The Rainey Endowed School senior teams took the opportunity to go on a recent five day tour to Wales.
On Wednesday 28th November the 1stxv played Neath Port Talbot College who are part of the Osprey’s Academy.
The game was played at the Osprey’s magnificent training facilities. In very entertaining and free flowing game the Welsh side went 21-5 ahead. The early flight and the travel were having an effect on the Magherafelt boys. However, as the game progressed the visitors began to exert their authority and began to stage a mini revival. An early try from Jonathan Lees, added to the one he scored in the first half, made the score 21-10. Arran Murphy added the conversion to make it 21-12. Rainey continued to attack and were denied a couple of tries by the home defence. Rainey then made a number of changes giving many younger members of the squad some game time. To their credit they maintained the pressure on Welsh defence, with a third try from Jonathan Lees coming with about five minutes left on the clock. Arran Murphy converted to make the score 21-19. The Rainey boys gave their all to get the winning score but time ran out with them, leaving the hosts running out as narrow winners.
On Thursday 29th the squad visited the Millennium Stadium and trained in the beautiful surroundings of Bute Park. On Friday 30th they had a light, but informative, training session taken by three of the Osprey’s coaches at their training centre. After lunch they then transferred to Gowerton School in Swansea for their second fixtures. In an excellent game the 2nd xv defeated their opponents by 29-20 with tries from Gavin Pollock, Gavin Muldoon, Mark Rooney and Mark Allingham. Gavin Pollock also kicked three conversions and one penalty.
The 1stxv came up against a very physical home side and had to dig deep early on to stay in the game. The conceded an early score to go 7-0 down. As the half progressed they adapted to the tactics of their opponents and started to enjoy more territory and possession. With half time approaching, Samuel Hawe scored an unconverted try to reduce the lead to 7-5. Gowerton then got a fortunate score from the kick off to give them a 14-5 lead. Rainey rallied and Eunan Shaw scored just before half time to reduce the score to 14-10.
The second half was dominated by Rainey as the home pack tired. However, Gowerton scored through their dangerous full back to make it 19-10. Rainey replied with a try by Gary Monaghan to make it 19-15. In the dying minutes they threw everything at the home defence but could not get the important touchdown.
After the game the squad went to the Liberty Stadium to watch the Osprey’s defeat Cardiff Blues in the Rabodirect Pro 12. On Saturday 1st December the boys rounded of the tour with by returning to the Millennium Stadium to watch Australia defeat Wales in the final minutes of the Autumn International. All the players would like to thank Mr Charlie Simpson and Mr Chris Campbell for organising such an enjoyable tour.
The ‘Heaney Motor Company (Mercedes Restoration)’ sponsored Rainey Medallion also went on tour at the same time as the seniors.
They went to Manchester on Wednesday 28th November, arriving on time to go to Ewood Park to watch Blackburn play Bolton in the football Championship. On Thursday they then played Altrincham Grammar School. Unfortunately, they were defeated by a very strong home side 41-21 with Marc Heaney, Anton Lupari and Nathan Lennox scoring tries. Matthew Mulholland kicked all three conversions. On the Friday they had a coaching session with Sale Sharks and then stayed at their Salford City Stadium to watch Sale Sharks being defeated by Northampton Saints. On Saturday they travelled home after a very enjoyable tour. The Medallion squad would really like to thank Miss McLaughlin, Mrs Pollock, Mr Boyd and Mr Eastwood for accompanying them on tour.
There were quite a few games not played on Saturday 8th December due to severe frost, in some areas, and flooding in other areas, rendering pitches unplayable.
Wallace High School did play Bangor Grammar School and finished the game with a comfortable 15-0 victory.
The Wallace team controlled the game in the opening exchanges and scored the first try of the game when Ben Pentland took advantage of good work from his pack to cross the Bangor line for the touchdown. Ryan Moore added the conversion to give his team a 7-0 lead. Ryan extended the lead to 10-0 a few minutes later when he converted a penalty opportunity. The Bangor Grammar School team came back into the game but failed to cause the Wallace High School defence any real anxiety, despite the efforts of the hard working Max Montgomery and James Leary, thus ensuring the home team took their 10-0 lead into the interval.
The second half saw the home team come close on a number of occasions but it was not until the final few minutes of the game that the Wallace team was able to seal the result. Good work from Cal McIlwaine provided quick ruck ball which the Wallace backs moved well. They created an overlap on the right hand side of the pitch, leaving Ben Brackenridge with a simple run in for an unconverted try, to ensure the Wallace High School 15-0 win.
Methodist College and Ballyclare High School re-enacted last season’s Ulster Schools’ Cup Final when the two teams met at Pirrie Park. The Ballyclare High School team made the Methodist College team work hard for their 25-16 win.
The Ballyclare High School team started well and took a 6-0 lead when Jack Irvine converted two penalty kicks in the first quarter of the game. The Methodist College team responded positively and scored two unconverted tries through the impressive Adam Liddell and the hard working Connor McKee to take the score to 10-6 in favour of the Methody team, a lead they maintained until the interval.
