Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 25th October 2025.
Monday 20th October saw the Ballymena Academy U16xv and 2ndxv squads travel to the Meadowbank Arena pitches in Magherafelt where they played fixtures against the Ulster Clubs’ U17 and U18 squads.
The Ulster Clubs’ U17 team lost out to the Ballymena Academy U16 team by 25-17.
The Ulster Clubs’ points came through tries from Niall Murphy, City of Armagh RFC and Matthew Fitzsimmons, Ballynahinch RFC.
Drew Wilson, Civil Service RFC, added the extras to both tries as well as kicking one successful penalty goal.
Conor Vercoe-Rogers, Oscar Eddis and Charlie King each scored one try for the Ballymena Academy U16 team.
Daniel Johnston was successful with both conversion kicks as well as with two penalty kicks.
The Ulster Clubs’ U18 team defeated the Ballymena Academy 2ndxv by 14-10 at the end of the closely contested encounter.
Harry Smyth, Coleraine RFC, and Ayrton Pienaar, Virginia RFC, scored the Ulster Clubs’ tries to which Conor Frazer, Malone RFC, added both successful conversion kicks.
Jack McMaster and Seth McCready each touched down for an unconverted try for the Ballymena Academy 2ndxv team.
On Wednesday 22nd October, CIYMS RFC at Belmont was the venue when Campbell College, Belfast played Sullivan Upper School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup.
The game was played on a great surface at CIYMS RFC and, in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters, it was the Campbell College, Belfast U16 team that emerged as 24-10 winners.
Following the game, Greg Irwin, Senior Vice President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, and Vicky Davis, CEO Danske Bank, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 medals to players from both teams and then the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup to Peter Young, captain of the victorious Campbell College, Belfast team.
Greg congratulated both teams on reaching the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup, thanked the coaches of both teams for the work they have put in with the players, thanked the parents, guardians and families of all the players for the support given, thanked the referee, Jonny Erskine, and his team of Nathan Lamont and Caitlin Fisher, for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked CIYMS RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support for Ulster Schools’ Rugby.
Greg finished the formalities by wishing the players from both teams a successful season in the weeks and months ahead.
Two 1stxv friendly games took place on Wednesday 22nd October.
A Ballyclare High School “Select” xv played Grosvenor Grammar School in a game the Ballyclare High School team won by 38-7.
The Ballyclare High School team scored six tries with Joshua Gilchrist running in for two and Jude Wilson, Jack Morrow, Daniel Montgomery and Elijah Adair each touching down for one try.
Max Scullion was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Grosvenor Grammar School team points came from a try scored by Sam Ferguson which was converted by Peter Ward.
Antrim Grammar School hosted Larne Grammar School in a game the Larne Grammar School team won by 31-12.
The Antrim Grammar School team scored two tries through Jonah Woolley and Daniel Blair.
Matthew Ewart added the extras to one of the tries.
On the back of good performances from players such as Corbin Marsden and Nicholas Robinson, the Larne Grammar School team scored their points through tries from Benjamin Sterling, Ralph Wilson, Ben Simpson, Ryan McDowell and Elliott Bagshaw.
Matthew Crawford was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Despite being the first weekend of a well-deserved half term break, quite a few 1stxv friendly games were played on Saturday 25th October 2025.
The Ballyclare High School “Select” xv played their second game in a few days when they hosted Lurgan College in a game the Ballyclare High School won by 41-7.
Joshua Gilchrist, Daniel Jenkins, with a brace, Adam Johnston, Max Scullion, Jack Morrow and Josh Nesbitt were the Ballyclare High School try scorers.
Max Scullion added the extras to three of the Ballyclare High School tries.
The Lurgan College team scored one try through Lewis Irwin which was converted by Seth Martin.
Belfast Royal Academy played Ballymena Academy in a game which saw the Ballymena Academy team get back to winning ways with a 33-10 victory.
The Belfast Royal Academy team scored one try through James Murray which was converted by Connor McVicker who was also successful with one penalty kick.
The Ballymena Academy team scored five tries through George Gamble, Ben Collins, Jacob Casson, with two, and Elijah Fitzpatrick.
James McMillan added four successful conversion kicks.
Cambridge House Grammar School played Portadown College in a game the Portadown College team won by 43-7.
The Cambridge House Grammar School points came through a try from Henry Kyle which was converted by Thomas Moorehead.
The Portadown College team scored seven tries through Caleb Ruddell, Harvey Creaney, Charlie Rodgers, Filip Scmielowicz, Andrew Galloway, with two, and Sam Bentley.
Charlie Rodgers was also successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Coleraine Grammar School entertained Campbell College, Belfast in a game played in very difficult overhead and underfoot conditions which the Campbell College, Belfast team won by 26-13.
On the back of an impressive performance from Joshua Hawe, the Coleraine Grammar School team scored one try through Oliver McClean, which was converted by Ben Todd who was also successful with two penalty kicks,
The Campbell College, Belfast team scored four tries through Zach Thompson, James Wells, David Nelson and Conor McKinney.
Jack Best added three successful conversion kicks.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Wallace High School in a game the Wallace High School team won by 17-7.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team scored one try through Adam Little which was converted by Sam Paton.
The Wallace High School team scored three tries through Josh Martin, with two, and James Gould.
James Curran added one successful conversion kick.
Foyle and Londonderry College played a Dalriada School “Select” xv in a game the Foyle College team won by 50-12.
Thom O’Neill, Cian O’Leary, with a hattrick, Vadin Khodakov, Adam Donnell, Jack Peace and Ethan Gallick were the Foyle and Londonderry College try scorers.
Niall Kelly was successful with four conversion kicks with Darwyn Nutt adding a fifth.
The Dalriada School team scored two tries through Matthew McCamphill and Josh McComb, one of which was converted by Chris Finney.
Methodist College, Belfast played their annual-fixture against Christian Brother’s College, Cork at Pirrie Park.
The Methodist College, Belfast team won this long-standing fixture by 32-10.
Isaac Bell, Noah Davey, Oliver Gartley, Ruairi Kennedy and Luca Vericat, with two, were the Methodist College try scorers to which Louis Curran added one successful conversion kick.
Sean Fitzpatrick and Harry McCarthy each touched down for an unconverted try for the Christian Brother’s College, Cork team.
Regent House School entertained the Bishops Stortford U18 team in a game the Regent House School team won by 31-15.
The Regent House School team scored five tries through Callum Megarity, Toby McSorley, Finn McClean and Joey Carson, with two.
Matthew Wilson added three successful conversion kicks.
At the same time, a team comprising of players from Regent House School, Ards RFC U18 and Donaghadee RFC U18 teams played against a Bishop Stortford “Select” xv.
The combined Regent House School/Ards RFC/Donaghadee RFC team won this game by 28-21.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted Blackrock College, Dublin in a closely contested game the Blackrock College team won by 29-22.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team points came through tries from Ross Dillon, Dylan Gray and Benjamin McCarten.
Charlie O’Connor added two successful conversion kicks as well as one penalty goal.
The Blackrock College, Dublin points came through tries from Louis Magee, Geoff Wall, Rhys Keogh and James Browne.
Bernard White was successful with one conversion kick while Luke Coffey added two successful conversions as well as one penalty goal.
