Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Previews Saturday 22nd February 2020

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There are four intriguing Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/4 Final games scheduled for Saturday 22nd February.The game at the Galgorm Road venue in Ballymena, featuring Ballymena Academy and Royal School, Armagh, could be seen as the “Match of the Day” as two of the top teams in Ulster Schools’ Rugby meet in what is a re-run of a game at the same stage of the competition last season. The Royal School, Armagh emerged from that game as narrow, but deserved, winners. The Ballymena Academy team will be hoping for a different outcome to this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final game this season. The Ballymena Academy team travelled to play Down High School in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and, despite the best intentions of the Down High School players; they more than comfortably came through that game winning by 51-12. The Ballymena Academy team has been touted by many observers of the game in Ulster Schools’ as one of the teams other schools are going to have to beat if they are to have any chance of winning the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup on March 17th and this game, against another of the favoured teams, will really test the resolve of the Ballymena Academy squad. This is a very young, but very talented, Ballymena Academy squad. The team continues to be coached by the “Sir Alf and Harold” of Ulster Schools’ rugby coaches, John Andrews and Gavin Murray, who are assisted by Stephen Johnston. Nicky Andrews looks after the Strength and Conditioning aspects of team preparation while Ethan Lowry plays a vital role as team physiotherapist. Never far away from the action would be team manager and Principal of the school, Stephen Black. Despite this being a young team they have had a good season in terms of results losing only three of their games. Full back, Matthew Corr, is the team captain and a player who leads by example on and off the pitch. Matthew has played for the Ulster U19 team and many of his younger team mates have gained representative honours with the Ulster Schools’ U18 squad as well as Ireland U18 Age Grade squads. Among these players are Harry Andrews, Andrew Donald, Joe Mawhinney, Paddy Browne, Adam Lamont, James Wright, Ross McKay, Tim Baillie, Dean Millar, Jordan Millar, Tyler McNeill and Josh Drain, a player with Humphreys Rugby genes to call upon. Timmy Douglas and Matthew French have been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 Age Grade squad. Adam Lamont is the top try scorer while Ross McKay has been deadly accurate with his kicking duties and is the leading point’s scorer on the Ballymena Academy team. Tyler McNeill, Paul Gocher, Craig Simpson, who is also Head Boy in the school, Dean Miller and Harry Andrews have all been regular try scorers this season and the Royal School, Armagh defence will need to play particular attention to these players in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final game. Quite a few of these Ballymena Academy players featured with their points scoring exploits in the Down High School game. A lot of this talented group of players have achieved success in other areas of the PE and School curriculum. James Wright, Harry Andrews, Adam Lamont, Jonny Cochrane and Joe Mawhinney were members of the Irish Schools’ Athletics winning team a couple of years ago while fourteen members of the squad sing in the Ballymena Academy Male Voice Choir which is sometimes conducted by John Andrews. John will be hoping he will be in a position to conduct a successful sing song following this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against the Royal School, Armagh team.
