To follow INTOUCH RUGBY on Facebook CLICK HERE to Follow Ulster Schools Rugby on Facebook CLICK HERE for TWITTER CLICK HERE
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 25th November 2017
The draw for the first and second rounds of the 2017/18 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup took place in the A&L Goodbody Lounge at the Kingspan Stadium on Monday 20th November.
The draws were made by Graffin Parke, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU and Lewis McCallan, Senior Corporate Banking Manager at Danske Bank, who was the representative of the sponsors.
The results of the draws are as follows 😉
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round 1 Draw
Carrickfergus Grammar School v Strabane Academy
Wellington College, Belfast v Belfast High School
These games are to be played on Saturday 9th December 2017
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round 2 Draw
Portadown College v Limavady Grammar School
Larne Grammar School v Lurgan College
Cambridge House Grammar School v Banbridge Academy
Carrickfergus Grammar School/Strabane Academy v Regent House School
Rainey Endowed School v Wellington College, Belfast/Belfast High School
Grosvenor Grammar School v Antrim Grammar School
Foyle and Londonderry College v Dromore High School
These games are to be played on Saturday 6th January 2018
Round 3 – Saturday 20th January 2018
The seven winners from Round 2 are joined by nine further teams: Bangor Grammar School, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Grammar School, Dalriada School, Down High School, Friends’ School, Lisburn, Omagh Academy, The Royal School, Dungannon and Sullivan Upper School.
Round 4 – Saturday 3rd February 2018
The eight winners from Round 3 will be joined by the remaining eight sides: Ballyclare High School, Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Methodist College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, The Royal School Armagh and Wallace High School.
Quarter Finals – Saturday 17th February 2018
Semi Final 1 – Monday 5th March 2018 (Kingspan Stadium, 2.30pm)
Semi Final 2 – Wednesday 6th March 2018 (Kingspan Stadium, 2.30pm)
Final – Monday 19th March 2018 (Kingspan Stadium, 3.00pm)
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield
Quarter Finals – Saturday 17th February 2018
Semi Finals – Saturday 3rd March 2018
Final – Wednesday 14th March 2018
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl
Quarter Finals – Saturday 3rd February 2018
Semi Finals – Saturday 17th February 2018
Final – Wednesday 28th February 2018
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy
Round 1 – Saturday 6th January 2018
Quarter Finals – Saturday 20th January 2018
Semi Finals – Saturday 3rd February 2018
Final – Wednesday 21st February 2018
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield
Round 1 – Saturday 25th November 2017
Round 2 – Saturday 9th December 2017
Round 3 – Saturday 13th January 2018
Round 4 – Saturday 27th January 2018
Quarter Finals – Saturday 10th February 2018
Semi Finals – Saturday 24th February 2018
Final – Tuesday 13th March 2018
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate
Quarter Finals – Saturday 10th February 2018
Semi Finals – Saturday 24th February 2018
Final – Saturday 10th March 2018
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl
Quarter Finals – Saturday 27th January 2018
Semi Finals – Saturday 10th February 2018
Final – Saturday 24th February 2018
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy
Round 1 – Saturday 13th January 2018
Quarter Finals – Saturday 27th January 2018
Semi Finals – Saturday 10th February 2018
Final – Saturday 24th February 2018
There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup match, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield game, a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup matches as well as a few 1stxv friendly games played midweek in the lead up to a good list of 1stxv fixtures and two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 games played on Saturday 25th November.
