In a game played midweek, Sullivan Upper entertained Dalriada School in a game that was postponed on Saturday 6th October. The Dalriada team travelled as a team full of confidence following their impressive start to the season. However, the Sullivan Upper team was not lacking in confidence and they had prepared well for this game. The Sullivan team held the upper hand for long periods in the course of the first half. They took a 10-0 lead at the interval with a penalty from Mark Adair as well as a Charlie Borrows try, converted by Mark Adair. Scott Finlay and Chris Griffiths displayed good skills in the build-up to the try and these two players were dominant for the Sullivan Upper team in the second half.
Scott Finlay added to his reputation with a second half try which was converted by Mark Adair. Zack Berkshaw, Michael Cartmill and Angus McCarthy had second half tries converted by Mark as well while Dave Cave ran in for an unconverted try to complete the Sullivan Upper scoring. In response, the Dalriada team did run in a converted try in the second half to leave the Sullivan Upper team as comfortable 43-7 winners.
Bangor Grammar School hosted Banbridge Academy in a high scoring game at the Ballymacormack Road venue. Banbridge started well with Aaron Kennedy scoring an unconverted try after just two minutes of the game to give his team a 5-0 lead. Bangor fought back and scored their first try of the game five minutes later. The try was converted to give the home team a 7-5 lead. This extended to 14-5 ten minutes later when Bangor Grammar School scored another converted try. On the stroke of half time the home team ran in for an unconverted try to record a 19-5 half time lead.
Shortly after the restart, Banbridge Academy winger, Conor Morrow scored a try which was converted by Aaron Kennedy to reduce the arrears to 19-12. The Bangor Grammar School team scored three further tries in the second half. Two were converted to leave the final score reading 38-12 at the end of the game.
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Friends’ School recovered from their last minute loss in their previous game to record an excellent win against an Omagh Academy team that had recorded some excellent wins in recent weeks. Both teams were missing key players when the two teams met at the Magheralave Road venue. The Omagh Academy team scored an early unconverted try through Adam Longwell to give his team a 5-0- lead. The Friends’ School team replied with an unconverted try from Dean Howes who displayed great pace following a pick up from the base of the scrum to take the score to 5-5. The Omagh team regained the lead Scott Barr took full advantage of an Adam Stephenson break to touch down under the posts. James Catterson converted the try to give his team a 12-5 lead. The Friends’ team scored three further first half tries through Dean Howes, Zach Finlay and Peter Ferguson. Ross Robinson added one conversion to give the Friends’ team a 22-12 half time lead.
The second half was dominated by the Omagh Academy team but good Friends’ School defence, with Dylan Lewis, Zach Finlay and Ben Palmer prominent, ensured no further Omagh Academy scores. The home team was restricted to just one penalty opportunity which was converted by Ross Robinson. This ensured the Friends’ School team won the game by 25-12.
Carrickfergus Grammar won their first game of the season with a win 36-0 against Cambridge House. Carrickfergus Grammar School started very confidently with a scrum early on and, with both forwards and backs linking well, a strong attack from the Carrickfergus GS forwards resulted in the first try of the game being scored by Kyle Gregg. This was converted by Kealan Gilpin to put the Carrickfergus team into a 7-0 lead. A good catch from the kick off allowed the Carrickfergus GS team to set up a good foundation and the backs were able to use their pace for Christian Robinson to score a try,This was converted by Kealan Gilpin to increase the lead to 14-0. Cambridge House worked hard after a Carrickfergus GS knock on and made some ground. However, the Carrickfergus GS defence forced a turnover and their backs attacked the space to put Christian Robinson in for his second try to increase the lead to 19-0. A well worked Carrickfergus GS lineout in the Cambridge House 22m area led to a driving maul, followed by a pick and go for Kyle Gregg to score his second try to take the score to 24-0. Scott Wallace caught the kick off and broke a couple of tackle before off- loading the ball to his forwards. The Carrickfergus GS backs spun the ball wide for Stuart McLoughlin to score in the corner and give his team a 29-0 lead at half time.
The second half was marred by a number of injuries to Cambridge House players but they stuck at it and managed to have some opportunities close to the Carrickfergus GS line. However, strong defence by the Carrickfergus team managed to keep them out. Christian Robinson managed to score his third try of the morning after a well worked backs move and a fine offload from winger, Kris Berry. Kealan Gilpin converted the try to see the Carrickfergus Grammar School team through the game with a 36-0 victory.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted a Rainey Endowed School team that had recorded some excellent results this season. The first try of the game came from a set piece play five minutes into the game. From a scrum, the ball was played out and winger, Connor McCann hit a trail line sending him straight under the Rainey Endowed posts. Fullback, Rory Campbell, converted the try to give the Belfast Inst team a 7-0 lead. After some excellent territorial kicking by out half, John McClure, the RBAI forwards held onto the ball for Andrew Mcgrath to score under the posts after ten minutes of the game. The try was not converted but the Belfast Inst team had a 12-0 lead. The Belfast Inst team maintained procession denying Rainey any real opportunity to attack. After some very well worked link up play the Belfast Inst centre, Joe Fryers, scored an unconverted try to see his team into a 17-0 lead. On the stroke of half time, Rory Campbell scored in the corner and succeeded with his conversion attempt to see the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team into a 24-0 half time lead.