The Royal School, Armagh team will be hoping to emulate the success of other Royal School, Armagh teams when it comes to playing Ballymena Academy teams in Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competitions. The Royal School, Armagh 2ndxv and Medallion xv teams both recorded close victories against their Ballymena Academy counterparts in Cup and Shield games played this season in Armagh. However, the Royal School, Armagh team is on the road for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game and they will realise they have a difficult hurdle to overcome. However, the Royal School, Armagh team will take to the road in a confident mood as they overcame the not insignificant challenge provided by Campbell College, Belfast in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. They recorded a comfortable 34-6 victory in that game which has put the RS Armagh squad in a good place as they prepare to travel to Ballymena. This game, involving two of the Top Six Seeded teams in the Province, has caught the imagination of everyone involved in schools’ rugby in the Province. The Royal School, Armagh team exited the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup at the semi-final stage last season. With most of that team still available there is a steely determination among the Royal School, Armagh squad to go at least one step further this season. The Royal School, Armagh team is coached by Chris Parker and Willie Faloon, two young men emerging quickly as very talented coaches. Both Willie and Chris know that when the going gets tough they can call upon the sage wisdom and grandfatherly advice of Kenny Hooks, a man never far away from the rugby action in the Royal School, Armagh, to help them out. The Royal School, Armagh team has Sam Rainey, an Ulster U19 player, as captain. Sam has led the team in a quiet but effective manner throughout the season. There have been quite a few impressive performances mixed in with one or two below par outings. The squad now has a large number of Year 14 players with only two Year 12 players likely to be part of the squad and it is hoped this experience as they step up their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Their top try scorer is Ethan McAtarsney, a winger who is more than useful off the tee. Romain Morrow is another fine place kicker who will kick the penalties and conversions given the chance as he proved so effectively against the Campbell College team. Charlie Worth – Ireland U18 7’s Captain and Ulster U19 player- is another of the Royal School, Armagh backs the Ballymena Academy defence will need to monitor closely. Josh King and Ryan Finlay have been involved with the Ulster U18 Schools’ squad while James Campbell and Ross Taylor have gained representative experience with Ulster Schools’ U17 squads. Chris Whiteside is the Head Boy in the Royal School, Armagh team and his leadership qualities can clearly be seen in the way in which he works with his colleagues in the Royal School, Armagh back division. Ross Taylor could be joined by his brother, Peter, on the team and the Cunningham brothers, Sam and Josh, will be hoping to be selected together for this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team had a home draw in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup when they overcame the challenge provided by the Belfast Royal Academy team. Despite going behind early on in that game the Belfast Inst team came back strongly and emerged from the game as comprehensive 47-12 winners. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team will expect a similar outcome as they prepare for another home game-this time against the surprise team of the last round, Friends’ School, Lisburn. Jason Morgan leads the coaching staff at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and he will be setting his stall out to ensure that it will be the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that progresses from this game into the draw for the 1/2 Final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. There is an expectation amongst the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team that this could be their year for success in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The players are determined to win the competition as are all the members of the coaching staff. Jason is assisted by Mike Bentley who not only looks after the forwards but also oversees the Strength and Conditioning aspects of team preparation. In many ways it has been a frustrating season in terms of results for the Belfast Inst coaches and players. The squad has experienced a 50/50 win loss ratio but included in the wins have been victories against schools such as Belvedere College, Dublin and Stewart’s Melville College, the current Scottish champions as well as the morale boosting win against the Belfast Royal Academy team in the last round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team is captained by Rory Adair who can call upon the leadership skills of Hugo Ellerby as his Vice-Captain. Injuries to key players at critical times have hindered progress in some respects but the return to fitness of players such as Ronan Boyle, their excellent outside half, will bring a positive vibe to the squad as they prepare for this game. Ronan starred in the game against Belfast Royal Academy as did Ulster Schools’ winger, Jude Postlethwaite, a player who has attracted the attention of the Ireland Schools’ Management team. Jude is the leading try and points scorer for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team this season. Paddy Eames has played with the Ulster Schools’ U18 team and Ryan Stewart has gained experience through his involvement with the Ulster Schools’ U17 squad. Players such as Jack Leathem, an all-out attacking full back, Pearse Ferguson, Oscar Lowe, Sam Collins, Jack Dickson and Ben Gallagher have impressed with their performances in recent games and especially against the Belfast Royal Academy team. All these players will need to be monitored closely by the Friends’ School defence and all these talented players will be hoping they can continue their recent run of good form in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team caused a major shock in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup when they eventually overcame the challenge provided by the very talented Ballyclare High School team. Friends’ School drew the first game in Ballyclare and then defeated the Ballyclare High School team by 24-22 following the replay which attracted a lot of interested spectators from, not just the two schools involved in the game, but from other schools including Bangor Grammar School and Royal Belfast Academical Institution! The Friends’ School, Lisburn team, coached by Stephen Robinson, Norman Gamble, now in his 37th season of assisting with Senior Rugby teams at Friends’ School, and Aaron Cairns, won their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ League group with something to spare. They then took themselves off to a training camp in Portugal in preparation for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign got off to a good start against Ballyclare High School but the Friends’ School team now has to travel to “Fortress Osborne Park” where a step up in performance will be required. The Friends’ School team is captained by Jack Harte, a talented player who gained representative honours with the Ulster U19 team. Accompanying Jack in that U19 team was Reece Malone who is the leading point’s scorer for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team this season. Reece, son of Niall Malone, has been one of the most accurate kickers off the tee in Ulster Schools’ Rugby this season. He, along with Fergus McEwen, has also an eye for the line and has been a regular try scorer as well. His game management skills have been excellent throughout the season and will undoubtedly be required in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Royal Belfast Academical Institution. If the Friends’ School pack can go head to head with the Belfast Inst pack, and acquire some quality possession, then there is the potential for what would be seen as another major shock result at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 1/4 Final game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.
