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Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 Previews Saturday 20th January 2018
There are eight Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 games scheduled to take place on Saturday 20th January
Rainey Endowed School will play their second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup fixture at home when they play Portadown College. Over the years all Rainey Endowed School teams have proven difficult to beat at home in the Ulster Schools’ Cup and the 2017/18 squad will aim to continue that tradition. They got off to a positive start when they defeated Belfast High School in the previous round. They are at home to a team they have already beaten earlier in the season and would have every right to see themselves as favourites to win this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 tie. The Rainey Endowed School team, coached by Chris Campbell, who receives great assistance from Jeremy Hastings and Stu McCalmond, is captained by Adam Thornton. Adam can call upon the services of some very talented players. Bryan Hall is the top try scorer and the reliable boot of Harry Evans earns him the right to be top points scorer. Bryn Davies played on the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team with David Dripps playing a leading role in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U17 squad. The talents of all these players shone through in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Bryn Davies, in particular, impressed with his fine performance which saw him score a hat trick of tries in the course of that game. Karl Warner, Jack Bresland and Ciaran Doyle all scored tries in the course of that game as well and they will be hoping for more of the same when they meet the Portadown College team in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
The Portadown College team started their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 game against Limavady Grammar school in a somewhat nervy way. It took a little time for the players to adapt to the demands of Schools’ Cup rugby. However, once the nerves settled, the Portadown College team went on to record an impressive win against a very spirited Limavady Grammar School team. The Portadown College team is coached by Andrew Symington, who is assisted by Paul Heasley. Team captain, Matthew Neill, impressed with his leadership skills in the previous round. He will need to have those skills finely honed as he prepares to lead his team into the 3rd round encounter against the Rainey Endowed School team. Adam Speers displayed great game management skills in the second half of the game against Limavady Grammar School. He will need a repeat performance for the entire game against the Rainey Endowed School team if the Portadown College team is to come away with anything from this game. Christopher Thornberry, Daniel Moorcroft, Brett and Drew Fleck and Dylan Nelson are talented players on the Portadown College team. They gained a lot from their experiences in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 encounter with Limavady Grammar School. They will need to build on those positive experiences when they line up to face a very confident Rainey Endowed School team in the 3rd Round.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
The Lurgan College team, coached by Kyle McCallan who is assisted by Rob Logan, overcame a potentially difficult Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round 2 encounter against a very spirited Larne Grammar School team by 14-0. The Lurgan College captain, Reuben McCreery, caught the eye on that occasion with his leadership qualities as well as his attacking and defensive qualities from the No 8 position. His second half try in the course of that game realistically sealed that game for his team. He will need to bring all those qualities, and more, when the Lurgan College team meet Down High School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Reuben forms part of a very talented Lurgan College backrow trio alongside Ewan Mulligan and Rory Burns. Reuben, along with Jon Woods, has been the top try scorer for the Lurgan College team this season. However, it was Jack Maxwell who also caught the eye with his try scoring exploits against Larnne Grammar School. Jack impressed as well with his defensive duties in the course of that game. Josh Best is the leading points scorer for the Lurgan College team this season. The Down High School team will need to monitor all these Lurgan College players closely if there is not to be, what would be seen as an upset, at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
Down High School will probably see themselves as favourites to win this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game against Lurgan College. This game is the beginning of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign and the players would think their early season form has been good enough to ensure they progress to the next stage of the competition. The Down High School team has recorded some impressive victories in the course of the current season. Coached, by Charlie Knox, who is assisted by the experienced John Gunston and Ulster player, Aaron Cairns, the Down High School team has benefitted from the S&C work undertaken by James McBriar. The players have impressed with their attacking prowess in their games this season. They will want to continue with their positive approach against the Lurgan College team. The team is captained by Robin Wilson who, along with Lewis Finlay, has been the top try scorer this season. Both these players have represented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team. Greg Hutley is a renowned place kicker and the team’s top points scorer. He has been involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U17 squad. The Lurgan College team must ensure they display great discipline throughout this game. The Down High School team are currently holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield. They will want to be in a position to challenge for somewhat different honours as this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign progresses.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am. The venue for this game is Pollock Park, home of Lurgan Rugby Football Club.
