Supplementary Notes:
The draw for the semi finals of the Northern Bank Schools’ Cup will take place after the CCB v MCB game at Campbell College.
Full Report 5th Feb Games Below & Pictures
In an exciting Saturday of Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Rugby, there were eight Schools’ Cup, four Schools’ Bowl and one Schools’ Trophy games played. There was excitement, commitment, passion, joy and despair evident at all the games.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution 1st xv would have seen themselves as favourites to defeat a very talented Dalriada team.
The Belfast Inst team won at the end of the game but the Dalriada team made their illustrious opposition work hard for the win. Dalriada dominated the first half of the game with their Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ U19 No 8, Roger Bonnar, getting through a lot of work and causing considerable problems for the Belfast Inst team. Both defences were well organised in the first period of play and both teams were restricted to scoring by kicking penalties. Jonny Laughlin kicked two first half penalties for the Dalriada team with Matthew McGuigan weighing in with two penalties for the Belfast Inst team. With the score reading 6-6 at half time, there was all to play for in the second half.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF RBAI V DALRIADA
[youtube isqWeZsP2Jk]
Dalriada thought they had taken the lead midway through the second half when their hard working centre, Jonny McMullan, kicked through a loose ball, outpaced a despairing Belfast Inst defence to reach the line. The chase was on between Jonny and the last remaining Belfast Inst defender. Jonny thought he had won the chase for the touchdown only to denied the try with the Belfast Inst defender adjudged to have got his hand to the ball first. This proved to be a turning point in the game and cracks started to appear in the previously solid Dalriada defence line. Matthew McGuigan converted a penalty opportunity to give his team a 9-6 lead. With only ten minutes remaining Paddy Anderson scored a try for the home side which Matthew McGuigan converted. Now leading by 16-6 the Belfast Inst team imposed their physicality on the Dalriada team and this appeared to take its toll. Matthew Keane took advantage of some good work from Zach Welshman and Kevin McLean to touch down for a try. Matthew McGuigan added the conversion to leave the score at 23-6 which ensured Royal Belfast Academical Institution went into the draw for the Quarter-Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Belfast Inst team celebrated their victory after the final whistle but realise fully they will need to play much better if they are to progress much further in the competition.
Bangor Grammar School hosted one of the top eight seeded teams in the Schools’ Cup when they hosted Belfast Royal Academy at a wind-swept Ballymacormick Road venue.
The home team was in confident mood following their 3rd Round success against Friends’ School. Both defences were on top during the first period of play with try scoring opportunities few and far between. Belfast Royal Academy took a 6-0 first half lead with two Jake Kane penalty opportunities being converted successfully. The Bangor Grammar School team responded with a penalty from the ever-reliable Stuart McCloskey to take the score to 6-3 in favour of the Belfast Royal Academy team at half time.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF BANGOR GS V BRA: Pictures courtesy of Ken Best e: kenbest@btconnect.com
The home team started the second half very strongly and took the game deep into Belfast Royal Academy territory. Following good work at the set piece, the Bangor team pressurised the Belfast Royal Academy line. They got rewarded for their endeavours when their impressive blind side flaker, Gareth Irvine, touched down for a try. The difficult conversion attempt was missed but the Bangor team has an 8-6 lead. The BRA team responded positively and following a series of drives close to the Bangor Grammar School line, Jake Kane forced his way over the line for a try. Jake was unsuccessful with his conversion attempt but his team had restored their lead to 11-8. Shortly after this, Daniel Dass took advantage of good work from Ryan Clarke, to score a try. The try was not converted but the Belfast Royal Academy team now had a 16-8 lead. Jake Kane extended that lead to 19-8 when he converted a penalty opportunity a few minutes later. The Belfast Royal Academy team was now controlling territory as well as possession and with the last move of the game, Matthew Robinson scorched in for a try. The try was not converted but the Belfast Royal Academy team had done enough with their well-deserved 24-8 win to ensure a place in the draw for the Quarter-Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
Down High School came through a tough encounter against Foyle and Londonderry College in the 3rd Round of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup last weekend. That victory gave them great confidence when they took the pitch against the impressive Ballyclare High School team in their 4th Round encounter in Downpatrick.
