Danske Bank Schools Cup
Friends’ School v Limavady GS
Friends’ School found themselves 8-0 down at halftime against a very spirited Antrim Grammar School team in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 2nd Round game. The Lisburn boys’ got themselves organised at the interval in that game and came out strongly with a second half performance that was sufficiently good for them to emerge as 12-8 winners and a place in the 3rd Round against the high flying Limavady Grammar School team. However, this win came at a cost. The Friends’ School team had already a lot of injuries to handle and the game against Antrim left them with even more. Thankfully, young players such as Zac Finlay and Peter Simpson have created a real impression since they have stepped up to the demands of 1stxv Rugby. Team coach, Stephen Robinson, assisted by Norman Gamble and Chris Henderson, knows that the Friends’ squad will have their backs to the wall on Saturday. He will hope that experienced players such as Dylan Lewis, Dean Howes, Jack Ravey and Peter Ferguson can bring their experience to the fore to help the younger members of the squad through this difficult encounter.
The Limavady Grammar School squad has experienced great success in the season to date. They started off with an all-conquering tour to South Africa and, since their return, have lost very few games. Eighteen of their squad took part in their Schools’ Cup campaign last season. Head Coach, Stephen Barr, who is assisted by Chris Nash and Sam Vallelly, knows he has a talented group of players with which to work. They will see themselves as clear favourites to win this game. Rory Squires has played for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team and players such as Richard Boyd, Sam Mackey, Colt Callaghan, Jack McCool and team captain, Jamie W Millar, have been involved with RDS teams. Michael Barr is a son of the Limavady coach, Stephen, while Scott McLean is a son of the Rainey Rugby Club legend, Arnie. The Limavady Grammar School team played in the final of the Subsidiary Shield last season. This season they hope to be contesting at least a spot in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Semi-Final. This game has been scheduled to kick off at 11-15am. Friends School 1 vs Limavady Grammar School 1John Coyle: Referee 14:45
Belfast Royal Academy will see themselves as clear favourites when they entertain their near neighbours from Carrickfergus Grammar School in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round clash at Roughfort.
The Belfast Royal Academy started the season well recording some good results, particularly wins against Ballyclare High School and Coleraine AI. The team, coached by Chris McCarey, assisted by David Creighton, has gone on to win thirteen of their seventeen games. Daniel Dass and Stuart Martin, in the Belfast Royal Academy backrow, bring Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ experience to the team. Mark Wylie is captain of the team and he is a very attack minded centre who has displayed great skills in both attack and defence in the course of the season. He likes nothing more than to create space for his winger, Jordan Hylton, who is an Irish Schools’ sprint champion. Daniel McFadden and Jordan Carlisle, as well as being good rugby players, are Ulster Schools’ Cricketers. The Torrens brothers, Chris and Jonny, form an effective 2nd Row partnership, while Sam Lindsay and Stephen Craig will both be able to give an insight into the opposition, having spent their formative academic and sporting years at Carrickfergus Grammar School.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team has gained the confidence of a win the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. The defeated a very spirited Lurgan College team in the game and their coach, Gareth McClintock, who is assisted by Stephen Martin, will hope the confidence gained will stand his charges in good stead as they travel to Roughfort. Kris Berry, Christian Robinson, Joel Bell, Adam Fittis and Reece Berry all played well in the last round. The Belfast Royal Academy team should not, in any way, underestimate the ability of these players. In Adam Urqhart and Robin O’Callaghan, the Carrickfergus Grammar School team has two very hard working forwards. Both love to get the ball in their hands and drive at the opposition. Robert has scored a lot of tries throughout the season, including one against Lurgan College in the Schools’ Cup and five in a game earlier in the season. These players will have the potential to make the Belfast Royal Academy team think but it would be a major upset if the home side does not win. This game is scheduled to kick off at 11-00am.
Belfast Royal Academy 1 vs Carrickfergus Grammar School 1 David Coey: Referee 14:00
Grosvenor Grammar School will host a Dalriada team that has already beaten them this season.