Grosvenor Grammar School impressed with their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Round victory against Antrim Grammar School. However, if they are to progress much further in the competition they will need to raise their bar even higher if they are to overcome the not insignificant challenge the Royal School, Dungannon team will provide when the teams meet in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Grosvenor Grammar School team is coached by the experienced team of Andrew Gibson and Gary Hunter. They will be hoping their inspirational captain, Ben Davies, makes a full recovery from an injury sustained during the Round 2 encounter with Antrim Grammar School. Ben has leadership qualities that will be required for the game against the Royal School, Dungannon team. Jos McConkey has been the leading try and points scorer for the Grosvenor Grammar School team this season. James McMaster is emerging as a very talented player who has caught the eye of the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department. He will be hoping for a big performance against the RS Dungannon team. Nathan Chan and James Lusty scored tries against Antrim Grammar School but it was the Grosvenor GS hooker, Ian Skillen, who really wrote the headlines on that occasion. Ian scored a hat trick of tries in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. He would be delighted to repeat that feat in the course of the 3rd Round encounter against the Royal School, Dungannon team.
Despite having to travel to Grosvenor Grammar School for their 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Grosvenor Grammar School the Dungannon team will see themselves as favourites to win this game. A 15-0 victory in the annual Chico Cup competition back in September will have given the Dungannon players a psychological edge as they prepare for this game. It has been a good season for the Royal School, Dungannon team with the squad recording eleven out of sixteen victories. Gareth McClintock coaches the team and he receives great assistance from the experienced duo of Gareth McClintock and Richard Chambers. Team captain and flanker, Calvin Nelson, is a cousin of former RS Dungannon and current Ulster player, Peter Nelson. This is a very cohesive group of players who have displayed a great work ethic throughout the season. Their recent performances have seen confidence build among the players as they prepare for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. The return to play of a number of players who were unavailable earlier in the season has added to the levels of confidence running through the Royal School, Dungannon squad. Calvin Nelson is joined in a mobile RS Dungannon pack with players such as Joshua Fegan and Jono Strestha, one of their leading try scorers, who have displayed great ability in both attack and defence. The pack is relatively small but they have concentrated on technique at set piece time and give their talented back division quality possession. They have potentially a very exciting back line with Adam Evans and Jack Girvan displaying great game management skills at half back. The centre combination of Ben Nichols, Head Boy of the Royal School, Dungannon, and David Maxwell, is an experienced partnership. They have the ability to hit good lines as well as create space for other players around them. Luke McMullan is an exceptionally talented full back who is also an outstanding place kicker and is the top points scorer for his team this season. Both Luke and Jack have been involved with Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools’ Development squads this season. They will be keen to display their undoubted talents in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 10-45am.
