Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 19th November 2016
There were two midweek schoolboy friendly games, as well as a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd and 3rdxv Cup matches, played midweek in the lead up to a good list of schoolboy games played on Saturday 19th November.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team in a re-enactment of the 2016 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final when the teams met in a midweek game played on Wednesday 16th November which the Belfast Inst team won by 28-16. This game attracted a great deal of interest with spectators travelling from far and wide.
The Campbell College team took an early 5-0 lead when their Ulster U19 prop, Tom O’Toole, powered over the line for an unconverted try. The Belfast Inst team hit straight back with a brilliant individual counter attack from Michael Lowry who scored under the posts. James Hume added the conversion to put the visitors into a 7-5 lead. Campbell College responded with another unconverted try to give them a 10-7 lead. This time it was from Josh Newell who took advantage of good work from the Campbell College pack before scoring the try. The Belfast Inst team finished the half strongly with James Hume crashing over near the posts to score a converted try and give his team a 14-10 half time lead.
Playing into the wind in the second half the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team kept the ball well and their scrum half, Rhys O’Donnell, was particularly dangerous. Following a break by Rhys second row, David McCann, forced his way over the whitewash for a try. James Hume added the conversion to put his team into a 21-10 lead. The RBAI team was now into a rhythm and James Hume finished off a good team try following a neat off load from Joe Finnegan. James Hume capped a “Man of the Match” performance with a successful conversion from the touchline to put his team into a 28-10 lead. The Campbell College team got some further reward for their endeavours when Josh Chambers scored an unconverted try with the final play of the game. This ensured the final score read Campbell College, Belfast 15 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 28.
Sullivan Upper and Limavady Grammar School met on a superb playing surface at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt in a game the Sullivan Upper team won by 31-5. Rory Kilpatrick, Andy Weir, Rory Jemphrey, Shaun Tyler and Jules Storey all scored first half tries for the Sullivan Upper team. Rory added three conversions to see his team into a 31-0 lead at the break.
The Limavady Grammar School team mounted something of a revival and scored a second half consolation try through Gurpatap Sandhu. This ensured the game finished with the Sullivan Upper team recording a 31-5 victory.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Wallace High School defeated Bangor Grammar School by 59-5, Coleraine Grammar School defeated Ballyclare High School by 12-8, Friends’ School, Lisburn travelled to Dalriada and won by 19-8, Down High School defeated Enniskillen Royal Grammar School by 41-10, Grosvenor Grammar School lost by 32-12 against Royal School, Dungannon, Lurgan College defeated Wellington College by 5-0, Omagh Academy defeated Strabane Academy by 27-5, Regent House defeated Belfast High School by 24-17. Sullivan Upper defeated Royal School, Armagh by 27-26 and Ballymena Academy defeated Rainey Endowed School by 31-5.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup St Columba’s College, Stranorlar defeated Belfast Royal Academy 4thxv by 36-7, Banbridge Academy 3rdxv lost by 45-5 against Campbell College, Belfast 4thxv and Coleraine Grammar School 3rdxv lost by 74-10 against Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv.
On Thursday 17th November the first round games of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup were almost completed when the Royal School, Armagh team defeated St Columb’s College by 26-13.The one remaining game involving Methodist College 5thxv and Portadown College 3rdxv has been rescheduled for a third time. It must now take place at Pirrie Park on Wednesday 23rd November.
On Saturday 19th November Wallace High School hosted Omagh Academy in a game the Wallace High School team won by 31-7. Wallace had built up a 12-0 lead by the break with tries from Jonny Hunter and Gary Dillon, one of which was converted by Matthew Pentland.
Omagh started the second half strongly and got rewarded for their hard work when Jmaes Longwell took a quick penalty and finished with a try. Kyle Beattie converted the try to reduce the Omagh deficit to 12-7. After this the Wallace High School team sprang into action and scored three more tries through Matthew Miller, Nicky Woods and Jamie Peters. Matthew Pentland added two more conversions to secure the 31-7 victory for the Wallace High School team.
Royal School, Armagh hosted Belfast High School in a game the RS Armagh team won by 48-0. RS Armagh took control of the game early on when Matthew Reaney made a break to allow Peter Wilson to go over for his first score. Ryan O’Neill then grabbed two scores, both from excellent handling between backs and forwards, and, with one Glen Faloon conversion, the home wide led 17-0 at the break.
The second half saw the Armagh pack make more yards and this gave the backs a platform to allow Callum Whiteside to score in the right corner. Peter Wilson then grabbed his second of the afternoon after an excellent counter attack. Then Glen Faloon charged down a Belfast High clearance kick and he was quickest to the loose ball to dive over the line for the try. Callum Whiteside then added his second before Jack Chapman got the eighth try of the game when he ran in from twenty metres out. Glen Faloon was successful with three of the second half conversions to ensure the 48-0 win for the Royal School, Armagh team.
Banbridge academy recorded their second successive win when they defeated a Wellington College team by 21-0. The Banbridge team had taken a 14-0 lead into the break with tries from Chris Patterson and Robbie Mathers. Tom Flanagan converted one try and Ross Cartmill the other.
