Excitement is building ahead of the start of the annual Ulster Schools’ Cup with tournament organisers and participants boosted by the news that Northern Bank, who have supported the competition since 2005, have renewed their sponsorship of one of Ulster’s premier school sports tournaments and the second oldest rugby competition in the world.
Rosamond Bennett, Head of Communications at Northern Bank said:
“As a bank with a very long established track record of community involvement, we are proud to renew our sponsorship of the Schools’ Cup for another three years. It’s a tournament that holds a particularly special place in the hearts of pupils and former pupils, teachers and families, who come out to show their support rain, hail, shine or snow. It is this level of local energy and passion that makes the Schools’ Cup such a rewarding partnership for us as a local bank. We are looking forward to another exciting tournament ahead.”
The preliminary round of the 2011-12 competition will take place on Saturday 10th December when Antrim Grammar host Wellington College to determine which school will join 11 others in the 2nd round of competition.
The 11 teams joining the competition for the 2nd round are: Banbridge Academy, Belfast High School, Cambridge House School, Carrickfergus Grammar, Dalriada School, Friends’ School, Larne Grammar School, Lurgan College, Omagh Academy, Portora Royal School and Rainey Endowed School
Robert Garrett, Head of Corporate at Northern Bank and John Wilson, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Committee made the draw for the second round of the competition which will be played on Saturday 14th January. The draw is as follows:
Belfast High School v Larne Grammar School
Lurgan College v Cambridge House School
Friends School v Antrim Grammar or Wellington College
Portora Royal School v Dalriada
Rainey Endowed School v Carrick Grammar School
Omagh Academy v Banbridge Academy
The winning teams from the Round 2 matches will progress to the third round of competition and will be joined by 10 teams: Bangor Grammar, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Academical Institution, Down High School, Foyle & Londonderry College, Grosvenor Grammar School, Portadown College, Regent House School, Royal School Dungannon and Sullivan Upper School. Third round matches will be played on Saturday 28th January 2012
The final 8 seeded teams; Ballyclare High School, Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Limavady Grammar, Methodist College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Royal School Armagh and Wallace High School will join the winners of Round 3 for Round 4 of competition on Saturday 11th February.
Quarter-Finals: Saturday 25th February 2012
Semi-Finals: 5th and 7th March 2012, 2.30pm (Ravenhill)
Final: Monday 19th March 2012, 3pm (Ravenhill)