Coleraine Grammar School met Friends’ School, Lisburn at a similar stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup last season. They drew the first game in Lisburn and then lost the replay at home. That defeat will spur the Coleraine Grammar School squad on and they will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter as an opportunity to right what many of the players concerned saw as a wrong! While results have not always gone their way this season the Coleraine Grammar School team will see themselves as clear favourites to win this game. The Coleraine Grammar School team is coached by Richard Boyd who uses Michael Ferguson as his forward’s coach and Mikey Poskitt who works with the backs. The squad is captained by Callum Beggs and he is charge of an experienced squad of players, Vice-Captain, Max Baillie, was involved with the Ulster U19 squad earlier in the season although injury prevented him from playing in the Inter Provincial series. Max has returned to full fitness and this will be seen as a great boost for his colleagues. David Brown played on the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team and Oscar Egan was involved with that extended squad. The Coleraine Grammar School squad has three Year 12 players, nine Year 13 and eleven Year 14 players in the ranks. Their key forward players are Max Baillie in the 2nd Row and Calum Beggs and David Brown in the back row. Max is a real lineout target and ball carrier while Calum is a very clever player at the breakdown. David is another strong ball carrier who loves to take things forward from the base of the scrum. In the backs the key performers are the midfield trio of Pierce Crowe, Ross Moore and Andrew White. Pierce displays good game management skills and is an excellent place kicker. He is the top points scorer for the Coleraine team this season. Ross and Andrew form a very competent centre partnership which is very strong in defence and can run very strong lines in attack. They will all test the Friends’ School team in the course of this eagerly anticipated Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team started the season strongly but injuries to key players have somewhat halted their progress in recent weeks. The Friends’ School team is coached by Stephen Robinson, who receives great assistance from Norman Gamble. Norman has been coaching rugby at Friends’ School for his entire career and his knowledge of the game has been off great benefit to generations of players coming through the school. Hugh McCaughey, another person who has been assisting the coaches at Friends’ School over many years, brings a wealth of experience for the players while Peter Weir looks after the S&C aspects of preparation. The loss of team captain, George Pringle, to injury has been a major blow for the Friends’ School squad. However, Ross Stewart has stood in as captain and he has gained the respect of his players as well as the coaching staff for the leadership qualities he has shown in testing times. Ben McCaughey was a member of the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team while Bradley Mulholland came close to selection with that squad. Ben, Ross and Stewart are the leading try scorers for the Friends’ School team with Ben’s place kicking abilities enabling him to be the top points scorer this season. Reece Malone, Jack Harte, Ross Stewart and Stuart Patterson have been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 Development squad and all these players will need to be monitored closely by the Coleraine Grammar School defence if there is not to be a major shock in terms of the result at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30 am.
Omagh Academy will play Bangor Grammar School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. This game will see both teams begin their 2017/18 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ campaigns and a large crowd will be expected to watch the game at the Campsie Playing Fields. The Omagh Academy team is coached by Ross Hunter, who continues to receive assistance from Alistair Brown, Jonny Lagan and Ryan Mitchell. Never far away from coming forward with advice to the Omagh Academy players and coaches is Jackie Reid, a veteran who has been involved in the coaching of many Omagh Academy Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigns. Some say that Jackie has been involved in coaching the current group of Omagh Academy players, their fathers and indeed one or two of their grandfathers!! The Omagh Academy team is captained by Glenn McKinley, who was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squad earlier in the season as were his Omagh Academy colleagues, Jake McCay and Robbie Sproule. It has been a season of mixed results for the Omagh Academy squad but the players will see their forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Bangor Grammar School as the ideal opportunity just to show the talent there is in the ranks of the Omagh Academy team. Troy Booth is the top try scorer for the Omagh Academy team this season while Taine Lagan has been the top points scorer. Getting players such as Taine and Philip Rainey back from long lay-offs will be key to the Omagh Academy team progressing in the current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