On Tuesday 21st November the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 game between Friends’ School, Lisburn and Strabane Academy ended with a 20-0 victory to the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
On Wednesday 22nd November Limavady Grammar School played Foyle and Londonderry College in the Danske bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup. Limavady Grammar School won the game by 21-7.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup games played this week the results of the games played were as follows 🙂
Lurgan College 3rdxv 3 Royal School, Armagh 4thxv 12
Colaiste Colmcille, Ballyshannon 0 Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 35
Rainey Endowed School v Carndonagh Community College-Postponed
Royal School, Armagh 3rdxv v Regent House School-Postponed
Belfast Royal Academy 3rdxv v Banbridge Academy-Postponed
Methodist College, Belfast 4thxv 32 Belfast Royal Academy 4thxv 0
Royal Belfast Academical Institution Colts 47 Sullivan Upper School 3rdxv 12
Royal School, Dungannon 3rdxv 0 Ballyclare High School 3rdxv 35
Royal Belfast Academical Institution 1stxv played Campbell College, Belfast 1stxv in a closely contested midweek game the Belfast Inst team won by 8-6. This was a very even game with the defences on both teams ensuring there were very few points scoring opportunities. Campbell College kicked two first half penalties through Conor Rankin with Angus Adair replying with one penalty for the home team.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team started the second half strongly and good work from their pack laid the foundations for Simon McMaster to run in for an unconverted try to give his team an 8-6 lead. Despite the best intentions of both teams to play with the ball in hand the defences ensured there were no further scores and it was the home team that celebrated their hard earned win when the no-side whistle sounded.
Omagh Academy travelled to play Rainey Endowed School at the Meadowbank Sports Arena and the team was delighted to return home with a hard earned 12-7 victory under their belts. Michael Marechaux and Rory Ritchie combined to put Scott Ballentine in for an early try under the Rainey posts. Taine Lagan added the conversion to give the Omagh Academy team a 7-0 lead- a lead they held until the break.
The Rainey team then drew level at 7-7 when a period of pressure was rewarded with Ciaran Doyle running in for a try which Harry Evans converted. The Omagh Academy team secured their 12-7 win when, close to the end of the game, Nathan Kilfedder, Rory Ritchie and Jake McCay combined to put Michael Marechaux in for an unconverted try.
On Friday 24th November Banbridge Academy played Grosvenor Grammar School in a floodlit fixture at Rifle Park, home of Banbridge Rugby Club. Despite taking a 14-0 lead into the interval the Banbridge Academy team somehow managed to lose the game by 17-14. Adam Hanna and Matthew Robinson scored the Banbridge Academy tries in the first half to which Tom Flanagan added the conversions. Jordan Poots, the Banbridge Academy prop, impressed with his performance throughout the game.
The second half saw the Grosvenor Grammar School team step up to the mark. Jack Patterson and Jos McConkey each scored one try with Jos successful with both conversions as well as a penalty kick.
Both teams, and their coaches, would like to thank Banbridge Rugby Club for the provision of facilities and hosting the game on a superb pitch at Rifle Park.
On Saturday 25th November Ballymena Academy hosted Down High School in a game the Ballymena Academy team won by 31-6. The game was played in difficult conditions but both teams took a positive approach to the game. First half tries from Alex McKinney and Stewart Moore, with a conversion from Bruce Houston, gave the home team a 12-0 lead. Down High School responded with two Greg Hutley penalties to leave the Ballymena Academy team with a 12-6 lead at the interval.
The second half saw the Ballymena team score three further tries through the outstanding Oisin Jordan, Stewart Moore and Alex McKinney. Bruce Houston added two conversions to secure the 31-6 win for the Ballymena Academy team.
Belfast Royal Academy recorded a morale boosting 31-11 victory against Regent House. Daniel Logan and Tom Stewart each scored two tries for the Belfast Royal Academy team with Ben Brown adding one. Callum Davidson kicked two conversions and Daniel Logan was successful with one conversion.
The Regent House points came from an Aaron Migan try and two Robbie Johnston penalties.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted Sullivan Upper School in a game the Campbell College team won by 38-7. Oscar Yandall opened the Campbell College account with a fine individual unconverted try in the opening stages of the game. The Sullivan Upper team responded positively with a try from Andrew McConnell, which was converted by Connor McKee, to take a 7-5 lead. Paddy McAlpine then carried strongly for the Campbell College team before touching down for a try. Conor Rankin added the extras to see his team into a 12-7 lead. Ben Power then took advantage of some indifferent Sullivan defence before off-loading to Rex Tinsley who scored in the corner. Conor Rankin added the conversion to see the Campbell College team into a 19-7 lead at the break.
