Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 7th October 2017
There was one game played on Monday 2nd October and two played on Wednesday 4th October in the lead up to a full list of fixtures played on Saturday 7th October.
Dromore High School hosted Regent House School at the Barban Hill venue on Monday 2nd October. Having drawn 7-7 against the Friends’ School team in their last outing the Dromore High School team went one better on this occasion and won the game by 31-12.
Regent played with a considerable wind at their back in the first half and controlled the territory and possession in the opening quarter of the game. Their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ outhalf, Robbie Johnston, broke through to score under the posts. Robbie then converted the try to put his team into a 7-0 lead. Dromore replied with some great line breaks from Dean Dillon and Ben Heath which resulted in Matty Pepper barging over for a try, which Reuben Cobb converted, to take the scoreboard to 7-7. For the remainder of the half the play was mainly in and around the middle of the park with Regent not really using the wind to their advantage and Dromore High School defending courageously.
At the start of the second half Dromore did not deal properly with the kick off. Regent House took advantage of this and, following a few phases of play, their impressive full back, Stuart Martin, scored an unconverted try in the corner to see his team into a 12-7 lead. After this Dromore used the wind well and picked up a penalty from Reuben Cobb to reduce the arrears to 12-10. Then quickly followed a well worked try from scrum half, Rhys Dale, which Reuben Cobb converted, to see the home team into a 17-12 lead. Dromore continued to pin the Regent House team down in their half and prop, Peter O’Connor, scored a try following a charge down. Reuben Cobb added the extras to put his team into a commanding 24-12 lead. The Dromore Year 12 centre, Dean Dillon, then finished off a fine personal performance with a solo effort try, once again converted by Reuben Cobb, to secure the 31-12 victory for the Dromore High School team.
On Wednesday 4th October the Friends’ School team travelled to play Grosvenor Grammar School. The Friends’ School team had built up a 14-0 lead by the break with tries from Ben McCaughey and Bradley Mulholland, both of which were converted by Reece Malone, before going on to win the game by 42-0.
Despite the difficult overhead conditions the Friends’ School team continued to play an expansive game. They scored four second half tries through two from George Pringle, a second from Ben McCaughey and one from Reece Malone. Reece was successful with all four second half conversions which secured the 42-0 victory for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Foyle and Londonderry College hosted the Royal School, Dungannon team in a game the RS Dungannon team won by 31-7. Wet conditions made things difficult for both teams but when the Dungannon team got their game going they built up a first half lead of 14-0. Nicholas Graham and Luke McMullan scored the tries with Luke adding two conversions.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored a third try in the early stages of the second half when Josh Fegan took advantage of good work from his pack before he ran in for a try. Luke McMullan added the conversion to see his team into a 21-0 lead. The Foyle College team mounted something of a comeback and got rewarded for their positivity when their industrious scrum half, Andy Miller, ran in for a try. Keelin Coyle converted the try to reduce the deficit to 21-7. The final ten minutes of the game saw the Royal School, Dungannon team score two unconverted tries through Adam Evans and Jack Girvan which secured their deserved 31-7 win.
There was a full list of fixtures played on Saturday 7th October.
Campbell College, Belfast hosted Regent House School in a game the Campbell College team won by 40-7. The Campbell College scores came through tries from John Gildea, Jack Stinson, Tobi Olaniyan, Conor Rankin, Jake McClean and Henry Wilson. Conor Rankin was successful with five out of six conversions.
The Regent House points came from a Robbie Johnston goal.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team defeated Friends’ School, Lisburn by 31-12. The Belfast Inst team had built up a 10-0 lead by the break with a try from David McCann, converted by Robin McIlveen, who added a penalty as well.
The Belfast Inst team scored three tries in the second half through Daniel Eakin, Rory Adair and Jamie Mullan. Robin McIlveen goaled all three tries.
Reece Malone was successful with four second half penalty kicks for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Wallace High School hosted Belfast Royal Academy in a game the Wallace High School team won by 38-7. James Brown, Peter McRoberts, John Peters, Jack Dillon, Nathan Doak and Sam Cardosi all scored tries for the Wallace High School team. Nathan Doak and Jack Dillon were successful with two conversions each.
The Belfast Royal Academy points came from an Adam Kane try which was converted by Harry Warke.
Cambridge House School travelled to play Antrim Grammar School and returned to Ballymena with a comfortable 35-0 win under their belts. Kane McIlroy scored two tries in the course of the game with Josh Mark, Peter Munce and Jack Wilson each adding one try for the Cambridge House team. Sam Millar added two conversions as well as two penalties.
Banbridge Academy hosted Lurgan College in a closely contested game the Lurgan College team won by 3-0. Refereed by that doyen of Ulster Referees, Mark Orr, both teams were encouraged to play an expansive style of rugby. Unfortunately, some poor decision making, allied to quite a few handling errors, kept the scoreline very low. The only thing separating the teams at the end of the game was a penalty from the Lurgan College outhalf, Josh Best. For the Banbridge team Andrew Shannon impressed with his performance in the second row as did Andrew Denver with his performance at full back.
The County Tyrone “Derby” match, featuring the Royal School, Dungannon team against the Omagh Academy team, was a closely contested affair from which the Omagh Academy team emerged as 17-15 winners. The RS Dungannon team opened their account when Nicholas Graham took advantage of some quick thinking from Adam Evans before touching down for a try, which was converted by Luke McMullan, to give his team a 7-0 lead. Luke McMullan then converted a penalty opportunity to increase the lead to 10-0. The Omagh team responded with a try from Jake McCay, which was converted by Scott Ballentine, to reduce the deficit to 10-7 at the break.