In an entertaining game, the Ballyclare High School team started strongly but failed to take advantage of the possession they had. The Ballyclare team was guilty of a number of uncharacteristic handling errors in the opening exchanges which ensured they could not finish off a number of try scoring opportunities. By comparison, the Down High School made the most of whatever possession they got to take play into Ballyclare High School territory. Pressurising the Ballyclare High School set piece, the home team was awarded a number of penalty opportunities. Justin Rea was revelling in his outhalf role and converted two penalties to give his Down High School team a 6-0 half time lead. Down High School started the second period of play very strongly and it was that man, Justin Rea, who kicked another three points when he converted a penalty opportunity shortly after the restart, With the score now reading 9-0 in favour of the home team, could the Down High School team hold out for a win? Midway through the second half, Ballyclare High School took play into the Down High 22m area. From a well worked lineout move space was created which saw the ball reach Peter Kennedy. Peter did not disappoint and scrambled his way over the Down High School for a try. The try was not converted but the Ballyclare High School team had reduced the deficit to 9-5. The Ballyclare High School team continued to attack at every opportunity but the Down High School defence was equal to the task. Good defence combined with Ballyclare handling errors seemed to ensure the Down High School line was going to remain intact. However, just when it looked as if the home team was going to hold on for a win, Ballyclare launched one last attack. Good work from Jonny Holmes and Jonny Darling paved the way for Grant Barkley to run in for a try. The try was not converted but it was a much relieved Ballyclare High School team that heard the final whistle and celebrated their very narrow 10-9 win which ensured their entry into the draw for the Quarter-Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
The Belfast High School 1stxv, having won two previous matches away from home, was delighted to be playing at their Shore Road venue against Sullivan Upper.
Sullivan started the game in a very slow fashion allowing the Belfast High School team to dictate the early patterns of the game. The ability of the Belfast High School team to put the Sullivan team under pressure in their 22m area gave Robbie Fryers the opportunity to convert two early penalty opportunities. Robbie did not disappoint and converted both penalty kicks to open up a 6-0 lead for his team. Following the restart after the second penalty, the Sullivan team took play deep into Belfast High School territory. Good work from Oliver Loughead and Michael Scott combined to open up the opportunity for Oliver Matthews to bundle his way over the Belfast High School line for an unconverted try and reduce the deficit to 6-5. Robbie Fryers kicked another penalty to put the Belfast High School team into a 9-5 lead in the run in to half time. Close to the end of the first half, Ross Adair made a great break out of defence and took play into the High School 5 metre area. Following a number of set pieces the Sullivan Upper scrum half, Harry Eves, dummied his way round the blind side of a ruck to score an unconverted try and give his team a 10-9 half time lead. The Sullivan Upper team started the second half in a much more positive mood. They pressurised the High School line and initially, the home defence was sound. However, the Sullivan team hit a purple patch to score seventeen points in as many minutes. Oliver Matthews touched down for his second try and Ross Adair added another. Ross was successful with both conversions as well as a penalty to put the visitors into a 27-9 lead. The Belfast High School team never gave up and scored a consolation try with just minutes remaining. Ryan McGonigle was awarded the touch down which Robbie Fryers converted to see the Sullivan Upper team progress through to the Quarter-Final draw for the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup with their hard earned 27-16 victory.