The second half saw the Belfast Inst team take control, with Connor McCann collecting a suburb off load to score a converted try under the posts to give his team a 31-0 lead. Rainey, for the first time looked threatening and, after a quick tap penalty, their full back, Eunan Shaw, took full advantage of slack home defence to score a try which Kieran Lynch converted to reduce the arrears to 31-7 However, in the last ten minutes of the game Belfast Inst flanker, Andrew Thompson, and winger, Iain Jones, ran the length of the pitch to score with scrumhalf, Frazer Wright, converting both. This ensured a well-deserved 45-7 victory for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
The Ballyclare High School team has experienced difficulties in recording positive results in the early stages of this season. However, with players returning from representative duty, they seemed to have turned a corner with recent performances. They played a Limavady Grammar School team that was almost back to full strength with a number of players returning after injury. Ballyclare High School opened their account with an unconverted try from David Lawther and a penalty from Jack Irvine. The Limavady Grammar School team responded well with two tries, one of which was converted, as well as a penalty, to see them into a 15-8 half time lead.
The Ballyclare High School team dominated proceedings in the second half. Three penalties from Jack Irvine put them into a 17-15 lead. The result was sealed when Jack Irvine converted a try from team captain, Jonny Darling, to ensure a well-deserved 24-15 victory.
Belfast Royal Academy travelled to play Ballymena Academy at the Galgorm Road and it was the away team that controlled proceedings for large parts of the game. The BRA team scored first half tries through Ryan Hogg and Jordan Hylton, with Stewart Martin well involved in the lead up to both. Max Oates converted one try as well as a penalty to see his team into a 15-0 lead. Just before the interval the Ballymena Academy team responded with an Brian Mulholland try, converted by Andrew Magrath, to leave the scoreboard reading 15-7 at the interval.
The visitors scored a try through Josh McIlroy which was converted by Andrew Magrath to reduce the arrears to 15-14 midway through the second half. Just when it seemed the BRA team was going to hold out for a famous victory the Ballymena Academy team mounted one last attack from which they scored to record a last minute 21-15 win. Ballymena continued to apply pressure on the BRA line and were awarded a penalty. Although the three points would have sufficed, Oliver Simpson immediately spotted a gap and was able to recycle the ball for Duncan Maguire to touch down for the winning try. Andrew Magrath converted the try to leave the final score reading 21 – 15 to Ballymena Academy.
Foyle and Londonderry College recorded another victory when they hosted the Dalriada School team. The Foyle team took an early 5-0 lead when their captain, Kyle Henderson, went over to score an unconverted try. This was extended to 12-0 when the Foyle centre, Ryan Curry, outwitted the Dalriada defence to run in for a try under the posts. Kyle Henderson was successful with his conversion attempt. This became 19-0 when Patrick Leeson crossed the Dalriada line for an unconverted try.
Dalriada mounted a spectacular comeback by scoring four tries, two of which were converted, to take a 24-19 lead with just minutes remaining. However, the Foyle and Londonderry team mounted one last challenge and got their reward when Niall adair scored a well worked try. Kyle Henderson added the conversion to see his team through this tense, but exciting, encounter by 26-24.
The Portadown College 1st xv took to the field against Royal School, Armagh missing a number of their regular starting team. The Portadown team started strongly demonstrating aggressive forward play throughout and were surprised with how well their set plays were performing. Early lineout possession allowed the College pack to drive deep into their opposition territory. However, it was the Royal School back line which broke the deadlock with some enterprising play resulting in an unconverted try from Nigel Simpson to give his team a 5-0 lead which the Armagh team held until halftime.
The Portadown College pack again started the second half strongly dominating both scrum and lineout. It was from some excellent forward interplay that resulted in an infringement from a Royal player 5m out. Quick thinking from stand in scrum half, Jonny Burns, led to the first Portadown College try. Jonny took a quick penalty and scored before the Royal School defence got organised. Niall Davison converted to give his team a 7-5 lead. The Royal School, Armagh back line continued to look dangerous but squandered several try scoring opportunities. However, their persistence paid off and Luke Reaney scored a try with just ten minutes to go. Ali Wright added the conversion to give the Royal School team a 12-7 lead. The Portadown team never gave up and, following some excellent forward interplay, the ball was moved wide with some excellent handling skills by winger Thomas Trouton who released debutant Josh McComb who touched down for an unconverted try to take the final score to 12-12.Josh McComb capped a fine personal performance with his try while Michael Thompson impressed for the Royal School, Armagh team.
Wallace High School made light of their injury list with a very comprehensive victory against Regent House. The Regent team ran in two converted tries and kicked two penalties to score 20 points. The Wallace team scored eight tries with Jordan Grattan touching down for three tries. Josh Collingwood scored two as did Jacob Stockdale with Max Troton scoring one. Ryan Moore was successful with seven conversions to see the Wallace High School team emerge as 54-20 winners.
In other games played on Saturday 13th October Portora Royal School had a 28-25 victory over an injury depleted Royal School, Dungannon team.
Sullivan Upper had to work hard before they eventually overcame a very determined Grosvenor Grammar School team. The scoreline read 0-0 at half time and it was ten minutes into the second period before the Sullivan Upper team got the break through. They scored four second half tries, two of which were converted, to leave the final score reading 24-0 in favour of the Sullivan Upper team.