The Campbell College team continued to dominate proceedings in the second half but had to wait a while for their next score. It came when Jack Stinson turned provider for a try from Harry Jenkins. Conor Rankin converted the try to see his team into a 26-7 lead. Rex Tinsley then scored his second of the game to see the Campbell College lead increase to 31-7. Close to the final whistle Kieran Richardson took advantage of some good handling from his team mates to finish with a try. Conor Rankin converted the try to secure the 38-7 victory for the Campbell College team.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School against Larne Grammar School game was cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions.
Dalriada School hosted Ballyclare High School in a closely contested game the Dalriada team won by 18-16. Ross Fallows scored two tries for the Dalriada team with James McCormick adding two penalties as well as one conversion.
The Ballyclare High School points came through tries from Josh Young and James Nelson alongside two Adam Clarke penalties.
Dromore High School hosted Cambridge House School in a game the Dromore High School team won by 34-5. Dean Dillon scored three tries for the Dromore team with Tom Dolaghan and James Moore running in for one try each. Reuben Cobb added four conversions as well as one penalty.
Peter Munce scored an unconverted try for the Cambridge House team.
Lurgan College lost by 24-10 against the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 2nd xv. The Lurgan College points came through two unconverted tries from Reuben McCreery and Josh Best.
Methodist College, Belfast defeated Wallace High School by 32-10 in a game played on the pristine Pirrie Park Paddock Pitch. Tom Millar, Connor Kelly and Ted Linton scored tries for the Methodist College team with Ethan McIlroy adding two penalties as well as two conversions. The remaining seven points came from a penalty try.
The Wallace High School points came through unconverted tries from Jamie Peters and Dylan Sedge.
Royal School, Armagh lost by 12-0 against the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team when the teams met at the College Hill venue. The Belfast Inst points all came in the first half of the game through tries from Ewan Magee, a late replacement for Angus Adair, and Jude Postlethwaite. Ewan added one conversion.
Royal School, Dungannon defeated Coleraine Grammar School by 23-10 in an exciting game played on the WK Armstrong pitch at the Royal School. The Royal School, Dungannon team scored three tries through Peter Nicholl, Jack Girvan and Cameron Steenson. Luke McMullan added one conversion and two penalties.
The Coleraine Grammar School points came through a try from Alex Conkey, a Neil Graham conversion and a Pierce Crowe penalty.
Two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 1 games were scheduled to have been played on Saturday 25th November.
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College 5 Wellington College, Belfast 12
Foyle and Londonderry College v Craigavon Senior High School was postponed due to a flooded pitch.
The draw for the second round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield took place on Saturday 25th November. The results of the draw are as follows:-
Friends School Lisburn v Belfast High School
Portadown College v Banbridge Academy
Grosvenor Grammar School v Dalriada School
Royal School Dungannon v Foyle and Londonderry College / Craigavon Senior High School
Limavady Grammar School v Carrick Grammar School
Wellington College, Belfast v Antrim Grammar School
Regent House School v Larne Grammar School
Lurgan College v Cambridge House Grammar
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 2 games must be played on/before Saturday 9th December.
Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust Week 2nd – 9th December 2017
The Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust was formed in 1978 to assist severely injured rugby players in their everyday lives, and help to restore their confidence and independence.
All clubs and schools are encouraged to raise funds for the Trust by working on fund raising ventures during the week December 2nd-December 9th 2017. Schools in Ulster have supported this most worthwhile of causes most generously over a period of many years. It is hoped this support will continue this year and that even more money can be raised.
One of the targets for the Charitable Trust Committee is that all schools and clubs sign up to a direct debit as a “Friend” of the IRFU Charitable Trust.
For further information visit www.irishrugby.ie/charitabletrust or
Stephen Robinson at srobinson131@c2kni.net and John Wilson at jakeslane@hotmail.com