The Bangor Grammar School team contains a lot of talented players in their ranks. Coached by Jason Morgan, the Bangor Grammar School team is captained by Zach Kerr. Zach was involved with the Ulster U19 team during their Inter-Provincial series of games earlier in the season. Alongside Zach, in a very talented Bangor Grammar School back line, is Aaron Sexton. Aaron played with an Ireland U18 squad last season and is in line for Ireland Schools’ U18 honours this season. He played a leading role in the success of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team during their Inter-Provincial series earlier in the season. Whilst Aaron has gained most of his representative rugby honours as a winger he has also featured in the centre for the Bangor Grammar School team and might even be seen playing at outhalf in the course of the current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Aaron is also a Commonwealth Youth Games Gold Medal sprint champion and he will need to be monitored closely by the Omagh Academy defence. Both Zach and Aaron are the leading try scorers for the Bangor Grammar School team this season. Interestingly, both Zach’s father, Chris, and Aaron’s father Roger, played in the last Bangor Grammar School team to have won the Ulster Schools’ Cup back in 1988. How the sons would love to emulate the success of the fathers thirty years on!! Ben McCrossan was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team earlier in the season while Gareth Bell and Riley Westwood have been involved with U17 Ulster Schools’ Development squads. Daniel Young is a very effective full back who is also a very fine place kicker. This Bangor Grammar School team feels this could be their year and will be going all-out to make a good start to their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Cambridge House Grammar School worked hard before they overcame a determined Banbridge Academy team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup when the teams met under the lights at Eaton Park in early January. The Cambridge House team, coached by John Nicholl, who receives great assistance from Chris Smyth, Adrian Hamilton, Stephen Mulholland, Jamie Smyth and Josh McIlroy, will take a positive outlook into their 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against a re-vitalised Regent House team as they have recorded some impressive victories in the course of the season so far. Despite losing very narrowly to Regent House earlier in the season the Cambridge House team feels it is their turn to record an overdue victory. The team captain is captained by No 8, Jack Wilson, who is also their leading try scorer. He leads a relatively young squad of players with ten Year 12 starters in the ranks. Jack has led his team to nine wins, one draw and eight losses thus far this season. He will be encouraging his players to display confidence in their abilities and go all for the win in this game. Sam Millar is the top points scorer for the Cambridge House team and the Regent House team will need to be disciplined if they are to deny Sam the opportunity to display his kicking skills. Curtis Henry is a young player who has caught the eyes of the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department and his progress will be monitored closely. Kane McIlroy, Peter Munce, Andrew Wilson and Rhys Ervine are other Cambridge House players who have been among the try scorers this season. They will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game as an opportunity to add some more tries against their names.
The Regent House team, coached by Nick Gamble, Mervyn Tweed and Neil Dougan, who looks after the Strength and Conditioning of the players, is captained by the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 player, Robbie Johnston. They have experienced many difficulties in the course of the current season but feel that, given a fair wind, they can be competitive against anyone on their day. They were competitive against the Carrickfergus Grammar School team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and emerged with their confidence enhanced following that encounter. Robbie Johnston, Jack Smith, Ethan McFerran, Aaron Migan and Stuart Martin have been the top try scorers for the Regent House team with the trusty boot of Robbie Johnston elevating him to the rank of top points scorer this season. Robbie was selected to attend a recent Ireland Schools’/Clubs’ U 18 camp in Dublin putting him in line for selection for a team scheduled to play the England Home Counties over two games later in the season. The Cambridge House Grammar School team will need to monitor him closely. Will Hopes was involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 squad earlier in the season and there are high hopes for this young player as well. Matthew Foster, the Regent House No 8, has played cricket for Irish Schools and will bring a competitive edge to this game. Beaten in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl last season the Regent House team will be hoping to keep their competitive season progressing in a positive manner at the end of this 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 12-00 noon at Ballymena Rugby Football Club.
