Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 7th December 2019
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Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, following in the footsteps of schools such as St Columb’s College and Omagh Christian Brothers’ College, by playing in Ulster Schools’ 1stxv competitions, played Carrickfergus Grammar School in their third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl League game on Monday 1st December.
In a very closely contested game the Our Lady and St Patrick’s College team were 10-5 down at the interval before staging a comeback to win the game by 15-10. Adam McIlroy and Jack McConnell weighed in with an unconverted try each in the first half to give the Carrickfergus Grammar School team a 10-0 lead. Jamie McConville then reduced the Our Lady and St Patrick’s arrears to 10-5 with an unconverted try just before the break.
In the second half two more unconverted tries from Thomas McDevitt and Ethan Bell gave the Our Lady and St Patrick’s College team a 15-10 lead going into the final few minutes. The Carrickfergus Grammar School team thought they had sealed the deal with a try in the last play of the game only to be penalised for a double movement before grounding the ball. It was the Our Lady and St Patrick’s College team that celebrated their win at the end of the game-a win that puts them into second place in their table, with nine points, after three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl League games.
Both teams would like to thank Cooke and Instonian’s Rugby Clubs for hosting the game and the use of facilities at the Shaw’s Bridge Sports Complex
On the same evening, and at the same venue, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team played one of the powerhouse schools of Australian Schools’ Rugby, the King’s School, Paramatta, Sydney. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team put on a very committed performance in the course of the game which the King’s School, Paramatta team won by 38-14. Hugo Ellerby and Ben Cooke scored the tries for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team, both of which were converted by Ronan Boyle.
On Wednesday 4th December one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group C League game was played when Omagh Academy hosted Cambridge House Grammar School at Campsie. Following a closely contested game it was the Omagh Academy team that emerged as 7-0 winners. The Omagh Academy team had hit some good form in recent weeks but they were fully aware of the success the Cambridge House Grammar School team had enjoyed this season and especially in the course of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup League campaign. The Cambridge House team started strongly and exerted some pressure on the Omagh Academy defence. The Omagh defence resisted the Cambridge House attacks and eventually began to secure some good possession. Strong carries from Reece Braden and Craig Freeburn forced the Cambridge House team into conceding a penalty midway through the first half. Quick thinking from Jack Henry led to David Braden getting possession at pace close to the Cambridge House line. Taking a couple of defenders with him David touched down for the try, which Jake Reid converted, to give his team a 7-0 lead.
The second half saw the Omagh Academy team attempt to extend their lead with players such as Jamie Wood, Joshua Kyler, Harry Stevenson and Jake Reid all asking questions of the Cambridge House defence. However, it was not to be with Cambridge House defenders such as Zac Crozier, Aaron Smith, Adam Brannigan and James McBratney ensuring the gates were firmly shut. In the last few minutes of the game the Cambridge House Grammar School team launched a series of all out attacks but to avail with the Omagh Academy defence coming out on top. That ensured the final scoreboard read Omagh Academy 7 Cambridge House Grammar School 0.
On the same afternoon Enniskillen Royal Grammar School hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup in a game the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 2ndxv won by 59-19.
On Friday 6th November Methodist College, Belfast played Campbell College, Belfast in a floodlit game at Belfast Harlequin’s RFC. Following a game where no quarter was asked nor given it was the Methodist College team that emerged as 10-3 winners. The first score of the game came close to the end of the first half when Alex Armstrong blasted his way down the left wing, from the half way line, before finishing off with an unconverted try in the corner to give the Methody team a 5-0 lead at the break,
Midway through the second period of play Jack Bonner successfully converted a penalty opportunity for the Campbell College, Belfast team to reduce their deficit to 5-3. With just five minutes of the game remaining the Methodist College, Belfast team secured their 10-3 victory when hooker, Harry McCartney, crashed over the Campbell College, Belfast whitewash to score an unconverted try
Both teams would like to thank Belfast Harlequin’s RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
Saturday 7th December saw nine games take place in the newly formatted Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ League/Cup games. Twenty four teams competed in the twelve games on Wednesday 13th and Saturday 16th November.