The second half saw the Omagh team pressurise the RS Dungannon defence. Troy Booth scored a try, which Scott Ballentine converted, to give the Omagh Academy team a 14-10 lead. The Dungannon team then scored an unconverted try through Dylan Burton to see them regain the lead with the score board reading 15-14 in their favour. With the final play of the game the Royal School, Dungannon team was pressurised into conceding a penalty. Up stepped Scott Ballentine to convert the penalty with the last kick of the game which secured the 17-15 win for the Omagh Academy team.
A second “Derby” game took place-this time in North Down when Bangor Grammar School hosted Sullivan Upper School. The Sullivan Upper team returned home having worked hard to secure a 33-10 victory. Shaun Tyler scored two tries for the Sullivan team with Conor McKee, Stewart Wylie, and George Saunderson touching down for one try each. Conor McKee added four conversions.
The Bangor Grammar School points came through unconverted tries from Aaron Sexton and Zach Kerr.
Dromore High School recorded a 24-0 victory against the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3rdxv when the teams met at the Barban Hill venue. Tom Dolaghan, Cameron Beacom-Hurle, Ben Heath and Peter O’Connor scored the Dromore High School tries with Reuben Cobb adding two conversions.
Limavady Grammar School hosted a very determined Strabane Academy team and had to work hard for their 41-7 victory. Robbie Hunter and James Howe scored tries in the opening exchanges and Jamie Young converted both to give the Limavady team a 14-0 lead. The Strabane team fought valiantly for the remainder of the first half but a determined Limavady Grammar school defence ensured the home line remained intact.
The Limavady team then went on to score five tries in the second half with Sean Butcher, Jamie Young, Brandon Maxwell, Benn Riley and Joel Boucher all touching down. James Howe added one conversion. Ralph Mealiff scored a consolation converted try for the Strabane Academy team to leave the Limavady Grammar School team as 41-7 victors.
Larne Grammar School played the Campbell College Colts team in a game the Larne GS team won by 7-0. Jonny Farquhar touched down for the Larne Grammar School try following a fine display of some soccer skills from the half way line. Euan Glenn added the conversion. The young Campbell College team contributed strongly to the game which was closely contested throughout.
Carrickfergus Grammar School continued their recent run of good form when they defeated Foyle and Londonderry College by 18-5. The foundations for their victory were laid by the Carrickfergus Grammar School pack and this enabled Joshua Ervine, Craig Lindsay and Joshua Clements to run in for one try each. Daniel Curley was successful with one penalty kick.
Keelin Coyle scored the consolation try for the Foyle and Londonderry College team.
Down High School got back to winning ways when they travelled to play Portadown College. The Down High School team had built up a 19-0 lead by half time before going on to record a 38-0 victory. Ronan Patterson scored a first half hat trick of tries with Greg Hutley adding two conversions.
The second half saw Andrew McCoubrey, Robin Wilson and Callum Dunn running in tries for the Down High School team with Greg Hutley adding two more conversions.
Ballyclare High School had built up a 27-10 half time lead against Belfast High School before going on to win the game by 56-17. Josh Cowan and Ewan Wasson each scored two tries for the Ballyclare High School team with Matthew McCullough, Ross Herron, Josh Young, Stuart Hull, Adam Campbell and Ross Patterson each touching down for one. Adam Clarke added three conversions.
The Belfast High School points came through tries from Ryan Gibson, Andrew Regan and Jack Ferguson. Brandon McMinn added one conversion.
The Royal School, Armagh team played the Blackrock College “House” team in a game the RS Armagh team won by 57-12. Ryan O’Neill scored a hat trick of tries with Michael Campbell scoring two tries for the Armagh team and Matthew Reaney, Callum Whiteside, Jack Treanor and Oliver Webb touching down for one try apiece. Zac Thompson was successful with six conversion attempts.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School hosted the Rainey Endowed School team in a game which was played in trying circumstances for both teams. Despite this the spectators present at the game which finished with the Enniskillen RGS team recording a hard earned 38-14 win. Jack Rutledge scored two tries for the Enniskillen RGS team with Josh Kennedy, Aaron Crawford, Alex Holder and Alex Parke scoring the remainder. Reece Smyton was successful with four conversion kicks.
The Rainey Endowed School points came through two Brian Hall tries both of which were converted by Karl Warner.
The “Match of the Day” was played at Ballymena Academy where the home team entered the Methodist College, Belfast team in the annual Young Cup competition. Everyone involved in the game was delighted that Les Kiss, the Ulster Director of Rugby, took time out of his hectic schedule to attend the game which was won 17-13 by the Methodist College team.
The Ballymena Academy started the game well with Bruce Houston and Stewart Moore asking questions off the Methodist College defence. The Methody defence responded positively and kept their line intact in the opening exchanges. Midway through the first half the Methodist College team got the first points of the game when Ben Gourley crossed the whitewash to score a try. Louis Lowry added the extras to see his team into a 7-0 lead. The Ballymena Academy team regrouped and for the Methody team into conceding a penalty. Bruce Houston converted the penalty to reduce the Ballymena Academy deficit to 7-3. An Oisin Jordan break then paved the way for Alex McKinney to score a try. Bruce Houston added the extras to see the Ballymena Academy team into a 10-7 lead at the break.
The Methodist College team then went on to dominate proceedings for long periods in the second half. Chris Larmour scored an unconverted try to put the visitors into a 12-10 lead midway through the second period of play. The Ballymena Academy team responded with a Bruce Houston penalty to see them into a 13-12 lead going into the final few minutes of the game. With the final play of the game it was Chris Larmour who proved to be the hero of the day when he ran in for a second unconverted try which secured the 17-13 win for the Methodist College, Belfast team.
At the end of this intriguing encounter former Ballymena Academy, Ulster and Ireland prop, Bryan Young, presented the Young Cup to the victorious Methodist College team.
