There were a number of midweek fixtures played in the lead up to a full list of fixtures on Saturday 6th November. Including pictures & video clips and interviews with coaches from Regent House v Cambridge House & superb pictures from Ballymena Academy v St Michale’s
Royal School, Dungannon entertained the Rainey Endowed School in a midweek floodlit game at Stevenson Park, the famous home of Dungannon Rugby Club. In an entertaining game, it was the Royal School team that opened the scoring when Sean Ho scored a try five minutes into the game. Peter Nelson added the conversion to put his team into an early 7-0 lead.
The Rainey response was almost immediate and after some good defensive work by Rainey they created a chance which saw Mark McErlean scoring an unconverted try to reduce the Dungannon lead to 7 – 5. Both teams were playing an attacking brand of rugby but it was the Rainey team that capitalised after good combined work, involving both forwards and backs, created a chance for their young full back, Matthew Stewart. Matthew kicked ahead and won the race to touch down for a try to give Rainey the lead. Martin Connolly added the conversion to give the visitors a 7 – 12 lead. The Rainey forwards now were on top with Luke Steele, Owen Devlin and Michael Dawson making an impact. However, the RS Dungannon defence, with Peter Nelson, Andrew Clingan and Jacob McCammon to the fore, held firm at this stage to see the game through to half time with Rainey ahead by 12-7.
Rainey pretty much started the second half much as they had finished the first. They dominated the set piece with Damien Devlin and Mark Mc Erlean controlling the lineout. Intelligent kicking from their young outhalf, Aaron Murphy, pinned Dungannon deep in their own territory. From an attacking lineout the Rainey pack kept the ball tight and James Kelso went over for their 3rd try. The conversion was missed but the score was 7 – 17 in favour of the Rainey team. With the conditions worsening the young Rainey team (6 Year 12 players played in this game) displayed great ability and character. They were able to restrict the Dungannon team to very few attacking opportunities. Towards the end of the game a fine break by Peter Nelson almost led to a try. He exploded out of his 22m area to outflank the Rainey defence but just lost out on the bounce of the ball when he had won the chase to the try line following a clever chip kick ahead over the Rainey Endowed School full back. The game finished with the Rainey team travelling back to Magherafelt as 17-7 winners.
Down High School travelled to play Wallace High School in a midweek fixture more in hope than expectation. However, a solid display of rugby, which saw the visitors negate most of the Wallace attacks, ensured that the Down High School team emerged as 24-22 winners. Aaron Cairns and Ben Shields scored tries for the visitors with Justin Rea adding one conversion as well as four penalties.
The Down High School team returned to Lisburn to play a depleted Friends’ School team on Saturday. The Friends’ team was without both regular props, Aaron Bassett and Jonny MacCorkell as well as Jamie Robinson in the second row and James Vance in the back row. Ross Robinson was unavailable due to injury which was a loss to the Friends’ School backline. However, this enabled squad players such as David Seeds, Ryan Armstrong and Brice Bailie to come in and give good accounts of themselves against a full strength Down High School team. The Down team scored fifteen points with tries from Stuart Orr and Aaron Cairns. Justin Rea added one conversion as well as a penalty. In response, the Friends’ team scored a try from Paddy Pringle and a penalty from Paul Anderson to see the final score read 15-8 in favour of the Down High School team.
Foyle and Londonderry College continued their impressive recent run of good form with a deserved win against Royal Belfast Academical Institution. The Belfast Inst team took a 3-0 lead in this game when Matthew McGuigan kicked a penalty after ten minutes play. Matthew extended the Belfast Inst team lead to 6-0 with his second penalty of the game after twenty five minutes. Neil Burns scored a try for the Foyle team after thirty minutes which Chris Campbell converted to see the home team through to the half time whistle with a 7-6 lead. After the restart the Foyle team extended their lead to 12-7 when Graeme McCarter touched down for an unconverted try after ten minutes. This encouraged the Foyle team to attack the Belfast Inst line even more and they got their reward when Michael Lyons scored an unconverted try, with just fifteen minutes of the game remaining, to put his team into a healthy 17-6 lead. The Belfast Inst team scored a consolation try from Michael Kilpatrick with just seconds remaining to leave the final score at 17-11 in favour of the Foyle and Londonderry College team.