The Wallace High School team put in an immense performance against perennial Ulster Schools’ Cup favourites, Methodist College, in front of a large group of vociferous supporters, well led by ex Dungannon RFC player, Ronnie McLean. Also in attendance at the game were Chris Henry and Nevin Spence, two of the stars of the Ireland “A” victory against the England Saxons at Ravenhill on Friday evening.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF WALLACE HS v METHODY
The Belfast team dominated the opening exchanges of this excellent game of Schools’ Cup rugby. They employed an expansive style of rugby which the Wallace defence was able to contain with their back row of Daniel Henry, Cal McIlwaine and Simon Gilmore getting through a lot of work. Nathan Reid, David Scott and Jordan Heatley ensured there was no way through for the Methody attack. That was until the seventeenth minute when Methody captain, Dan Kerr struck. Dan scorched in for a try following good work from Peter Logan which Mark Gribben converted to give his team a 7-0 lead. The Wallace High School team responded positively and took play into the Methody 22m area. Now it was the turn of the Methody team to defend with Stewart Evans, Mark Uprichard and Chris Taylor all asking questions of the Methody defence with their close quarter attacks. The Methody defence held out and cleared their lines on a number of occasions. With five minutes of the first half remaining, Methodist College extended their lead to 10-0 when Mark Gribben was successful with a penalty opportunity. The Wallace High School team responded immediately and the team was rewarded for their endeavours when winger, Jordan Heatley, cut a fantastic line to score a try. David Scott added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 10-7 at half time. Wallace dominated totally the opening exchanges of the second half and took the lead when Jordan Heatley outpaced a static Methody defence to roar in for a try. David Scott converted the try to see his team into a 14-10 lead. Five minutes later, the Methody team lost a player to a Yellow Card offence. From the ensuing penalty Wallace had a 5 metre lineout. The Lisburn team won the lineout and drove the ball towards the Methody line. Good control as well as protection of the ball paved the way for Matthew Ballentyne, the Wallace High School hooker, to score a well-deserved try. The conversion was missed but the Wallace team now had a 19-10 lead. Midway through the second half the Methody team reduced the arrears to 19-15 when Ryan Martin was awarded a try which he seemed to have knocked on over the Wallace High School line. The scene was set for a dramatic end to the game and both defences had to be at their best to thwart the waves of attacks which both teams mounted. Both sets of back row forwards were outstanding with Cal McIlwaine, Daniel Henry, Rory Winters and Peter Logan all putting in some excellent tackles for their respective teams. Just when it seemed that the Wallace High School team had done enough to secure a quarter-final spot, Methodist College launched one final attack. Conor Mooney stood his opposite number up on a one-on-one and squeezed into the corner for a try. The conversion was missed, the final whistle went and somehow the Methodist College team had managed a re-enactment of the Great Escape to take their place in the draw for the Quarter-Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup with their narrow 20-19 win.
Royal School, Armagh knew they had a major task on their hands when they hosted the current holders of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Ballymena Academy.
In a very physical confrontation both teams were evenly matched with both defences cancelling out the opposition attacks. Ballymena Academy took the lead midway through the first half when Caleb Morrison was successful with a penalty opportunity following an Armagh infringement at the breakdown. Harry Boyd equalised for the RS Armagh team shortly afterwards when he converted a penalty opportunity of his own to take the half time score to 6-6.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF ROYAL SCHOOL ARMAGH V BALLYMENA ACADEMY
The second half was another tense affair with both sets of forwards displaying great commitment at the set pieces and breakdown. The RS Armagh pack had their second row pairing of Peter Johnston and Peter Hanna to thank for winning some crucial lineout ball while Sam McNabney, Timmy Patton and Peter Wallace got through a lot of hard work for the Ballymena team. The only score of the second half came from the trusty boot of Harry Boyd who converted a penalty kick to give his RS Armagh team a 6-3 lead. The home team maintained this lead until the no side whistle ensuring their progress into the draw for the Quarter-Final draw of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
[youtube xtBYDf_KoZc]
[youtube q3uaA4MNFlo]
Coleraine AI hosted Grosvenor Grammar School in yet another Schools’ Cup tie that saw the outcome being decided with the last play of the game.
The home team started well with Ali Ashgar, Adam Dysart and Connor Nicholl impressing with the ball in hand. Five minutes into the game Coleraine AI scrum half, Paddy Farrell, took a quick tapped penalty on his own 22m line. Paddy made good ground before feeding Adam Dysart whose run took play deep into Grosvenor territory. After several phases of play, a Grosvenor player strayed offside and was penalised.Michael Poskitt was successful with his kick to give his team a 3-0 lead. Grosvenor Grammar School had the opportunity to equalise shortly after this but the kick was missed and the Coleraine AI team was able to clear the danger. Midway through the first half Paddy Farrell pounced on a Grosvenor Grammar School mistake following a scrum. The ball was fed to Adam Dysart who made the most of poor Grosvenor defence to touch down under the posts for a try. Michael Poskitt added the extras to give his team a 10-0 lead. Grosvenor missed another penalty opportunity before eventually getting points on the board when Scott Irvine converted a penalty to take the half time score to 10-3 in favour of the Coleraine AI team. The Grosvenor team started the second half strongly and got rewarded for their efforts when Stuart Smyth crashed over for an unconverted try following good line out work from Matthew Cahoon. With the deficit now reduced to 10-8 it was game on! Minutes later Stuart McCaffrey had a kick charged down by the Grosvenor Grammar School defence. Peter Kennedy reacted quickly to pick up the ball and run in unopposed to score a try. The try was not converted but the Grosvenor team now had a 13-10 lead with just seventeen minutes remaining. Just as looked as if the Grosvenor team was going to pull off a shock result the Coleraine AI team mounted one last attack. Paddy Farrell took another quick penalty inside the Grosvenor 22m area. He fed the ball to Connor Simpson who was pulled down just short of the line. The ball was recycled quickly and fed along the Coleraine backline. The ball came to Coleraine AI right winger, Alan Clarke, who somehow managed to squeeze over the Grosvenor line to touch down for a critical score. The try was not converted but it did not matter. The whistle went for the end of the game and it was the Coleraine team that celebrated their hard earned victory and a place in the Quarter-Final draw for the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
Regent House entertained Campbell College at the Circular Road venue in a game that was always going to be a difficult challenge for the home team.