The second half proved to be somewhat scrappy withy both teams making changes. Angus Corbett scored a third try for the Banbridge team with Ross Cartmill adding the conversion which secured the 21-0 win for the Banbridge Academy team.
Despite the game being somewhat scrappy Troy Pinion and Angus Corbett impressed for the Banbridge Academy team.
Cambridge House Grammar School recorded a morale boosting 29-28 win against a much vaunted Belfast Metropolitan College team. Kane McIlroy, Aaron Stirling, Robin Moore and Reuben Russell all scored tries for the Cambridge House team while James Bovill was successful with three conversions as well as a penalty kick.
Lurgan College travelled to Carrickfergus Grammar School where the defeated the very young home team by 52-0. Both teams used the game to use an extended squad of players. Victor MacKenzie scored four first half tries for the Lurgan College team. Scott Wilson scored a fifth, and added four conversions, to see the Lurgan College team take a 33-0 lead into the break.
Ben McAllister, Reuben McCreery and Lewis Lawson added second half tries for the Lurgan College team. Scott Wilson added two conversions to secure the 52-0 victory for the Lurgan College team.
Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Ballyclare High School in a closely contested game the Ballyclare High School won by 18-16 with a last minute score. The game was level at 13-13 at half time with the Friends’ School points coming from two Ben McCaughey penalties and a Bradley Mulholland try, which Ben McCaughey converted. The Ballyclare High School points came from two Adam Clarke penalties and a Josh Young try which was converted by Adam Clarke.
In the second half Friends’ School took a 16-13 lead through a Ben McCaughey penalty . They held this lead until the final play of the game when Jonny Crockett ran in for an unconverted try to secure the 18-16 victory for the Ballyclare High school team.
Grosvenor Grammar School lost by 17-10 against Ballymena Academy 2ndxv. The Grosvenor points came through two tries from Daniel Martin and Jos McConkey.
Methodist College, Belfast hosted Coleraine Grammar School in a game the Methody team won by 38-10. The home team took a 7-0 lead when Alex Cairns scored a try which was converted by Paul Kerr. Coleraine GS reduced the arrears to 7-3 when Ally Telfer was successful with a penalty kick. Thomas Gallagher then scored a try for the Methody team. Paul Kerr added the conversion to see his team into a 14-3 lead at the break.
Coleraine started the second half well and scored a try through Matthew Mooney, which Ally Telfer converted, to reduce the deficit to 14-10. However, inspired by a few well-chosen words by team captain, Matty Loane, the Methody team then went on to control the rest of the game. They scored four tries with Paul Kerr touching down twice and Cameron Kelly and Louis Lowry adding one each. Paul Kerr was successful with two conversions to secure the 38-10 win for the Methodist College, Belfast team.
The Portadown College team hosted the high flying Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team and recorded an impressive 22-12 win. The Enniskillen RGS team took a 7-0 lead when Dylan Crawford scored a try which Reece Smyton converted. The Portadown team responded immediately and reduced the arrears to 7-3 when Matthew Neill converted a penalty kick. Both teams were in attack mode but both defences held firm to reach the break with the Enniskillen RGS team holding on to their 7-3 lead.
Portadown College started the second half strongly with flankers, Jordan Taylor and Scott McDowell, to the fore ably assisted by their captain, Stewart Hodgen. Following a series of well executed phases Portadown spread the ball wide to prop, Aaron McMaster. Aaron finished the move with an unconverted try to give the home team an 8-7 lead. Portadown continued to play well enjoying long periods of possession with the ball in hand. Matthew Neill displayed good awareness when his cleverly delayed pass was picked up by Dylan Nelson who broke through a hesitant defence to finish with a try. Matthew Neill added the extras to see his team into a 15-7 lead. The Enniskillen RGS team responded with an unconverted try through Angus Keys to reduce the deficit to 15-12. The Portadown College team then secured lineout possession which was moved quickly along their back division. Full back, Brett Fleck, showed great skill and awareness to round the opposition winger and go in under the posts for the try. Matthew Neill added the conversion to secure the well-deserved 22-12 victory for the Portadown College team.
Regent House hosted Down High school in a game the Down High School team won by 34-5. Down High School had taken an 8-5 lead into the break with a penalty from Marcus Graham and an unconverted try from the same player. The Regent House points came through an unconverted try from the impressive Robbie Johnston.
The Down High School team dominated the second half. They scored four tries through Marcus Graham who completed his hat trick with two more tries, as well one try apiece from Matthew Porter and William Annett. Marcus completed his “Man of the Match” performance with three successful conversion kicks to secure the 34-5 victory for the Down High School team.
Belfast Royal Academy defeated Dalriada School by 36-8 when the teams met at Roughfort. Tom Stewart scored two tries for the BRA team with Lewis Davidson, Matthew Dalton, Cormac McCracken and Conor McAuley all scoring one try each. Conor was successful with three conversion kicks.
