Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up Saturday 6th September 2025.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2025/26 season really kicked off with one friendly fixture played on Wednesday 3rd September when a Royal School, Armagh Senior Select group of players travelled to play the Dungannon FC U18 team at Stevenson Park in a controlled training game.
The main emphasis with this fixture was the development of players new to playing at U18 level with both sets of coaches using the fixture as an opportunity to use extended squads.
The Dungannon team contained two sets of twins experiencing rugby at U18 level for the first time.
Alexander and Thomas Courtney, along with Aidan and Killian Quinn, really enjoyed the competitive nature of the game which was played at a high intensity. James Adamson, an experienced Dungannon FC U18 player, was in a position to guide his younger colleagues positively throughout the three sessions.
For the Royal School, Armagh squad all their U16 players got game time playing together as a team and new Year 13 entrants to the school, James Hamilton, Teddy Jennings, Conchuir Slevin and Matthew Bell really benefitted from the game time they got in the course of their first game for the Royal School, Armagh team.
On Saturday 6th September quite a few 1stxv fixtures were played.
Bangor Grammar School played Friends’ School, Lisburn and won the game by 20-10. Noah Lack and Calvin Cousins each scored a brace of tries for the Bangor Grammar School team.
Isaac Warwick and Paddy Arnold each scored one try for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Ballyclare High School hosted Ballymena Academy in a game the Ballymena Academy team won by 24-19.
The Ballyclare High School points came through tries from Ross Ferguson, Lewis Flynn and Zach Thompson with James Woodside and Jude Semple each adding one successful conversion kick.
Billy Wylie, Jacob Casson, Seth McCready and George Gamble scored the Ballymena Academy tries with Ben Collins adding two successful conversion kicks.
Campbell College, Belfast played Belfast Royal Academy and recorded an impressive win in their first outing of the season.
Players such as David Nelson, Iaith Hanash, Zach Thompson and Caelan Doy Dolan impressed with their performances for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
Coleraine Grammar School entertained Foyle and Londonderry College and won the game by 38-0, scoring six tries in the process.
Lewis Marshall and Myles Johnston each touched down twice for the Coleraine Grammar School team, with the talented Joshua Hawe and Luke McMillan running in for one try each.
Ben Todd added four successful conversion kicks.
At the same venue a 2ndxv Round Robin Tournament took place with Coleraine Grammar School 2ndxv, Coleraine RFC U18s, Foyle College 2ndxv and Letterkenny RFC U18 teams all participating.
Dalriada School played Limavady Grammar School and won the game by 21-15.
Archie Graham touched down for two tries for the Dalriada School team with Angus Bell scoring a third try.
Chris Finney added the extras to all three Dalriada School tries.
The Limavady Grammar School points came through tries from Ben Moore and Charlie Blair with Alexander Howe adding one successful penalty kick as well as one successful conversion kick.
Both teams have paid tribute to USRFR member, Matthew Stone, for the way in which he refereed the game.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Omagh Academy and recorded a 31-12 victory.
Matthew Mannix touched down twice for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team with Alfie Lucy, Paul Curry and Jamie Morrow each touching down for one try.
Sam Paton was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
The Omagh Academy points came through with tries from Andrew Pinkerton and Innes Sheridan with Jack Adams adding one successful conversion kick.
Larne Grammar School played Dromore High School and recorded a 19-0 victory after a 3×20 minute session game scenario.
Both sets of coaches used extended squads in the course of the morning’s activities.
Ralph Wilson, Ben Stirling and Nicholas Robinson each scored one try for the Larne Grammar School team with Matthew Crawford adding two conversions.
Both sets of coaches were pleased to have USRFR member, John Adams, to referee the three session games so effectively.
Methodist College, Belfast played the Rainey Endowed School team in a three-session training game and had to work hard for their 17-7 outcome to the game.
Rhys Hill, Isaac Bell and Cillian Hall each ran in for one try with Louis Curran adding two conversions.
Lorcan McLarnon scored the Rainey Endowed School try which was converted by Christy McDonnell.
Portadown College hosted Lurgan College and recorded a 36-5 victory.
Joe Logan, Callum Doak, Sammy Walsh, Andrew Galloway, Isaac Moore and Calum Alton each scored one try for the Portadown College team. Ben McBurney added the extras to three of the tries.
The Lurgan College team stayed in the game right to the end and got some reward for their endeavours when Alexander McMeekin touched down for an unconverted try.
Regent House School hosted Down High School in a game the Down High School team won by 17-12.
Oliver Heasley and Joey Carson touched down for the Regent Houst School tries with Zach McMinn adding one conversion.
Freddy Harris, Josh McCaughey and Alex Watson scored the Down High School tries with Josh adding one successful conversion kick.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted Belvedere College, Dublin and gor their season of to a positive start with a 33-28 victory.
Ross Dillon touched down for a hat trick of tries with Andrew Purcell and Adam Millar scoring one try apiece for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team. Jonah Power was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Johnny Garrihy, Josh Le Bon, Harry Gosling and Charles Dowse each scored one try for the Belvedere College, Dublin team with Johnny adding the extras to all four tries.
As well as the friendly fixtures played on Saturday 6th September, the annual Ian H Graham Trophy competition was hosted at Grosvenor Grammar School.
Teams from Antrim Grammar School, Banbridge Academy, Cambridge House Grammar School and Grosvenor Grammar School took part, ensuring that over 90 players got game time in the course of the morning.
Following a competitive series of closely contested games, Grosvenor Grammar School finished as overall winners having defeated Banbridge Academy by 10-7 in the final game of the Ian H Graham Trophy tournament.
All the games listed above were refereed by members of the USRFR. The schools involved were delighted to have USRFR members made available to referee these games.
Wallace High School made the journey to Bray where they played St Gerard’s School in a game the Wallace High School team won by 26-5.
The St Gerard’s School, Bray points came through an unconverted try from Luke Tanner.
The Wallace High School points came through tries from Luke Dillon, James Gould, Luka Matchett and Isaac Brett with James Curran adding three conversions.
