Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 29th October 2022
On Monday 24th October the Ulster Clubs U17 team played a Ballymena Academy “Select” U17 xv, comprising mainly of 2nd, 3rd and U16 xv players. at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt.
The highly entertaining game finished with the Ballymena Academy team recording a 21-0 victory. Peter Bailie, Robbie Coleman and Hayden Smyth scored the Ballymena Academy tries with Robbie Coleman capping a fine personal performance by adding all three successful conversions.
On Wednesday 26th October Belfast Royal Academy played Bangor Grammar School in a game the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 57-12.
Frank Davis capped a fine personal performance for the BRA team with two tries and six conversions. Matthew McQuiston touched down for two tries as well with Henry George, Matthew McLaughlin, Oliver Scott, Daniel Houston and Max McKitterick each scoring one try.
The Bangor Grammar School team displayed great commitment throughout the game. They got some reward or their endeavours with tries from Alex Simpson and Josh Walker to which Luke Mingout added one conversion.
Dalriada School played Foyle and Londonderry College in a closely contested game the Foyle College team won by 12-8.
The Dalriada School team sored an unconverted try, in the first half, when Angus Graham ran in for the touchdown.
The Foyle College team responded with an unconverted try from Finn Curtis to leave the teams level at 5-5 going into the break.
A Gabriel Stubbs-Carton penalty, in the opening stages of the second half, put the Dalriada School team into an 8-5 lead.
However, a try from the impressive James McKillopp, converted by Adam Killeen, secured the 12-8 victory for the Foyle and Londonderry College team at the no-side whistle.
On the same afternoon Grosvenor Grammar School played Ballyclare High School in a game the Ballyclare High School team recorded a comfortable victory.
Players such as Tom McAllister, who put on a “Man of the Match” performance, Adam Snoddy, Joel Flynn, Jacob Scarlett, Neal McCrea and Isaac Shields stood out with their performances for the Ballyclare High School team.
Later that evening Coleraine Rugby Club hosted a series of very enjoyable games, at various age group levels, against Coleraine Grammar School under the lights at the Rugby Avenue venue.
At senior level Coleraine Grammar School 1stxv played the Coleraine Club U18 team in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 37-6.
Alfie McFall, Jacob Lennox, Cian McCullagh, Matthew Curry, Harry Hughes and Jasper Long scored the Coleraine Grammar School tries. Jordan McAuley converted two of the tries as well as adding one penalty goal.
The Coleraine Grammar School U16 team played the Coleraine RFC U16 team in a game the Coleraine Grammar School U16 team won by 26-7.
At U12 level a large group of players from Coleraine Grammar School, Coleraine Rugby Club and Limavady Grammar School played out a series of games, using the half a game approach, All the players involved impressed with their high standards of play and their committed approach to the games.
Everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing a series of competitive games under the floodlights and experienced great hospitality from their hosts for the occasion, Coleraine Rugby Club.
Strabane Academy played a Foyle College “Senior” Select xv comprising mainly of U16 players.
The Strabane Academy team had built up a 17-0 lead by halftime before going on to win the game by 17-10.
The Strabane Academy team scored three tries through Felix Foley, Tom Logue and Max Mealiff with Jonathan Orr adding one conversion.
The Foyle and Londonderry College team ran in for two second half unconverted tries with the talented Curtis Hodgen scoring both.
Despite it being the first weekend of a well-deserved half term break, a few 1stxv fixtures were listed for Saturday 29th October.
Belfast High School played Dromore High School in a game where both teams used extended squads of senior players and Dromore High School won by 31-15.
The Belfast High School team scored two tries through Joey Ashby and Robbie McMinn. Daniel Bennett converted one of the tries as well as adding a penalty goal.
The Dromore High School team scored five tries with Alan Tate touching down for a brace and Callum Bradley, Jonny Scott and Alistair Wright each running in for one try. Ethan Mount was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Regent House School played Banbridge Academy in a very competitive game the Banbridge Academy team won by 17-12.
Regent House took an early 7-0 lead when Zeki Kaya stormed over for a first minute try which was converted by Zach Campbell.
Midway through the first period of play the Banbridge Academy team replied with an unconverted try from Adam Logan to reduce the deficit to 7-5. On the stroke of halftime an unconverted try from Luke Charman gave the Banbridge Academy team a 10-7 lead at the break.
Two minutes into the second half a try from Ryan Matthews, which he converted, extended the Banbridge Academy lead to 17-7.
The Regent House School team replied immediately with an unconverted try from Zach Campbell to reduce the arrears to 17-12.
Despite the best intentions of both teams the weather conditions worsened and no opportunities arose for any further scores leaving the final scoreboard reading Regent House School 12 Banbridge Academy 17.
Royal School, Armagh hosted Campbell College, Belfast in another closely contested game which finished with the Campbell College team recording a hard earned 12-10 victory.
The Royal School, Armagh points came through a Mattie Maguire try, which was converted by Josh Watterson, and an Ashton Clarke penalty.
The Campbell College, Belfast team scored tries through Jake Daley and Lucas Kenny with Matthew Rea adding one conversion.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Blackrock College in Dublin and, despite a very committed performance, came away from the game on the wrong side of a 31-7 score line.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution points came through a converted try from Josh Eagleson.
Wallace High School hosted Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and won the game by 15-10.
The Wallace High School team scored three unconverted tries through Carter Thompson, Ben Armstrong and Sam Warwick.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored one try through Cameron Smith to which Tadhg Hambley added the conversion as well as kicking one penalty goal.
The draw for the 1st Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup took place on Tuesday 25th October.
The Results of the draw are as follows: –
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup 2022-23
1st Round Draw
Omagh Academy v Limavady Grammar School
Banbridge Academy v Belfast High School
Grosvenor Grammar School v Lurgan College
Royal School, Dungannon v Foyle College
Friends’ School, Lisburn v Dromore High School
Ties to be played on/before Saturday 19th November 2022