The Dalriada points came through a penalty from Paddy Elliott in the first half and an unconverted try from Ross Fallows in the second half.
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Dromore High School in a game the RS Dungannon team won by 29-5. The RS Dungannon team had built up a 12-0 lead by the interval with tries from Joseph Cashel and James Gamble, one of which was converted by Luke McMullan.
The start of the second half saw the Dromore High School team get some reward for their efforts when Ben Heath crossed the whitewash for an unconverted try and reduce the deficit to 12-5. Joseph Cashel then went on to complete a fine personal performance with two more tries to complete his hat trick. Luke McMullan converted both tries, as well as a penalty, to secure the 29-5 victory for the Royal School, Dungannon team.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Round 1 match between Foyle and Londonderry College and Limavady Grammar School, scheduled for Saturday 19th, was postponed due to the inclement weather experienced in the North West of the Province. This game will now be played on Wednesday 23rd November. The other remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Round 1 match between Belfast Royal Academy and Banbridge Academy is scheduled to be played on the the same afternoon.
This season’s Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, the world’s second-oldest rugby competition, was launched at Kingspan Stadium on Thursday 17th November by the Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee, Mr Stephen Black, Mr John McKibbin, President of the Ulster Branch (IRFU), Mr Ian Russell, Danske Bank District Manager, representing the sponsors and the captains of all 33 participating schools.
Last season, Conor Field led Royal Belfast Academical Institution to its 31st outright Schools’ Cup success, following a 13-3 win over Campbell College. The competition was first won by Royal School Armagh back in 1876.
The launch saw Ian Russell, District Manager at Danske Bank, and John McKibbin, President of IRFU (Ulster Branch), confirm the draw for Round 1 and conduct the draw for Round 2 of this season’s competition.
The draw is as follows:
Round 1 – Saturday 03 December 2016
Strabane Academy v Carrickfergus Grammar School
Cambridge House v Larne Grammar School
Round 2 – Saturday 07 January 2017
Belfast High School v Limavady Grammar School
Banbridge Academy v Dromore High School
Foyle and Londonderry College v Regent House
Friends’ School, Lisburn v Antrim Grammar School
Portadown College v Wellington College
Lurgan College v Winner of Strabane Academy / Carrickfergus Grammar School
Winner of Cambridge House Grammar School / Larne Grammar School v Dalriada School
Speaking at the launch, Ian Russell commented: “This season marks the twelfth year of our partnership with the Schools’ Cup and it is a relationship we are immensely proud of. Supporting sport at youth level is a central part of our role in the community and the Schools’ Cup is great competition to align our brand with.
“History has shown that the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup is a great platform for young talent to be discovered and shine – you only have to look at today’s Ulster and Irish rugby squads for proof of this. I am confident this year’s competition will produce more captivating matches for the teams, supporters and spectators.”
Conducting the draw, John McKibbin said: “The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup is a competition that is steeped in history and it continues to hold a very significant place in the rugby calendar. I would like to thank Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship and I wish all the competing teams the best of luck as we look all look forward to another exciting year of Schools Cup rugby.”
In attendance at the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup launch were Ulster Rugby players Paul Marshall, Kyle McCall and Richard Lutton. All three of these players were regular participants in Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigns while playing as schoolboys.
2016/17 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Entry Levels & Dates:
Round 1 – Saturday 03 December 2016
Strabane Academy v Carrickfergus Grammar School
Cambridge House Grammar School v Larne Grammar School
Round 2 – Saturday 07 January 2017
The two winners from Round 1 will be joined by twelve further teams for the Round 2 draw:
Antrim Grammar School, Banbridge Academy, Belfast High School, Dalriada School, Dromore High School, Foyle College, Friends’ School, Lisburn, Limavady Grammar School, Lurgan College, Portadown College, Regent House School and Wellington College.
Belfast High School v Limavady Grammar School
Banbridge Academy v Dromore High School
Foyle and Londonderry College v Regent House School
Friends School Lisburn v Antrim Grammar School
Portadown College v Wellington College
Lurgan College v Winner of Strabane Academy / Carrickfergus Grammar School
Winner of Cambridge House Grammar School/ Larne Grammar School v Dalriada School
Round 3 – Saturday 21 January 2017
The seven Round 2 winners will be joined by nine further teams for the Round 3 draw:
Ballyclare High School, Bangor Grammar School, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Grammar School, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Grosvenor Grammar School, Rainey Endowed School, Royal School, Armagh and Royal School, Dungannon.
Round 4 – Saturday 04 February 2017
The eight winners from Round 3 will be joined by the remaining eight sides:
Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Belfast, Down High School, Methodist College Belfast, Omagh Academy, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School.
Quarter Finals – Saturday 18 February 2017
Semi Final 1 – Monday 27 February 2017 (Kingspan Stadium, 2.30pm)
Semi Final 2 – Tuesday 28 February 2017 (Kingspan Stadium, 2.30pm)
Final – Friday 17th March 2017 (Kingspan Stadium, 3.00pm)
