Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 15th November 2025.
There were five Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1stxv friendly games played during the week in the lead up to fixtures played on Saturday 15th November.
On Wednesday 12th November Cambridge House Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School with extended squads giving some twenty-five players from each school the opportunity for a run out.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team won the game by 26-14.
Ben Smith, Harry Campbell and Henri Kyle, with two, were the Cambridge House Grammar School try scorers.
Thomas Moorehead added the extras to three of the Cambridge House Grammar School tries.
The Antrim Grammar School points came through tries from Ethan Lucas and Tom McNeilly to which Isaac Lynn and Harry Smith each added one successful conversion kick.
Meanwhile, at the Ballyquin Road venue, Limavady Grammar School played Omagh Academy in a game the Limavady Grammar School team won by 19-14.
Antoni Zietala, James Mackey and Alex Martin each scored one try for the Limavady Grammar School team with Alexander Howe adding two successful conversion kicks.
Ryan Mitchell and Matthew McClung scored the Omagh Academy tries with Sam Harper adding both successful conversion kicks.
On the same afternoon, Royal School, Dungannon hosted Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in a game the Royal School, Dungannon team won by 47-5.
The Royal School, Dungannon team scored seven tries in the course of the game, six of which were converted.
Adam Nixon, with a brace, Matus Slajus, Blake Gibson, Stephen Wylie alongside James Gibson, with two, were the Royal School, Dungannon try scorers.
James capped a fine personal performance with six successful conversion kicks.
The consolation Enniskillen Royal Grammar School unconverted try was touched down by Jake Hinchcliffe.
On Friday 14th November, Eaton Park in Ballymena was the venue when Ballymena Academy entertained Larne Grammar School in a floodlit game the Ballymena Academy team won by 43-7.
Jacob Casson, with a hattrick, Zak Topping, Oliver Shaw, Ollie Collins and Joshua Patterson were the Ballymena Academy try scorers with James McMillan adding four successful conversion kicks.
The Larne Grammar School team, with players such as Corbin Marsden and Sam Boyd to the fore, scored their points through a Ryan McDowell try which was converted by Jonnie Kennedy.
Both teams, their coaches and supporters, would like to thank Ballymena RFC for the provision of facilities and. hosting the game.
Earlier, on the same afternoon, Methodist College, Belfast played Sullivan Upper School in a game which the Methodist College, Belfast team won by 26-12.
Played in very difficult overhead, as well as underfoot, conditions both teams attempted to play a positive style of rugby with the ball in hand.
The Methodist College, Belfast team ran in four tries through Oliver Gartley, Sam Nixon, Luca Vericat and Alex O’Hagan.
Louis Curran added the extras to three of the Methodist College, Belfast tries.
The Sullivan Upper School team contributed a lot to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Sebby Gorman and Finn McGrath touched down for one try apiece.
Henry Calvert was successful with one conversion kick.
On Saturday 15th November, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield result came through when Limavady Grammar School recorded a walkover against Lurgan College.
On the same morning, a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1stxv friendly games took place.
Ballyclare High School played Coleraine Grammar School in a three-session training game scenario which saw both sets of coaches using extended groups of players.
Launch plays from scrums and lineouts, set piece practices, attacking and defensive options, alongside a twenty-minute end of session game, gave the coaching staff from both schools the opportunity to combine and work with all the players involved.
Ballyclare High School players such as Austin Adair, James Woodside, Josh McColgan and Zach Thompson found the end of session game particularly useful while Coleraine Grammar School players such as Austin Henry, Joshua Hawe, Oliver McLean and Ben Todd felt likewise.
Belfast Royal Academy played Campbell College, Belfast, at the JC Picken Playing Fields at Roughfort, in a game which saw the Campbell College, Belfast team emerge as 28-16 winners.
Harrison McMahon scored a try for the Belfast Royal Academy team with Connor McVicker adding one successful conversion kick as well as three successful penalty goals.
Dylan Armstrong, David Nelson, Caelan Doy Dolan and Charlie Best each scored a try for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
The talented Jack Best and Isaac Hatch each added two successful conversion kicks.
Friends’ School, Lisburn 2nd xv hosted Lurgan College 1stxv in a very early kick off game which the Lurgan College 1stxv won by 22-14.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team points came through tries from Ben Gracey and Will Smith to which Matthew Hare added both successful conversion kicks.
The Lurgan College 1stxv team scored their points through tries from Daniel Wilson, Ben Maxwell, Pedro Melo and Andrew Bird.
Ben Maxwell added one successful conversion kick.
The game, played in difficult conditions, was refereed by that doyen of USRFR referees, Norman Gamble, who encouraged positive play from both teams throughout the game.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Rainey Endowed School in a game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won by 43-14.
Connor Davis, Benjamin McCarten, Connor Patton, Matthew Elliott, Sebastian Clarke and Ross Dillon, with two, were the Royal Belfast Academical Institution try scorers.
Jonah Power was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
The Rainey Endowed School points came through one try apiece from Adrian Martin and Emmett McNulty to which Adrian added one successful conversion kick.
Meanwhile, on an adjacent pitch, Royal Belfast Academical Institution played a “Select” xv v Bangor Grammar School 1stxv.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won this game by 38-5.
Oliver Stewart and Jack Surphliss each scored two tries for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team with Ross Montgomery and Adam Middleby each running in for one try.
Ollie Taylor added four successful conversion kicks.
The Bangor Grammar School points came through a try from Adam Bickerstaff which was converted by Ryan Gowdy.
The draw for the first-round games in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup took place recently.
The results of the draw are as follows;
1/Antrim Grammar School v Belfast High School
2/Foyle and Londonderry College v Portadown College
3/Larne Grammar School v Limavady Grammar School
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup Round 1 games are scheduled to be played on/before Saturday 22nd November.
