There was one midweek fixture involving two Ulster Schools when Portora Royal School hosted near neighbours, Omagh Academy, in a floodlit fixture at the Enniskillen Rugby Club grounds at Mullaghmeen.
Both sets of coaches used the game as an opportunity to play an extended squad and there were four twenty minutes sessions played in the course of the evening. The Omagh team lost Andy Wilson early in the proceedings with a shoulder injury. The Omagh team had the opportunity to take the lead but missed two penalty kicks in the course of the first period of play. Portora then scored two unconverted tries to take a 10-0 lead. Omagh Academy responded with an Andy Allen penalty which was followed by a Neil McLaine try. Andy Allen converted the try to take the score to 10-10. Omagh took a 13-10 lead in the second session with another Andy Allen penalty only to see the Portora team score a converted try to take a 17-13 lead. Omagh dominated proceedings in the final sessions but the Portora Royal School defence was well-organised and ensured no way through for the Omagh Academy team. Both squads got a lot out of the game and both teams appreciated the use of the Enniskillen Rugby Club facilities and their hosting of the game.
Royal School, Dungannon took their 1st and 2ndxv squads on tour to play against Crescent College in Limerick and participate in training games with Presentation Brother’s College in Cork.
Following a long bus journey to Limerick, the RS Dungannon team kicked off with a strong wind in their favour and started the game strongly. They took play deep into the Crescent College half and from a 5 metre lineout, Stephen Rogers bundled his way across the Crescent line to touch down for a try. The try was not converted but the RS Dungannon team had a 5-0 lead. Further pressure from the RS Dungannon yielded a couple of penalty opportunities which David Davidson converted to give his team an 11-0 lead. This lead was extended to 16-0 when Peter Gilkinson took advantage of good exchange of passes, involving both forwards and backs, to touch down for an unconverted try. Any time Crescent College did manage to obtain quality possession they were met with committed RS Dungannon defence which ensured their line remained intact until the interval and ensured they held on to their 16-0 lead. The Crescent College team lost a number of players to injury and this seemed to dent their confidence in the initial stages of the second half. Andrew Clingan ran in for an RS Dungannon try which David Davidson converted to extend the lead to 23-0. It was in the final few minutes of the game that the home team eventually got some reward for their endeavours in the course of the game when their prop forward, Niall Horan, scrambled across the RS Dungannon line to score a try. The conversion was missed ensuring an excellent 23-5 win for the Royal School, Dungannon team against one of the leading teams in Munster Schools.
The RS Dungannon 2nd xv played against their Crescent College counterparts and lost an entertaining game by 21-14.
The Crescent team dominated proceedings in the first half and scored three converted tries to give them a 21-0 interval lead. The Dungannon team staged something of a comeback and ran in two converted second half tries. Jonny Wright scored an intercept try which he converted himself. Andrew Kennedy then proceeded to take advantage of a gap in the Crescent defence before off-loading to David Vance who was running a great support line. David finished off the move by touching down for a try which was converted by Jonny Wright to account for the RS Dungannon 2ndxv points. After the games against Crescent College the RS Dungannon players enjoyed a tour around the famous Thomond Park stadium, a visit all the players found to be very worthwhile.
Following the games in Limerick, the RS Dungannon players transferred to Cork where the entire party met up with the Ireland coach, Declan Kidney.
Declan took time out of his busy schedule to have dinner with the RS Dungannon players and then take part in a question and answer session with the players and management. It was an opportunity for Declan to meet up once again with Keith Patton, the RS Dungannon coach. Declan and Keith coached many Irish Schools’ teams, including the Triple Crown team of 1993. The two coaches shared their experiences of coaching successful Irish Schools’ teams as well as reminiscences of their successful Irish Schools’ tour to New Zealand in 1992, a tour which included players of the calibre of Jeremy Davidson, Jonny Bell and Anthony Foley. The RS Dungannon players enjoyed thoroughly the time spent with Declan and particularly enjoyed him relating stories involving their coach!