Wallace High School, the team most neutral observers of the Ulster Schools’ game would see as favourites to win the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup this season, travelled to play a very committed Bangor Grammar School team in the previous round of the competition. Their performance on that occasion was first class and they came away having recorded an impressive victory which only seemed to confirm their status as favourites to win the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The Wallace High School team lost at the semi-final stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup last season. That loss seems to have galvanised both the returning set of players, as well as the coaching staff, and they have all set their stall out this season in such a way to show how determined they all are to ensure they return to the Kingspan Stadium and this time on St Patrick’s Day. The Wallace High School team coaches, Derek Suffern and Ian Latham, who receive great support from experienced colleagues such as Neil Hinds and Alan Monteith, have at their disposal an exceptionally talent squad of players. The team is captained by their exceptional back row forward Reuben Crothers. Reuben has captained the Ulster U19 team and been involved in Ireland U18 Schools’ camps this season. Reuben has captained the Wallace High School team to fiveteen victories out of eighteen games and only a couple of those losses have been against schools from Ulster. Ben Carson, a player who has been involved with both Ulster and Ireland Schools’ squads this season, is the leading try scorer on the Wallace High School team. Ben is a very talented centre who has asked questions of the defence of every team he has played against this season. Joel Dundas, a player equally at home in a number of positions, was involved with the Ulster U19 team as was Peter Heasley. Jamie McNeight and Finn Rankin have been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U18 squad as has Charlie Irvine who has also attracted the attention of the Ireland Schools’ U18 Management team. However, the jewel in the crown among this talented group of Wallace High School players is Nathan Doak. This young emerging talent is equally at home at either of the half back positions and was unavailable to play for the Wallace High School team earlier in the season due to his performances with the Ulster “A” team in the Celtic Cup when the team reached the final. Already capped by Ireland Schools Nathan has been involved with the Ireland U19 set up already this season. Nathan’s brother, Cameron, has acquitted himself well in the course of the season and brings his own strengths to the powerful Wallace High School team. These players all shone with their performances against Bangor Grammar School and will look forward to displaying their considerable talents when they play Enniskillen Royal Grammar School at their Clonevin Park venue in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. When the combined talents of this Wallace High School team are looked at it is not difficult to see why they have the mantel as favourites to win the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup attached to them.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team find themselves on the road once again in the course of their current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. They travelled to play Grosvenor Grammar School in the previous round where they recorded an impressive eight try, 52-0 victory, against the very young Grosvenor Grammar School team. The Enniskillen Grammar School team should travel to play Wallace High School in a very confident mood. They played Wallace High School earlier on in the year and lost an outstanding game of schoolboy rugby by 36-35. That is the closest any team has come to the Wallace High School team at the Wallace pitch.
Coached by Ashley Finlay, Stewart McCain and Alastair Keys the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team has impressed seasoned observers of the schools’ game in Ulster this season with their flair and determination to play the game with the ball in hand. They have scored quite a few tries in the sixteen games they have played and the Wallace High School defence will have to be in top form when the teams meet. Captained by their impressive centre, Robbie Mills, an Irish rowing champion, who is also Head Boy of the school, the team has won thirteen of their games played this season. Stephen Balfour and Callum Smyton are the leading try scorers with outside half, Eddie Keys, their leading point’s scorer. His ability off the tee is probably unsurpassed in Ulster Schools’ Rugby this season. The Grosvenor Grammar School team will bear witness to that. His twin brother, Henry, is a hard working flanker and both boys have gained a lot from the expert coaching provided by their father, Alistair. Callum Smyton, David Stinson, Neil Rutledge and Stuart Brown have all gained experience through their involvement with Ulster Age Grade squads this season and that experience has shone through with their displays for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team this season. The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School coaching team has been very happy with the introduction of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup group stages which they felt gave a competitive edge to traditional fixtures played pre-Christmas. It has also introduced the opportunity of playing school teams that the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School players would usually not encounter. The coaches also feel it has been easier to keep their players focused on short-term objectives in four week blocks of games. The players were certainly focussed against the Grosvenor Grammar School team and they are sure to be travelling to the Wallace High School game with a very confident mind set.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game is scheduled to kick off at 10-45am.
