remainder of the game was nip and tuck with the Ballymena Academy scrum very much in the ascendancy but, for the second time in the match, St. Mary’s charged down a Ballymena clearance to touch down below the posts. The try was converted to give the Dublin visitors a 22-15 lead. Ballymena Academy pushed for an equalising score but could not break down the committed St. Mary’s defence leaving the St Mary’s College team celebrating their hard earned 22-15 win at the no-side whistle.
It has been a difficult season for a very inexperienced Coleraine Academical Institution team and things did not get any easier for them when they travelled to play Royal School, Dungannon on Saturday 26th November.
The home team started strongly and controlled both territory and possession in the early stages of the game. Peter Cashel added to his impressive tally of tries this season when he squeezed in at the corner following a good interchange of passes involving both forwards and backs. The conversion was missed but the RS Dungannon team had a 5-0 lead. The Dungannon team kept attacking at every opportunity but the Coleraine AI defence was well organised and worked hard to ensure no further RS Dungannon scores in the first half. The second half saw the RS Dungannon team score an early try with Peter Cashel showing deft skills on a kick and chase to touch down for a fine individual try. David Davidson was successful with the conversion to give his team a 12-0 lead. This was extended to 15-0 a short time later when David was successful with a penalty kick. The Coleraine AI team mounted something of a comeback when Josh Murdock intercepted an RS Dungannon pass in his own 22m area. Josh set off with the ball and outpaced the RS Dungannon defence to touch down for a try. Mikey Poskitt converted the try to reduce the arrears to 15-7 in favour of the home team. However, the RS Dungannon team had the final say in the outcome of the game when Stephen Rogers and Andrew Clingan combined to send Andrew in for the final score of the game. David Davidson converted the try to see his team safely through to a 22-7 victory.
It was an understrength Friends’ School team that travelled to Bangor Grammar School for a fixture at the famous Ballymacormick Road venue.
The heavier Bangor Grammar School pack laid the foundations for three first half tries for the Bangor team. Two of the tries were converted to see the Bangor Grammar School team into a 19-0 half time lead. The Friends’ team played much better in the second half with Ross Robinson scoring a try, a conversion as well as a penalty, to provide ten points for the Friends’ team. However, they could do little to prevent the Bangor Grammar School team scoring four second half tries as well as kick three conversions to leave the Bangor Grammar School team as deserved 45-10 winners. The Friends’ School team will be hoping for an improvement in the injury and illness situation before they depart on tour to Edinburgh next weekend.
Campbell College hosted near neighbours, Sullivan Upper, at a very wet and windy Fox’s Field.
The Campbell team enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half and ran in three tries through Jack Owens, Harry Howard and Josh Fullerton. Rob Haldane added one conversion to give his team a 17-0 lead. The Sullivan team, with Oliver Matthews and Owen Glenn working hard in both attack and defence, reduced the arrears to 17-3 with a penalty kick just before the interval. The second period of play saw both teams attempt to move the ball at every opportunity despite the poor weather conditions. Oliver Matthews caused concern for the home defence when he was in control of the ball but was denied on a couple of occasions by last ditch Campbell College defence. The loss of two representative players, Ross Adair from Sullivan Upper and Mark Best from Campbell College, to injury impacted somewhat on the game as a spectacle. Neither team was able to score any points in the course of the second half ensuring a 17-3 win for the Campbell College team.
Portadown College continued their recent good run of form by defeating a strong Down High side by 20-18.
The Portadown team travelled to Downpatrick with six of their regular 1stxv missing, including Ulster Schools player David Busby. Ben McDowell and Ryan Purvis made their 1st xv debuts in the 2nd Row and at outhalf respectively. Portadown College played with the very strong wind in the first half and used the conditions to their advantage going in 20-8 at half time. A penalty after sixteen minutes to Portadown College was converted by Michael Busby to give his team a 3-0 lead. From the kick off Down High regained possession and a series of drives and carries took play into the Portadown College 22m area. A penalty award enabled Justin Rea to level the scores with a penalty to the left of the post to take the score to 3-3. Portadown used the wind effectively to move play back into the Down High half and when the home team was penalized at a ruck Michael Busby converted the ensuing penalty to give his team a 6-3 lead. From the restart Down High again captured possession and proceeded to put together their best period of the match with good carries by Kelvin Hamilton, Ben Hale and Tommy McConnell taking play to within 5 metres of the opposition line. From the resulting ruck Thomas Donnan drove over for a well-deserved Down High try. The conversion was missed but Down High now led by 8 -6. Once again the wind helped Portadown take play deep in the Down High half but the home defence looked solid and well organized until a series of unforced errors culminated with a Portadown penalty five metres out. A quick tap saw Portadown College score their first try of the match with Ryan Calvert getting the touchdown. Michael Busby converted the try to move the visitors back into a 13-8 lead with just five minutes of the first half remaining. Down High again moved back up the pitch and, as half time approached, were pressing Portadown back into their 22m area. However, Rory Martin was dispossessed after a fine break and Portadown broke away to run 70 metres for a try which saw Nathan Montgomery send Ryan Calvert in for a try under the Down High School posts. The try was converted by Michael Busby to leave the Portadown College team holding a 20-8 lead at the interval. Down High used the wind well at the start of the second half and soon reduced the deficit with a Justin Rea penalty taking the score to 20 – 11. Down High continued to press but too often opportunities were wasted through individual errors and poor ball retention. With eight minutes remaining Down High were awarded a penalty five metres out and Jack Calvert scored under the posts from a quickly taken tapped penalty. Justin Rea added the extras to leave the score 20 -18. Despite having the territorial advantage and pressing for a winning score, the Down High School team could find no way through a determined Portadown College defence. With the last play of the game and Down High School pressing for winner, some excellent counter rucking from Portadown College hooker, Scott Jameson, turned over the ball. This provided the opportunity for the Portadown College outhalf, Ryan Purvis, to clear his line and kick the ball into touch and seal the game for the Portadown College with a hard earned 20-18 win. For the Down High School team it was a case of ruing the missed opportunities that, had they been taken, might have seen a different outcome to the game.
The Wallace High School v Methodist College game, due to have been played on Friday evening, was postponed due to flooded pitches at Lisburn RFC. It is hoped to reschedule this game in the near future.