Campbell College started strongly controlling most of the possession and territory. They opened the scoring when their hooker, Kyle Adams made the most of a well-controlled driven maul following a lineout to touch the ball down for a try. Rory Scholes added the conversion to put his team into a 7-0 lead. Four minutes later Rory extended that lead to 10-0 when he converted a penalty opportunity after a Regent infringement at a ruck. In the closing stages of the first half the Regent team took play deep into Campbell College territory.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES FROM REGENT HOUSE V CAMPBELL COLLEGE
They attacked the Campbell line through Willie Mayne, Stephen Deering and Jonny Quigg but despite their best efforts, the Regent players were unable to cross the line. Campbell College started the second half strongly asking questions of the Regent defence. Rory Scholes finished off a flowing Campbell College move with a try which he converted himself to extend the Campbell College lead to 17-0. Another good line out provided the platform for Kyle Adams to score his second try. Rory Scholes added the conversion to see his team into a comfortable 24-0 lead. Charles Gallagher capped a fine personal performance was a try close to the end of the game. Rory Scholes was accurate with the conversion kick to leave the Campbell College team deserved 31-0 winners.
There were three Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl games played on Saturday.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Banbridge Academy in an entertaining game on the W K Armstrong pitch.
The first half was a very closely affair with both defences working hard. The only score of the game came from Banbridge Academy outhalf, Chrissy Craig, who converted a penalty opportunity to give his team a 3-0 lead. The score remained the same until half time. After the restart the match livened up quite considerably with both teams setting out in a positive manner. Five minutes into the second half Banbridge Academy extended their lead to 8-0 when Michael Ross outpaced the home defence to score an unconverted try in the corner. The RS Dungannon team responded immediately when Adam Boyle took full advantage of good work from Peter Nelson and Andrew Clingan to touch down for a try. The conversion was missed but the deficit had been reduced to 8-5. Five minutes later Banbridge Academy flanker, Bradley Martin, scored a try which Chrissy Craig converted to see his team into a 15-5 lead. RS Dungannon responded positively once again when Peter Nelson scored a fine individual try. The conversion was missed but the scoreline now read 15-10. Banbridge then scored two quick tries from Mark Sinton and Matthew Kerr. Chrissy Craig converted both tries to extend the Banbridge Academy lead to 29-10. The RS Dungannon team never stopped playing and scored a third try with just minutes remaining. Frankie Yeun got the touch down and Peter Nelson converted the try to see the final score read 29-17 in favour of the Banbridge Academy team.
Rainey Endowed School overturned an early season loss against Portadown College when the two teams met in the Schools’ Bowl Quarter-Final game in Magherafelt.
The home team dominated proceedings in the first half but resolute Portadown College defence kept their line intact. Indeed, the visitors had a number of opportunities to score points themselves but a mixture of poor decision making as well as dropped passes denied them the chance to score. With the half time score reading 0-0, there was all to play for in the second half. Despite losing their star lineout forward, Mark McErlean, to injury the Rainey Endowed lineout was functioning well. Following a well-organised driven maul from a lineout the Rainey flanker, Thomas Booth, powered his way over the Portadown College line to score a second half try. Martin Connolly converted the try to put his team into a 7-0 lead. Damien McMurray then got in on the act when he crashed through a hesitant Portadown College defence to score close to the posts. Once again, Martin Connolly was successful with his conversion to put his team into a 14-0 lead. With ten minutes remaining, the Portadown team caused some angst for the Rainey Endowed team as well as their supporters when David Busby took advantage of some poor Rainey defence to run in for a try. Matthew Busby converted the try to reduce the deficit to 14-7. Try as they might, the Portadown team could find no way through a much more resolute Rainey Endowed School defence which ensured the Rainey team progressed through to the semi-final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition.
