Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 31st January 2015.
There were some games midweek played in Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions in the lead up to a range of fixtures played on Saturday 31st January.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 3rd Round replay, the Portora Royal School Medallion team hosted Grosvenor Grammar School. The teams drew 3-3 in their first game and this game proved to be almost as close an encounter. It was late in the game when the Portara Royal School team scored an unconverted try to emerge as 5-0 winners.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd xv Cup Lurgan College defeated their close rivals from Banbridge Academy by 17-15 on Monday 26th January. On Wednesday 28th January Dalriada hosted Belfast Royal Academy in a game the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 22-0, Bangor Grammar School travelled to play Omagh Academy in a game the Omagh Academy team won by 16-5 while the Royal School, Dungannon team lost, at home, against Campbell College by 24-5.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team travelled to Edinburgh to play a fixture against Merchiston College. Unfortunately, at very short notice, the game had to be cancelled due to the prevailing weather conditions in Edinburgh. However, the resourceful Belfast Inst staff found a Sportshall and put their squad through their paces inside the sports facility. The session ended with a game of snow ball rugby in which the Belfast Inst forwards defeated the Belfast Inst backs. This game was overseen by the Belfast Inst staff who had acquired the assistance of a Spanish official to assist them..
Despite the weather conditions, quite a few Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 4 and Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup matches took place on Saturday 31st January.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield 4th Round games, Sullivan Upper defeated the Royal School, Armagh team by 37-14, Portora Royal School defeated Belfast Royal Academy by 17-0, Campbell College defeated Bangor Grammar School by 48-0, Friends’ School, Lisburn lost against Methodist College by 22-7, Ballymena Academy lost by 6-0 against Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Down High School drew 5-5 with Wallace High School. The replay of this game is scheduled to take place not later that Wednesday 4th February. The game involving Ballyclare High School and Dalriada School was postponed due to the weather conditions. This game is scheduled to be played not later than Wednesday 4th February. In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy, Antrim Grammar School lost by 20-14 against Larne Grammar School.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl competition Regent House defeated Belfast High School by 35-0.
The draws were made for the Quarter-Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate as well as the Semi- Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy competitions on Saturday 31st January. The results of the draws are as follows:-
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield/Plate/Bow/Trophy Draws
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Quarter-Final Draw
1) Portora Royal v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
2) Ballyclare High School/Dalriada v Sullivan Upper
3) Limavady GrammarSchool/ Rainey Endowed v Wallace High School/Down High
4) Campbell College, Belfast v Methodist College, Belfast
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Quarter-Final Draw
1) Belfast Royal Academy v Ballymena Academy
2) Bangor Grammar v Friends’ School, Lisburn
3) Wallace High School/Down High School v Ballyclare High/Dalriada
4) Royal School Armagh v Limavady Grammar/Rainey Endowed School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Semi-Final Draw
1) Dromore High/Portadown College v Grosvenor Grammar/Royal School, Dungannon
2) Coleraine Academical Institution/Banbridge Academy v Regent House
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Semi-Final Draw
1) Strabane Academy /Carrickfergus Grammar v Lurgan College/Foyle College
2) Cambridge House School/Omagh Academy v Larne Grammar School
These games are scheduled to be played on Saturday 24th February.
Games postponed on Saturday 31st January MUST be played by Wednesday 4th February
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Sullivan Upper defeated the Royal School, Armasgh team by 24-16. Meanwhile, Wallace High School 2ndxv defeated Belfast High School by 50-5.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Final replay, the Larne Grammar School team earned a place in the semi-final with a convincing 42-11 win against the Antrim Grammar School team. Playing into a strong wind in the first half, the Larne Grammar School team had built up a 12-6 lead by the interval. Gary Connolly made the break which put Calum McKay in for a try under the Antrim GS posts. Calum added the conversion to give his team a 7-0 lead. Antrim Grammar School responded with a penalty before Jonathan Glasgow finished off a fine break from Ethan Brownlee with an unconverted try to put the Larne team into a 12-3 lead. Just before halftime the Antrim GS outhalf converted a penalty kick opportunity.
Just after the break Calum McKay converted a penalty for the Larne GS team to increase their lead to 15-6. Then the Antrim team scored an intercept try, which was not converted, to leave the score board reading 15-11. Two long range penalties from Calum McKay settled the Larne GS nerves with their lead increasing to 21-11. The Larne GS outhalf, Lee Haddock, was now managing the game well and put his pack into positions of strength. This resulted in a late flourish of tries from the home team. Matthew Caldwell, Jonathan Glasgow and Rory McDowell all touched down for a try, with Calum McKay successfully converting all three, to leave the Larne Grammar School team as deserved 42-11 winners.
Quite a few friendly fixtures were scheduled to take place on Saturday 31st January. Unfortunately most lost out to the weather conditions with only one friendly game taking place.
Portadown College hosted the Royal School, Dungannon team in a high scoring game the RS Dungannon team won by 33-28. Both teams found the game to be a useful run out in preparation for forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl and Trophy games. The Portadown College team controlled both territory and possession in the opening quarter but could find no way through a resolute RS Dungannon defence. In fact, it was the RS Dungannon team that took a 7-0 lead when Aaron McCammon took advantage of an overlap to run in for a try. John Buckley was successful with the conversion kick. The Portadown College team staged a great comeback and ran in two converted tries to take a 14-7 lead. Niall Davidson scored the first try with Jason Lau touching down for the second. Niall converted both tries. With the final play of the first half, good work from Adam Cranston at the breakdown sent Josh Patton in for an unconverted try for the RS Dungannon team. This ensured the Portadown College lead had been reduced to 14-12 at the interval.
The second half saw the RS Dungannon start the stronger of the two teams. A powerful carry from Peter Doran, inside the RS Dungannon half, led to an off-load to Jonny Black. Jonny carried the ball into the Portadown College 22m area where he found Jim Meng running a great support line. Jim gathered the pass from Jonny and gleefully finished the move off with a try under the Portadown College posts. John Buckley added the extras to put the RS Dungannon team into a 19-14 lead. The Portadown College team responded positively once again. Peter Trimble took advantage of good wok from his pack to touch down for a try. Niall Davidson converted the try to see his team regain the lead with the score board reading 21-19 in favour of the Portadown College team. Matthew Smyth and Adam Cooper then combined to send Peter Doran in for his second try of the game. John Buckley converted the try to see the RS Dungannon team into a 26-21 lead. The lead changed, yet again, when Michael Orr charged down a RS Dungannon clearance kick. He gathered the ball and scampered in for a try under the Dungannon posts. Niall Davidson added the extras to give the Portadown College team a 28-26 lead with just five minutes of the game remaining. The Royal School, Dungannon team displayed great composure in the final few minutes of the game. They sealed the outcome when Josh McKee ran in for a try, which John Buckley converted, to leave his RS Dungannon team as 33-28 winners of this high