The Grosvenor team, coached by Ireland cricket legend, Kyle McCallen, will impress upon his squad that this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game will be an ideal opportunity to reverse that early season result. Kyle, and his assistant, Gary Hunter, feel that recent performances by the Grosvenor Grammar School team have warranted the players feeling confident about the outcome of this game. Their victory against a full strength Ulster U18 Club team was particularly pleasing. They are a young team, with only six players returning from their Schools’ Cup campaign last season. Steven Marshall is team captain and he forms part of an effective backrow trio alongside the hard working Sam Purdon and Michael Young. Matthew Allen was involved with the Ulster U19 squad during the summer and he is an experienced prop with a penchant for scoring tries. Stewart Baillie, Scott Adams and Peter Davison have the ability to take advantage of any weaknesses in the opposition defence. The will show no fears going into this game.
The Dalriada team has had a new coach take over this season. David Doherty worked with the Belfast Harlequins team prior to taking up an appointment in the Physical Education Department in Dalriada. David is assisted by Neil Bedos who is a stalwart of the local Ballymoney Rugby Club. Like the Grosvenor Grammar School team, the Dalriada team is a relatively young side. Timmy Emmerson is a very talented player who displays great maturity as team captain. He has led by example both on and off the pitch. Ewan Strang, the Dalriada full back, is an RDS member who is keen to attack with the ball in hand. Ewan is a strong defender as well and provides great inspiration for his team mates with his performances. This game could be won and lost at the breakdown where the Dalriada team, like their counterparts, has a very effective trio. Jonny Allen, Dave McKeeman and Henry Loan will enjoy that particular aspect of the game. This game is scheduled to kick off at 10-45am.
Grosvenor Grammar School 1 vs Dalriada School 1 Jim Eastwood: Assessor Graham Gibson: Referee 15:00
REPLAY: Belfast High School 1 vs The Royal School Dungannon 1 Peter Martin: Referee 14:30
1st game report:
Royal School, Dungannon hosted Belfast High School on the WK Armstrong pitch in Dungannon in their 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter.
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The outcome of the game was in doubt until the last play of the game when the High School team scored a try to see the final score read 17-17.
Belfast High School started the game well and seemed to be shading both possession and territory. They had a good chance to take the lead when Jake Hutchinson was close to scoring a try only for the referee to pull back play for a crossing offence. The first score of the game came from the Royal School, Dungannon team when John Buckley intercepted a pass and ran in uncontested to touch down between the posts. The extras were added by Jack Milligan to give his team a 7-0 lead. Not long after this, Jack was successful with a penalty to increase to score to 10 -0 in favour of the home side. RS Dungannon then lost their captain, Jacob McCammon to injury. He was replaced by Michael Jones who impressed with his performance for the remainder of the game. Both teams continued to attack but the Belfast High School team found difficulty in keeping possession due to a large number of knock-on mistakes. The score remained at 10-0 in favour of the home side until the interval.
The second half started as the first had ended with Jack Milligan controlling the game well from the base of the scrums and rucks. However, it was Belfast High School who opened the scoring in the second half. Good work down the right wing from Jordan Garford and Matt Connolly saw the ball passed inside to Adam White who crossed the line close the uprights. The conversion from Robbie Reid was successful and the arrears had been reduced to 10-7. From the restart, the Dungannon team applied pressure on the visitors with good work from Jack Milligan taking play deep into the Belfast High School 22m area. An uncharacteristic mistake from the Belfast High School lineout presented the RS Dungannon team with possession which the Dungannon backs used effectively. Space was created for Matthew Montgomery who outfoxed a despairing High School defence to touch down for a try. Jack Milligan was successful with the conversion to give his team a 17-7 lead.
Belfast High School had to dig deep or they were out of this tie and dig deep they did. Their backline made better use of the possession provided by an industrious pack and they got reward for their endeavours when Matt Connolly scored a fine try in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful but the scoreline now read 17-12 in favour of the RS Dungannon team. The High School team thought they had levelled the score when Lewis Benson thought he had scored only to be adjudged as having lost control of the ball over the Dungannon line. Jordan Garford was prevented from what seemed to be a certain score by great defensive work from Jack Milligan. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Belfast High School mounted one last attack in which they managed to create an overlap. Adam White received the ball in a minimum of space but he did enough to squeeze over the line in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful but the game had finished in a 17-17 draw. Both teams will probably see this result as an opportunity missed but they will have to do it all again in a replay next week.