The Ballyclare High School team controlled the third quarter and kicked another penalty through Jack Irvine to reduce the arrears to 10-9. Methody responded with an unconverted try from Connor Kelly to take a 15-9 lead. James Greer then took advantage of good work from his pack to run in for a Ballyclare High School try. Jack Irvine added the extras to put his team into a 16-15 lead. Just when it looked as if a shock result may have been on the cards, Josh Bingham dropped a goal for the Methody team to give them an 18-16 lead. With just minutes of the game remaining, replacement Methodist College prop, Ryan McAllister, scored a try which was converted by Josh Bingham to ensure a hard earned 25-16 Methodist College win.
Lurgan College hosted Wellington College and continued their recent run of good form when they ran out as 22-13 winners.
The Lurgan College team started well and score an early try through Jordan McIlwaine to take a 5-0 lead. Andrew Wilson then got in on the scoring act when he ran in for a try which was converted by Mark McIlwaine to put his team into a 12-0 lead. The Wellington team came back strongly and in a period of just a few minutes they kicked a penalty and scored an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 12-8 at half time.
The Wellington team took an early 13-12 second half lead when they scored a fine try. The Wellington team was now in control but could not find a way through a resolute Lurgan College defence. In the final quarter of the game Mark McIlwaine converted a penalty to see his Lurgan team into a 15-13 lead. Mark then sealed the result for Lurgan College when he scored a try which he converted to record a 22-13 win for his team.
Regent House entertained Royal School, Dungannon and lost a closely contested game by 17-10.
The visitors led by 10-5 at half time with Thomas Fegan and Matthew Montgomery both scoring an unconverted try. In response, the Regent House team scored an unconverted try through Aaron Culbert.
The second half saw the Regent House team draw level at 10-10 when Gary Wright scored an unconverted try. The RS Dungannon team had their backrow to thank for paving the way for a win. They turned the Regent House team over on a number of occasions and, from one critical turnover, Stuart Moore ran in for a try. Jack Milligan converted the try to see the Royal School, Dungannon team record a rare, but welcome, victory by 17-10.
Royal School, Armagh entertained Grosvenor Grammar School and ran out as 22-0 winners.
The home team started strongly and controlled the game for the opening quarter. Good Grosvenor Grammar School defence restricted the RS Armagh team to just one first half try which was scored by Luke Crozier, The try was not converted and the home team maintained their 5-0 until the interval, despite the best efforts of the Grosvenor team with Sam Purdon coming close on a number of occasions.
The second half saw the RS Armagh team step up their effort. They scored three further tries through Luke Crozier, Toby McAlpine and Nigel Simpson. Ali Wright added one conversion to ensure a 22-0 win for the Royal School, Armagh team. Royal School, Armagh coach, Kenny Hooks, was delighted with the win against a very dogged and determined Grosvenor Grammar School team. Darryl Morton impressed in his first game as a prop while Ali Wright displayed great game management skills throughout the morning.
Belfast High School travelled to play Antrim Grammar School and emerged as convincing winners.
Lewis Benson, Jake Hutchinson, Jordan Garford, Robbie Reid, Ethan Boal, Matt Connolly and Darren Scott all impressed for the Belfast High School team but it was Adam White who was awarded with the “Man of the Match” award for his four try performance.
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Sullivan Upper travelled to play Down High School having drawn their last two games.
They were determined to come away with a win and did so, recording an impressive 47-0 victory. Sullivan went 21-0 up at halftime thanks to tries from David McMaster, Michael Cartmill and Ross Todd. Charlie Burrows was successful with all three conversions.
Sullivan Upper continued their dominance with second half tries from Peter Cooper, Scott Finlay, James Houston and a second from Michael Cartmill. Charlie Burrows was successful with three of the four conversions leaving the final score reading Down High School 0 Sullivan Upper 47.
The December fixture between Ballymena Academy and Campbell College is always a competitive affair and this season’s game at the Galgorm Road proved to be no different with the Campbell College team emerging as 17-10 winners.
Ballymena Academy started the game well and enjoyed the better of the territory and possession in the early exchanges. The home team narrowly missed with two penalty attempts and it was Campbell College who opened the scoring after fifteen minutes when their dangerous backline executed a rehearsed move that culminated with Harry Howard touching down in the corner. Rob Haldane was successful with the touchline conversion to leave the score reading 7-0 in favour of the visitors. Ballymena Academy replied five minutes later when several strong driving mauls by their abrasive pack resulted in Michael Gillan touching down in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful but the score was now 7-5 to Campbell College. Shortly before half-time, Campbell College increased their lead when their scrum-half, Josh Fullerton, found a space on the narrow side of an attacking scrum and showed good pace to finish in the corner. Rob Haldane was again successful with the conversion and the half-time whistle sounded with the score reading 14-5 in favour of the Campbell College team.
The Campbell College team was awarded a penalty early in the second half which Rob Haldane slotted to increase their lead to 17-5. Ballymena Academy rallied and began to put pressure on the Campbell line with Duncan Maguire eventually powering over for an unconverted try for the home team and reduce the arrears to 17-10. Both teams had several chances to score a crucial third try and the tense final ten minutes were contested deep in the Campbell College 22m area. The Campbell College team showed excellent commitment in their defensive effort to hold on for a hard earned 17-10 victory.
The Draw for the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup is as follows:-
Royal School, Dungannon v Wellington College
Belfast High School v Banbridge Academy
Foyle and Londonderry College v Portora Royal School
Carrickfergus Grammar School v Lurgan College
Antrim Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn
Regent House v Larne Grammar School.
These games are scheduled to be played on Saturday 12th January 2013.