Each of the twenty four teams have been scheduled to play three league games over three weekends in October, November (16th) and December (7th) with the six league winners, and four highest placed runners up, eventually joining the six schools who are exempted from the league games, in the last sixteen of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
Those six schools are Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Belfast, Methodist College, Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Royal School, Armagh and Wallace High School. The remaining teams will be joined by the winners and runners up of the Tier 4 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl League competition to compete in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition.
On Saturday 7th December the remaining nine Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup League games took place.
In Section A Limavady Grammar School hosted the Rainey Endowed School team in a game the Rainey Endowed School team won by 15-5. Matthew Brown scored an unconverted try for the Limavady Grammar School team to give his team a 5-0 lead deep into the first half. With the last play of the first half Ross Speers converted a penalty opportunity to see the Limavady Grammar School team take a 5-3 lead into the break.
Playing into a stiff breeze in the second half the Rainey Endowed School team controlled both territory and possession for long periods of time. Sean Drain scored an unconverted try to give the Rainey team an 8-5 lead midway through the second half. Then a fine try from Ben Brown, which was converted by Ross Speers, secured the 15-5 win for the Rainey Endowed School team.
Dromore High School played the Friends’ School, Lisburn team, a team that had already qualified to play in the last sixteen of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Dromore High School team started the game well and took a 7-0 lead when Adam Whitten crossed for a try which was converted by Luke Allison. The Friends’ School team seemed to take some time to get into the game but, eventually, they secured sufficient possession to take the game to a resilient Dromore High School team. From a set piece move Kyle Gormley stormed through the middle of the Dromore High School defence to touch down for a try. Reece Malone added the extras to leave the scoreboard reading 7-7 at the interval.
Kyle then repeated with a second try early into the second half. Another Reece Malone conversion saw the Friends’ School, Lisburn team into a 14-7 lead. Towards the end of the game Friends’ School tries from Stuart Patterson and the free scoring Fergus McEwen, both of which were converted by Reece Malone, secured the 28-7 win for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
In Section B Foyle and Londonderry College conceded their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup League game against Bangor Grammar School but did travel to Bangor where they played the Bangor Grammar School 2ndxv. Despite having to concede their Cup game the Foyle College coaches ensured that their players had the opportunity of playing a game. The Bangor Grammar School 2ndxv won the game by 40-7 and scored their points through tries from Ben Gibson, who scored a hat trick, Ben McLean, Harry Stafford and Louis Houston. Ben Gibson secured his “Man of the Match” status with five out of six successful conversions.
The Foyle and Londonderry College points came through a try from Eddie Campbell which was converted by Callum Gillen.
Down High School hosted Regent House in a game the Down High School team won by 45-3. The Down High School team opened the scoring with a try from Jonathan Graham, which was converted by Luka Walsh, to take a 7-0 lead. The Regent House School team then converted a penalty opportunity through Matty Gibson to reduce their deficit to 7-3. Charlie Gibson, Joe Charles and Jonathan Graham, with his second, each scored a try for Down High School ,to which Luka Walsh added two conversions, to give the home team a 26-3 lead at the break.
The second half saw the Down High School team continue to control affairs. Charlie Gibson, Jakob Cross and Joe Charles each scored a try. Two more Luka Walsh conversions secured the 45-3 win for the Down High School team.
With the Omagh Academy team having defeated the Cambridge House Grammar School team in their midweek game the one remaining Section C game took place at Ballyclare where the Ballyclare High School team played Lurgan College. This game saw the Lurgan College coach, Kyle McCallan, return to his Alma Mater where he skilfully graced the rugby pitches, as well as the cricket wickets, a number of years ago. Despite a committed performance from Lurgan College, with players such as Ben Marsden, Harry Bird, Luke Forsythe and Ryan Allen really impressing, there was little they could do to prevent the Ballyclare High School team from recording a 24-0 victory.