The Methodist College, Belfast team, the current holders of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, travelled to play Cambridge House Grammar School in the previous round of the competition. The team was relatively comfortable in their six try, 32-0 win against a Cambridge House Grammar School team that did not stop in their attempts to frustrate the Methody team for the duration of the game. The Methodist College, Belfast team now find themselves drawn at home on the Pirrie Park Paddock Pitch against a very confident Sullivan Upper School team in the 1/4 Final of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Methody won the competition last season going through the entire season undefeated. With a large group of that successful team leaving school there has been a lot of rebuilding going on this season. In the course of the first term games this season the Methodist College, Belfast team had one or two down moments. One of those down moments was against Sullivan Upper School who recorded a narrow, but well deserved, victory back in November. However, as recent results would seem to suggest, the Methodist College squad would appear to be hitting good form at just the right time. Their recent McIntosh Shield victory against long standing Dublin rivals, Blackrock College, would seem to bear witness to that fact. The Methodist College team is coached by the experienced Nick Wells, Stephen Lindsay and Andrew Willis. This coaching panel has laid the foundations for success with many Methody teams and they will be hoping to carry on that tradition this season in the course of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. The Methodist College, Belfast captain is Adam Reed, an outstanding flanker who knows only how to lead from the front. His attention to detail in terms of match preparation is second to none and he has very high expectations not only of himself but of his team mates both on and off the pitch. Key players in the Methody pack include Adam, Matthew Humphries, Harry McCartney, their leading try scorer, and Louis Montgomery. Luke Graham and Peter O’Hagan have been involved with the Ulster U18 Schools’ set up while Callum Davidson, one of the stars of their previous Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign, was involved with the Ulster U19 squad. Peter and Callum form a vital midfield partnership on the Methodist College team and their performances in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-final game against Sullivan Upper School could be central to the outcome.
The Sullivan Upper School team travelled to play Coleraine Grammar School in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. They recorded a relatively comfortable 27-19 victory and with that has come another away game-this time to Pirrie Park for their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1/4 Final game against Methodist College, Belfast. The Sullivan Upper School team will have no fears about this game and will possibly see themselves as favourites to win. That is due to the fact they have already experienced that winning feeling at Pirrie Park this season when they won that midweek game back in November. The Sullivan Upper School team emerged unscathed from their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup League games and that alone gave them great confidence when they were looking ahead to their previous round game against the Coleraine Grammar School team. Having won that game the Sullivan Upper School team will now be approaching this Methody game with equal confidence. The Sullivan Upper School team has a coaching panel of Adam Craig, David Armstrong, Chris Henderson and Dave Cave with Mark Henderson and Paddy McGrattan providing back up when required. George Saunderson, their dynamic prop forward, who also plays in the No 8 position, is the Sullivan Upper School team captain. George has played for the Ulster U19 team this season and has attended an Ireland U19 Camp as well. Harry Sheridan, who has starred in the 2nd Row for both the Sullivan Upper team and the Ulster U19 team, is the leading try scorer. Zac Moraghan, also a talented Gaelic footballer who has been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U18 set-up, leads the points scoring stakes. Adam Whiteside, Matthew Martin, Peter Camlin and Rory Carson, a two try hero against Coleraine Grammar School and a Northern Ireland Age Grade Athlete, are other Sullivan Upper School players who love to get their names on the scoreboard. Players such as Thomas Leitch and Matthew Latimer have also been involved in Ulster Schools’ Age Grade representative squads and the Methodist College, Belfast defenders will need to be at their best in monitoring all these Sullivan Upper School players when the teams meet in this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game.
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game is scheduled to kick off at 10-30am.