The next day the RS Dungannon senior squad trained with the Presentation Brother’s College senior squad working an set piece plays, attack and defence options and taking part in a controlled game.
Both teams got a lot from the coaching session which was seen as valuable in the build-up to the Schools’ Cup campaigns in both Provinces which will continue after the Christmas break.
The RS Dungannon 2nd xv played a full game against the PBC counterparts and despite the best efforts of players such as Daniel Vance, Gordon Stewart and Danny Graham, lost the game by 56-0.
The entire RS Dungannon party arrived home having had an enjoyable as well as beneficial tour. All the players are grateful to Messrs Patton, Willis and Lucas for all their hard work, not only in the organisation of the tour, but throughout the season.
Despite difficult weather conditions a number of games took place on Saturday 17th December.
Limavady Grammar School had not played for a couple of weeks and the players were delighted to get a game when Belfast High School travelled to play at the Ballyquin Road venue. As the first half got underway, it was quite evident that the treacherous weather conditions prevented any real movement of the ball and, as a result, it looked like it was going to be a forward orientated game. Neither team made any progress in the first ten minutes; it was only when the Limavady Grammar side released their talented backline that a try was scored by their winger, Aaron Rainey. The conversion was missed but the home team had a 5-0 lead. Belfast High replied with an unconverted try in the corner, following a lapse in concentration in the home team’s defence, to level the score at 5-5. From the restart the home side upped the intensity and scored tries through Robert Lamberton, Aaron Rainey, Tom McClelland and Sam Mackey. Michael Barr converted four of the tries to leave the half time score at 33-5 in favour of the Limavady Grammar School team. The second half was basically a repeat of the first. The Limavady forwards began to dominate in the close exchanges and with Michael Barr controlling the backline well tries were scored by Aaron Rainey and Tom McClelland, both of whom touched down twice, Adam Miller and John Fallows. All these tries were by Michael Barr to ensure a 75-5 win for the currently undefeated Limavady Grammar School team. A number of players deserved a man of the match accolade, in particular Michael Barr and Sam Mackey both of whom had outstanding performances. Other players such as Andy Miller, Richard Boyd and Jamie Miller proved influential and provided attacking prowess for the home team.
Royal School, Armagh took to the road for the second week in succession, on this occasion travelling to play Belfast Royal Academy at Roughfort.
Despite the difficult weather conditions the pitch was in good condition and both teams tried to play with the ball in hand as often as possible. It was the RS Armagh team that showed greater efficiency with the ball in hand and they opened up a 17-0 half time lead. Daniel Reaney, Matthew Clarke and Duncan Steed crossed for tries, one of which was converted by Alistair Wright. The Belfast Royal Academy team tried hard to break down a resolute RS Armagh defence but got little or no change out of the RS Armagh defenders. John Dunne and Alistair Wright crossed for second half tries for the Armagh team with Alistair converting his try to ensure a 29-0 win for his team.
Grosvenor Grammar School hosted Regent House with the home team determined to get back to winning ways having lost their previous game to RS Armagh.
The Grosvenor Grammar School team started brightly and dominated both territory and possession in the early phases of the game. A Regent House infringement in front of their posts gave Peter Davison the opportunity to convert the resultant penalty to give his Grosvenor Grammar School team a 3-0 lead. Some spirited Regent House defence, coupled with some indifferent handling by the Grosvenor Grammar School attack, ensured the score remained at 3-0 for most of the first half. It took a barging run from the Grosvenor prop, Matthew Allen, to force his way over the Regent House line for an unconverted try to take the score to 8-0 just before the interval. Following the break the Regent team reduced the arrears to 8-3 with Nathan Burns converting a penalty opportunity. As the weather conditions deteriorated Regent House played with pace and accuracy and scored a try through Alan Sinnamon. Nathan Burns added the extras to put his team into a 18-8 lead. This seemed to galvanise the home team and the Grosvenor pack started to take control of the situation. Good play and a pick and go scenario from the home pack took play deep into Regent House territory. Matthew Allen was presented with the opportunity for his second try of the morning and he did not disappoint. He blasted his way over the line to break Regent House hearts. Peter Davison added the conversion to ensure a Grosvenor Grammar School 15-10 win in this well contested encounter.