Friends’ School travelled to play Larne Grammar School in the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl. Both teams started the game strongly determined to play an expansive style of rugby.
The Larne Grammar School attack asked early questions of the Friends’ School defence but with Rory McIvor and Michael Cochrane displaying good defensive qualities the home team could find no way through. It was Michael Cochrane who laid the foundations for the first score of the game when he took advantage of a gap in the Larne Grammar School defence. He ran the ball out of his own 22m area and, despite being tackled five metres short of the Larne Grammar School line, had the presence of mind to off load the ball to Paddy Pringle who was running a great support line. Paddy touched down for the try which was not converted but the Friends’ team had a 5-0 lead. Larne Grammar School responded immediately and Philip Andrews made no mistake from his penalty kick which was awarded when a Friends’ player was caught off side. With the score now at 5-3, the Friends’ team raised their game. Pressure on the Larne Grammar School defence enabled the Friends’ team to earn two penalty opportunities. Paul Anderson converted both to see the Friends’ team through to half time with an 11-3 lead. Larne Grammar School started the second half very strongly. They took the game deep into Friends’ School territory and won quick ball from rucks on a number of occasions. The Larne attack was thriving with the quality possession and Aaron McBride, the Larne outhalf, was able to dictate the patterns of play. From a lineout close to the Friends’ line, the Larne pack caught and drove the ball enabling Ryan McAllister to rumble over for a try. The try was not converted but the deficit had been reduced to 11-8. With just ten minutes remaining it was a game that either team could have won. The Friends’ team took play into the Larne 22m area and the visitors hit a “purple patch”. Paul Anderson outflanked the home defence to score an unconverted try and take the score to 16-8. Paddy Pringle then went in for his second try of the game. Paul Anderson converted the try to increase the Friends’ School lead to 23-8. Paul Anderson converted a penalty opportunity to increase that lead to 26-8 and, with just minutes remaining, Dean Howes, the impressive young Friends’ No 8, ran in for a fine individual try. Desi Eastwood added the conversion to see the Friends’ school team safely through this entertaining game with an impressive 33-8 victory.
The first team to reach a final of one of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions this season is Portora Royal School who reached the final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy competition when they defeated a very spirited Wellington College team in Enniskillen.
In a game played in very good conditions in front of an enthusiastic crowd it was the Wellington team that impressed in the opening exchanges. The ability of the Wellington team to attack at every opportunity caused problems for the home defence and it came as no surprise when Wellington opened the scoring midway through the first half. Good work from the Wellington backs created the chance for an overlap. This overlap was exploited and Gareth McCaughey crashed over for a try. Adam Webb converted the try to see his team into a deserved 7-0 lead. The Portora Royal School team reacted positively to the set back and took play deep into Wellington College territory. The spurned a number of try scoring opportunities when they dropped crucial passes with the Wellington line at their mercy. The home team did manage to score just before the interval when Rory Gibson took advantage of good work from Jonny Magwood to run in for an unconverted try and reduce the arrears to 7-5. With the last play of the first half the Wellington team lost their influential outhalf, Adam Webb with a shoulder injury. The Portora Royal team started the second half strongly but resolute Wellington College defence as well as a number of handling errors denied them scoring opportunities. Penalty kicks were missed by the home team but with just minutes remaining the Portora captain, Adam Farrell issued a last opportunity call to his team. They did not let him down! Following a number of phases with Graham Rutherford dominating the contact exchanges, Adam found himself in possession close to the opposition line. He scrambled his way over the line to touch down for a try. The conversion was missed but the home team had a 10-7 with only minutes on the clock. The Wellington team mounted one last charge at the Portora line but the home defence held out to ensure a place in the final of the Ulster Schools’ Trophy with their hard earned 10-7 victory.