Regent House continued their recent run of good wins with a 14-3 victory against a very committed Cambridge House team. The Cambridge House team kicked a penalty from Timmy Small to take a 3-0 lead after twenty minutes of play. The home team responded with a try from their flanker, Jonny Baird, just before half time. Nathan Burns added the conversion to see the Regent team into a 7-3 half time lead.
We managed to get 87 photos mixed together here from both games, you will also see in the pictures an Ulster Player enjoying watching the games and the fantastic Regent House Tea & refreshments Team – click here –
Below are clips and interviews with coaches from Cambridge House v Regent House, the schools rtound up continues below these video clips
[youtube INOy2uNI-QE]
[youtube tuSEUAAT4nE]
[youtube RUXbIi-xR_8]
[youtube ye7YcE8wtmc]
[youtube V4dFLQGPbII]
[youtube l3p5AkxMGb8]
[youtube QDhhpNSMEAg]
Regent House increased their lead when second row forward, Oisin McClelland, powered his way over the Cambridge House line for a try fifteen minutes into the second half. Nathan Burns converted the try to put his team into a 14-3 lead. Regent House Number 8. Willie Mayne, put on a “Man of the Match” performance and came close to scoring on a number of occasions. However, the Cambridge House defence held firm in the last quarter of the game and the encounter finished with Regent as deserved 14-3 winners.
Royal School, Armagh hosted a Sullivan Upper team that dominated territory and possession in the first half of the game. Despite this, it was the Armagh team that took a 10-5 lead into the half time break with a Stuart Hooks try which was converted by Timothy McNeice. Timothy added a penalty to account for the RS Armagh points in the first half. In response, Sullivan scored a try through Rory Eves following a clever back row move from a scrum. A few well chosen words of wisdom from the RS Armagh coach, Kenny Hooks, at the interval seemed to shake the lethargy out of his team and their second half performance was much improved. Stuart Hooks scored two tries in the second period of play with Michael Hoey, Gareth Shields and Timothy McNeice all scoring one try each. Timothy McNeice kicked three conversions to leave the RS Armagh team as 41-5 winners. Gareth Shields made a welcome return from injury while Neil Faloon and Stuart Hooks got through an immense amount of work in the Armagh back row. The RS Armagh scrum half galvanised his team with a “Man of the Match” performance.
Portadown College hosted a Wallace High School team determined to get back to winning ways following their shock midweek defeat by Down High School. The Lisburn team turned in a very positive performance to win this game by 24-5. They scored tries through Jordan Grattan, who touched down twice, Andrew Coffey and Cal McIlwaine. David Scott added two conversions in the course of the game. In response, the Portadown team scored a consolation try from Thomas Halliday.
Banbridge Academy had to work hard to record a narrow win against Carrickfergus Grammar School team. The Banbridge team took the lead after twenty minutes when Michael Runciman ran in for an unconverted try. Andrew McConnell added a second Banbridge try ten minutes later which was converted by Chrissy Craig to put his team into a 12-0 lead. Just before half time, the visitors reduced the arrears to 12-5 when Andrew Fulton ran in for an unconverted try. Early in the second half Jonny Moore scored a try for the Carrickfergus team which was converted by Andrew Fulton to see the game with a 12-12 score line. However, the Banbridge team had the final say in the outcome of the game when their energetic flanker, Martin Bradley, went over for an unconverted try thus ensuring his team recorded a 17-2 victory.
