Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 27th September 2025.
On Wednesday24th September, the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup group stage competition games got underway when Carrickfergus Grammar School hosted Strabane Academy in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Qualifier game at the North Road venue.
At the end of this highly entertaining game, the Carrickfergus Grammar School team emerged as 38-21 winners.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team, with players such as Max Matuszewski, Joshua Oluwatula, Alex McAllister and Toby Keating to the fore, scored five tries with Alex McAllister running in for a brace and Harvey Payne, Max Matuszewski and Oliver Hill each touching down for one try.
Alex capped a finer personal performance with five successful penalty kicks as well as one penalty goal.
The Strabane Academy team, with players such as Alex Gamble and Robert Btrne impressing, brought a lot to the game with their committed display.
Johnny Orr touched down for a brace of tries with Rhys Maxwell running in for a third try.
Johnny added the extras to two of the Strabane Academy tries with Hayden Snodgrass converting a third Strabane Academy try.
The winners of this fixture will now play away to Cambridge House Grammar School in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage Qualifier 2 game on/before Saturday 4th October.
Three Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup games were played on Wednesday 24th September.
In Section A, Ballymena Academy played Belfast Royal Academy and won the game by 38-7.
In the same section, Sullivan Upper School played Ballyclare High School and recorded a 25-18 victory.
In Section B, Wallace High School hosted Campbell College, Belfast in a game the Campbell College, Belfast team won by 26-8.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield competition, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Royal School, Armagh in a game the Royal School, Armagh team won by 22-14.
Meanwhile, in the same competition, Regent House School played Dalriada School and won the game by 45-5.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate competition, Limavady Grammar School was due to have hosted Bangor Academy in a game that ended as a walkover for Limavady Grammar School.
Sullivan Upper School and Bangor Grammar School played a 1stxv friendly game which the Sullivan Upper team won by 42-7.
The Sullivan Upper School points came through tries from Jacob McKeown, with two, Finn McGrath, with two and Stephen Lyons and Ross Alderdice with one try apiece.
Henry Calvert had an excellent afternoon off the tee when he added six successful conversion kicks.
Cal Banyard scored the Bangor Grammar School try to which Ryan Gowdy added the successful conversion kick.
Meanwhile, at the Barban Hill venue, Dromore High School entertained Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Friends’ School, Lisburn team won by 40-17.
The Dromore High School points came through tries from Jonny Beckett, Aaron Bell and Rob Russell.
Alfie Clarke added the extras to one of the Dromore High School tries.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team had a hattrick try scoring hero in Joel Irwin with Max Warwick, Scott Henderson and Daniel Ball touching down for one try each.
Ross Glover added five successful conversion kicks.
On Friday 26th September, Ballymena Academy played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School under the lights at Eaton Park where the home team recorded a well-deserved victory.
Players such as James McMillan, Jacob Casson, Ollie Shaw, Joshua Patterson, Charlie Hargy, Zak Topping and George Gamble stood out with their performances for the Ballymena Academy team.
Both teams, their coaches and supporters would like to thank Ballymena Rugby Club for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
Earlier, on the same afternoon, Larne Grammar School hosted an extended Ballyclare High School squad.in a game the Larne Grammar School team won by 34-31.
The Larne Grammar School team scored four tries through Benjamin Sterling, Elliott Bagshaw, Corbin Marsden and Jonnie Kennedy.
Jonnie capped a fine personal performance when he added the extras to all four tries as well as kicking two successful penalty goals.
The Ballyclare High School team scored five tries in the course of the game.
Josh McColgan ran in for two tries with Josh Tweed, Luke Beattie and Zach Thompson touching down for one try each.
Jude Semple added three successful conversion kicks for the Ballyclare High School team.
On Saturday 27th September, Belfast High School hosted Portadown College in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Plate game which finished up as a 15-15 draw.
At 1stxv level, quite a few games were played on Saturday 27th September.
Cambridge House Grammar School was scheduled to have played Dalriada School but the game was cancelled.
Campbell College, Belfast played Wallace High School in a high scoring game the Campbell College, Belfast team won by 49-14.
Harry Wells, with two, Zach Thompson, Dylan Armstrong, Leo Graham, Dante Noel Simmons and Ruairi Parks were the Campbell College, Belfast try scorers.
Jack Best has a very successful morning off the tee when he hit all seven of his conversion kicks.
The Wallace High School team scored two tries through Adam Crone and Thomas Moore with James Curran adding the extras to both tries.
Foyle and Londonderry College played Rainey Endowed School in a game the Rainey Endowed School team won by 38-24.
Cian O’Leary and Tom O’Neill each scored two tries for the Foyle College team with Niall Kelly adding two successful conversion kicks.
The Rainey Endowed School scored five tries through Adrian Martin, Christy McDonnell, Luke Caskey, Max Allen and Lorcan McLarnon.
Adrian Martin converted four of the tries and also converted one penalty kick.
The remaining Rainey Endowed School points came from one Christy McDonnell conversion.
Lurgan College hosted Antrim Grammar School in a game the Antrim Grammar School team, on the back of good performances from players such as Jonah Woolley, Alex Moss, Calum Lavery and Daniel Blair, won by 28-7.
Tom Mc Neilly, Rio McKee, Adomas Blazauskas and Owen Magee scored the Antrim Grammar School tries.
Isaac Lynn was successful with all four of his conversion kicks.
The Lurgan College team, contributed a lot to the pace of the game and got some reward for their endeavours with a try from Daniel Wilson which was converted by Ben Maxwell.
Methodist College, Belfast entertained Belfast Royal Academy in a game the Methodist College, Belfast team won by 33-15.
Paul Stevenson, Callum Godfrey, James Reid, Ruairi Kennedy, with a brace, were the Methodist College, Belfast try scorers.
Louis Curran added four successful conversion kicks for the Methodist College, Belfast team.
The Belfast Royal Academy team points came through tries from Connor McVicker and James Murray with Connor adding one successful conversion kick as well as one successful penalty kick.
Omagh Academy played Banbridge Academy and recorded a 49-7 victory at the no-side whistle.
The Omagh Academy tries were scored by Isaac Crawford, Jacob Crosbie, Harry McIlwaine, Innes Sheridan and Joshua Orr.
Between them, Sam Harper and Sami Braden added the extras to all of the Omagh Academy tries.
The Banbridge Academy points came through a converted try from Daniel Byrne.
Regent House School played Coleraine Grammar School in a closely contested the Regent House School team won by 15-12.
Finn McClean, with two, and Jed Pountney scored the Regent House tries.
The Coleraine Grammar School points came through tries from Archie McLenaghan and Austin Henry, on the back of good work from Joshua Hawe.
Luke McCauley was successful with one of his conversion kicks for the Coleraine Grammar School team.
Royal School, Armagh played Down High School and recorded a comprehensive 35-0 victory.
Nathan Hamilton, Patrick Kellett, Alex Stinson, Finlay Starrett and Charlie Reaney scored the Royal School, Armagh tries.
Tom Kennedy had a super morning of the tee with five successful conversion kicks.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team travelled to Dublin 6 where they played Terenure College.
Despite the one hundred mile journey, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team came away with a hard-earned, but ultimately well-deserved, 22-19 victory.
The game was played in difficult overheard and underfoot conditions.
The Terenure College points came through tries from Niall Faloon, with two, and Luke McNiff.
Jamie Sharpe added two successful conversion kicks.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team, on the back of very effective maul and attack options from their lineout, scored their points through tries from Ross Dillon, Sebastion Clarke and Conor Patton.
Charlie O’Connor added two successful conversion kicks as well as one successful penalty kick.