The Ballyclare High School team had built up a 7-0 lead by the break with a try from Mark Jackson, to which he added the conversion.
In the second half a second Mark Jackson try, alongside tries from Harry McBride and Alex Darragh, one of which was converted by Alex Darragh, secured the 24-0 win for the Ballyclare High School team.
In Section D Strabane Academy had to concede their game against the Sullivan Upper School team due to the loss of players through injury from a very limited squad of players.
Meanwhile at the Marina Drive pitches in Belfast Grosvenor Grammar School and Dalriada School played out a game that the Grosvenor Grammar School team won by 36-5.
Josh Patterson and Lewis Young each scored a brace of tries for the Grosvenor Grammar School team with Robbie Dougan and Harry Graham each touching down for one. Three Adam Moore conversions completed the Grosvenor Grammar School scoring.
The consolation unconverted Dalriada School try came from Joseph Maybin.
In Section E Belfast Royal Academy played Banbridge Academy at the JC Picken Playing Fields at Mallusk. The Belfast Royal Academy won the game by 48-12. Rob Sturgess, Ben Brown, Patrick Termini, Ollie Parkes, Jack McKee, Ryan Jameson and Elliott Donaldson with two, were Belfast Royal Academy try scorers. Ollie Parkes was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Banbridge Academy contributed a lot to the game and in Adam Hanna, Matthew Daly and Jake Houston they had three of the many impressive players on the pitch. Matthew Daly scored two tries for the Banbridge Academy team and was successful with one conversion.
Coleraine Grammar School hosted a very committed Belfast High School team in a high scoring game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 33-20. The Coleraine Grammar School points came through tries from Rory Telfer, who ran in for a hat trick, Shaw Fleck and Cameron Leighton. Harry Caskey added the extras to four of the tries.
The Belfast High School team scored a try through Scott Hutton as well as a penalty try. Aaron Douglas added one conversion as well as two penalties.
In Section F Larne Grammar School entertained the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team and, despite an excellent defensive performance, there was little the home team could do to prevent the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School from recording a 40-0 win. Matty Bothwell scored a brace of tries for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team with Matty Graham, Mike Rooney, Callum Smyton and Aaron Crawford each touching down for one try. George Foster converted two of the tries with Eddie Keyes converting three.
For the Larne Grammar School team Cain Cooke, in his first 1stxv game, Mark Andrews, Tom Meban and Bradley Flynn all impressed with their performances.
In Portadown a Mid Ulster Rugby Derby took place when the Portadown College team played the Royal School, Dungannon team. This exciting game finished with the Portadown College team recording a 24-22 win with the last play of the game. Joe Orr, Marshall Clint, Ethan Williamson and Jay Lismore, on the final whistle, scored the Portadown College tries. Adam Speers was successful with two of his conversion kicks-the second of which was from the touchline.
The Royal School, Dungannon points came through tries from Jack Girvan, who touched down twice, Jonny McCammond and Charlie Conroy. Jack Girvan was also successful with one conversion.
There were two school 1stxv friendly games played on Saturday 7th December.
The Royal School, Armagh team hosted the St Gerard’s School from Bray in a close encounter the Royal School, Armagh team won by 29-21. The Royal School Armagh tries were scored by Sam Rainey, Romain Morrow, Joe Hughes, Ethan McAtarsney and Sam Cunningham. Ethan McAtarsney was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
In response the St Gerard’s School team scored three converted tries in the course of the game.
Bangor Grammar School played Royal Belfast Academical Institiution in a game that finished as a 12-12 draw. Conor Lusty and Paddy Dobie scored the Bangor Grammar School tries to which Harry McCracken added one conversion.
Ben Cooke and Jack Truesdale scored the Royal Belfast Academical Institution tries to which Ronan Boyle added one conversion.