Methodist College hosted Belvedere College at Pirrie Park and continued their recent good run of results against one of the top schools in Leinster. In the first quarter of the game the Methody team overwhelmed Belvedere College scoring four tries through Rory Winters who touched down twice, Oliver McCollum and Dan Kerr. Three of these trieswere converted by Mark Gribben who also kicked a penalty to give Methody a 29-0 lead. However, Belvedere College came back strongly in the last ten minutes of the half with an opportunist converted try from Michael Strachan,as well as a penalty, to see the first end with Methody taking a 29-10 lead into the break. The second half saw Mark Gribben add two further tries for Methody, one of which he converted himself, to put his team into a 41-10 lead. Just before the final whistle the Belvedere team scored a consolation try to leave the final score reading 41-15 in favour of the Methodist College team. The basis of this victory was built on the performance of the Methodist College pack with an outstanding performance from the back row trio of Christopher Gracey, Peter Logan and Rory Winters. The front row threesome of Oliver McCollum, Dan Kerr and James Harrison worked hard in both the scrums and open play while Ryan Annett caused problems for the Belvedere College pack at line out time!
Ballymena Academy and St. Michael’s College from Dublin went head-to-head on Saturday morning with both sides close to full strength for the first time this season. This fixture has produced some entertaining and close encounters over the past few seasons and this game was no exception.
Ballymena Academy opened the scoring on eight minutes when their Number 8, Matthew Rea, picked up at the back of the scrum and stepped inside the St. Michael’s back row for a well taken try. Caleb Morrison added the extras to give Ballymena Academy a 7-0 lead and the perfect start to the game.
St. Michael’s replied immediately when Luke McGrath was successful with a penalty attempt. The Dublin boys continued to pile on the pressure and, when Ballymena failed to deal with a kick through, flanker Dan Leavy was on hand to pounce on the loose ball for St. Michael’s first try of the day. Luke McGrath’s conversion attempt rebounded back off the upright with the score remaining at 8-7.
Ballymena were dominating the lines-out and used this platform to set up a driving maul which resulted in George Hargy touching down for the home team. Caleb Morrison added the touchline conversion to increase the home team’s lead to 14-8. Just before half-time, Caleb was successful with his first penalty attempt of the morning and Ballymena went into the interval 17-8 ahead.
The second half saw resurgence by the Dublin boys and they reduced the arrears shortly after the restart when Rory Cavanagh touched down after a period of pressure. Luke McGrath’s conversion attempt was successful and ten minutes later, his penalty saw the Leinster team take the lead for the first time during the game with an 18-17 scoreline.
This lead was short lived when, three minutes later, Caleb Morrison maintained his 100% record with a well taken penalty to take the score to 20-18 in favour of his Ballymena team. With five minutes to go, St. Michael’s scored the try of the morning. They generated a turnover in their own 22m area and, following some outstanding inter-play between forwards and backs, Mark Corballis raced away to score the decisive try which was converted by Luke McGrath.
The final five minutes were contested on the St. Michael’s line and, while Ballymena will have been disappointed not to convert this pressure to points, the Dublin school held on for a well-deserved 25-20 victory.
Omagh Academy recorded a rare victory when they hosted Lurgan College at the Campsie playing fields. Harry Gibson added to his growing reputation with the first try of the game following good work from his pack after a lineout. Ashley McIlwaine converted this try to put the home team into a 7-0 lead. The Omagh pack continued to dominate proceedings with Matthew Deazley taking advantage of the quick ball provided to touch down for an unconverted try, putting his team into a 12-0 lead. The Omagh Academy captain, Gary Sherrard, led by example in the closing stages of the first period of play to score twice. Ashley McIlwaine added one conversion to see his team into a 24-0 half time lead. It was more of the same in the second half and, after a short period of Lurgan pressure, the Omagh forwards gained turn over ball to release the backs enabling Matthew Deazley to score his second try of the game out in the wide channel of the pitch. The Omagh forwards were now in control and in the closing periods of play set up excellent quick ball for the back line to use. Centre Dean Barr picked an excellent line to beat the Lurgan defence with Ashley McIlwaine converting the try to see the Omagh team take a 36-0 lead going into the final few minutes of the game. Dean’s fellow Omagh Academy centre, Ryan Mitchell, got the final score of the game from another well worked move to see the home team record a 41-0 win.