The Belfast Royal Academy squad is in the middle of a major re-building process following their successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign last season when they reached the semi-final stage of the competition. The loss of quite a few senior players has impacted severely in terms of results this season. However, the players and coaches see this 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against a much vaunted Sullivan Upper School team as an ideal opportunity to turn all the hard work on the training pitch into a successful outcome. The Belfast Royal Academy team is coached by David Creighton who can always turn to Brian McLaughlin to seek advice and who is on hand to all Belfast Royal Academy coaches in a consultative role. Any team with these two coaches involved needs to be fully respected when it comes to Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup time. Tom Stewart, a member of the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team, is the Belfast Royal Academy captain. An all-action front row forward, Tom is equally adept at playing as a prop or as a hooker. Tom leads from the front and has high expectations of his colleagues. Tom, along with Curtis Scott, is the Belfast Royal Academy team’s leading try scorer this season. Harry Warke is the leading points scorer and with the attacking flair of Brendan Hassan to call upon the Sullivan Upper team would do well to monitor all these players closely if there is not to be a shock result at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
The Sullivan Upper School team will see themselves as clear favourites to emerge from this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game as winners. They recorded an impressive victory at the same venue earlier in the season. The Sullivan Upper School team, coached by Adam Craig, who is assisted by David Armstrong and Chris Henderson, enjoyed a successful pre-season tour to South Africa. They returned from that tour and had a great start to their season. Unfortunate injuries somewhat hampered their progress but the recent return to play of a number of major players has been a major boost as their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign gets underway. Adam McKenna captains the Sullivan Upper team from the openside flanker position. He, alongside Tim Nart and Shay Storey, leads the Sullivan Upper try scoring statistics this season. Conor McKee, a lively scrum half, is the leading points scorer and he enjoys a deserved reputation as an excellent place kicker. Steven Moore featured on the Ulster U19 team in the course of the U19 Inter-Provincial series. He was joined in the extended Ulster U19 squad by Andrew Weir and Andrew McConnell. Thomas Leitch and George Robb have been involved with Ulster Schools’ U16 Regional Development squads while Conor McKee, Luke McCabe and Harry Baird have been involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U17 squad. George Saunderson was a valued member of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squad. The Sullivan Upper School squad members all attended a training camp over the Christmas holiday period. They returned from that camp highly motivated for a successful outcome to their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Dromore High School, in only their second season of competing in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, have been drawn at home against a very talented Dalriada School team in the 3rd Round of the competition. The Dromore High School team got their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign of to a positive start when they travelled to play Foyle and Londonderry College in the 2nd Round. They won that game and will look forward to the Dalriada game with a good deal of confidence. The Dromore High School team ruffled a few feathers with their performances in the course of their inaugural Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign last season. Their coaching team of Josh Pentland and the redoubtable Gareth Bronte believe their current squad might be slightly stronger than last season’s squad. This is due, in no small part, to the confidence gained by a lot of the current squad with their strong campaign last season. Ben Heath captains the squad and Ben gained recognition of his ability when he was selected to play for the Ulster U19 squad earlier this season. He was also involved with the National “Sevens” Programme back in September. Dean Dillon has been the top try scorer for the Dromore High School team this season while Reuben Cobb has developed a reputation as being one of the outstanding place kickers in schoolboy rugby this season. Those three players had a major impact in the final outcome of the 2nd Round game against the Foyle College team. The Dromore High School team will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 game as a challenge for everyone involved. However, the players and coaches love a challenge and they will look forward in a confident frame of mind to play the Dalriada School team in what is only their second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
The Dalriada School team enter this season’s Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition in a very positive manner. They will see themselves as clear favourites to win this game and that is due to the success the players have experienced since September. They have played seventeen games and lost only three-all of which were on the road. Rab Gregg and Benji Van Der Byl form an experienced coaching team. They will be fully aware of the passionate nature of the crowd at Barban Hill and will have prepared their charges to meet that challenge in an appropriate manner. Both coaches are very happy with the way the current season has gone. They put that down to the positive work ethic displayed by the entire squad and the fact the season has been relatively injury free. The Dalriada team captain is Curtis Pollock who leads the Dalriada team from the backrow. Luke Pollock, Ross Fallows and James McCormick are the leading try scorers on the Dalriada team this season and they will be hoping to add to their tallies on Saturday. James Currie and James McCormick are front row players who have been involved with Ulster Schools’ U16 squads while Luke Pollock and Peter Wright are exciting Dalriada backs who have been involved with Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U17 squads. Peter Wright has also achieved representative honours in athletics having run in sprint events for both Ulster and Ireland Schools. Outhalf, Paddy Carson, as well as being a fine place kicker, has played age grade cricket for Ulster and Ireland. All these players will be hoping to enhance their sporting reputations in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am.