Campbell College, following their excellent 15-12 win against a very talented Oakham College team during the half term break, hosted Dalriada School at Fox’s Field. The Campbell College team was unable to replicate the good form displayed in the Oakham game and lost out narrowly by 20-18 to a very determined Dalriada team. For the Campbell College team John Creighton, Rory Scholes and Marc Best all impressed while Dalriada had very good performances from Ben Henderson, Jonny McLaughlin and Roger Bonnar.
Ballyclare High School maintained their unbeaten record so far this season when they entertained Grosvenor Grammar School, a team coached by ex Ballyclare High School legend, Kyle McCallan. The Grosvenor Grammar School team made the Ballyclare High School team work hard for their 27-7 victory. Jonny Holmes opened the Ballyclare account with a penalty after three minutes to put his team into a 3-0 lead. Both packs were working hard with the visitors causing problems for the Ballyclare High School team. However, it was Ballyclare that extended their lead with another Jonny Holmes penalty after twenty five minutes to take the score to 6-0. Just before half time the Ballyclare team scored the first try of the game when 2nd Row forward, Paddy Hamill barged his way over the Grosvenor Grammar School line. Jonny Holmes added the extras to give his team a 13-0 half time lead. In the second half, Ballyclare scored tries with Paddy Hamill getting his second of the game and Marc Logan touching down for his first. Jonny Holmes added conversions to both of these tries to see his team into a 27-0 lead. Matthew Cahoon scored a try for the Grosvenor Grammar School team in the closing stages of the game. Scott Irvine converted this try to leave the final score at 27-7 in favour of the Ballyclare High School team.
Wellington College proved to be too strong for a Friends’ School “Select” xv withthe Wellington team winning the game by 35-10. David Marshall scored on his return to the Wellington team after injury with Freddie Birt and Danny Mowbray also getting among the try scorers. Connor Mackay impressed with his debut performance at outhalf while Gareth McCaughey and Lee Graham toiled tirelessly in the Wellington College backrow. Ben Brackenridge, Stewart Campbell, Peter Ferguson, Andrew Spence, Cameron McClements, Jonny Harding and Matthew Uprichard all gave good accounts of themselves for the Friends’ team.
Bangor Grammar School put on an impressive display of attacking rugby to defeat Belfast Royal Academy in an entertaining game at Ballymacormick. Belfast Royal Academy took the lead through two early Stuart Olding penalties. Bangor Grammar School responded with a Stuart McCloskey penalty to take the score to 6-3 in favour of the Belfast Royal Academy team. Bangor Grammar School took the lead when Year 12 winger, Matthew Hamilton, scored an unconverted try to take the score to 8-6. The same player scored a second try just before half time. This try was converted by Stuart McCloskey to see the home team take a 15-6 half time lead. Belfast Royal Academy scored early in the second half when their impressive back row forward, Ryan Clarke, powered his way across the Bangor Grammar School line for a try which Stuart Olding converted. This took the score to 15-13 and gave the Belfast Royal Academy team a degree of hope but this was short lived. Bangor scored a try through Jonny Gordon which Stuart McCloskey converted to see his team into a 22-13 lead. Mark Armstrong then ran three quarters the length of the pitch from his full back position to score a try which Stuart McCloskey converted. Now leading by 29-13, the Bangor Grammar School team scored yet another try through Gareth Irvine which Stuart McCloskey was delighted to convert, to give his team a 36-13 lead. The Belfast Royal Academy team showed great commitment in the closing stages of the game and scored an injury time try through the elusive Eoin Devlin to leave the final score at 36-18 in favour of the very well organised Bangor Grammar School team.
The game involving Limavady Grammar School and Larne Grammar School was cancelled with due to the fact that the Limavady players were on their half term break.
[youtube INOy2uNI-QE]
[youtube tuSEUAAT4nE]
[youtube RUXbIi-xR_8]
[youtube ye7YcE8wtmc]
[youtube V4dFLQGPbII]
[youtube l3p5AkxMGb8]
[youtube QDhhpNSMEAg]