Ballyclare High School hosted Coleraine AI at a bitterly cold Rashee Road venue.
The home team welcomed Jonny Darling back after an injury and he had an immediate impact when he touched down for the first try of the game. Jack Irvine added the conversion to see his Ballyclare High School team into a 7-0 lead. Strong mauling from the Ballyclare High School pack, with Paddy Reid showing impressive skills, paved the way for James Beattie to run in for an unconverted try to give his team a 12-0 lead. On the stroke of halftime the Coleraine AI team reduced the arrears to 12-5 when Connor Shields outpaced the Ballyclare High School defence to touch down following a kick and chase. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the scoreline now read 12-5 in favour of the home team at the interval. Ballyclare High School dominated the second period of play who played with the wind and sleet at their backs. Marc Logan, Paddy Reid and Jordan McKinstry were prominent in an industrious Ballyclare High School pack but it was the backs than took advantage of this to run in the tries. Jonny Douglas, Jonny Holmes and James Beattie scored one try each in the second half with Jack Irvine adding two conversions. This ensured a well-deserved 31-5 win for the Ballyclare High School team in a game which was cut short due to the ever increasing inclement weather conditions.
Carrickfergus Grammar School hosted Banbridge Academy in a game that was influenced greatly by the adverse weather conditions.
Banbridge Academy opened their account with a try from outhalf, Marc Stevenson, after ten minutes. Marc converted his try to give his team a 7-0 lead. Midway through the first half Glen Rowan scored an unconverted try to put the Banbridge team into a 12-0 lead. Glen repeated this just before the interval to see his team into a 17-0 halftime lead. With the weather conditions deteriorating the second half proved to be a mistake ridden, scrappy affair. Marc Stevenson ran in for his second try of the game which he converted to see his team into a 24-0 lead. The Carrickfergus Grammar School c got some consolation for their endeavours with an unconverted try just before the final whistle to ensure a 24-5 victory for the visiting Banbridge Academy team.
Friends’ School found themselves in the position of playing their best performance of the season but still losing narrowly to Portadown College, one of the surprise teams of the season in Ulster Schools’ rugby.
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF I XV
II XV HERE
Medallion HERE
The Portadown team took an early 7-0 lead with a converted try. The Friends’ team responded positively with two Ross Robinson penalties to reduce the arrears to 7-6. Just before the interval the Portadown College team scored an unconverted try to see them into a 12-6 lead. This was increased to 19-6 early in the second half when the visitors scored a converted try. However, the Friends’ team displayed great tenacity and pressurised the visitors into giving away penalties. Ross Robinson converted two of these penalty opportunities to reduce the arrears to 19-12 in favour of the Portadown College team. Dylan Lewis, Peter Ferguson and Daniel Bell all worked hard for the Friends’ School team and came close to scoring on a number of occasions. However, the Portadown College defence was well organised and ensured there were no further scores leaving the visitors as 19-12 winners.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution travelled to Dublin to play St Michael’s College trying to keep their undefeated record against Dublin teams.
However, St Michael’s, with their large contingent of Irish schools players, had other ideas. In the first ten minutes the Belfast Inst team appeared to be full of the Christmas spirit and allowed St Michaels to score three converted tries as well as a penalty to give them a 24-0 lead. The Belfast Inst team picked up injuries to Johnny McClure and Rory Bell, both of whom had to leave the pitch. These injury setbacks seemed to throw the Belfast Inst players off their game for a time. However, slowly Inst began to come back into the game and had some opportunities to score but the team was unable to convert these opportunities into points, leaving the scoreline reading 24-0 to St Michael’s College at the interval. The Belfast Inst team was resurgent in the second half and threw everything at St Michael’s but just could not cross the line. St Michaels were giving away penalties and had a player yellowed carded for persistent offside. Inst finally scored after a kick through by Matthew Keane who then chased his own kick to end up scoring a try in the corner. The try was not converted but the arrears had been reduced to 24-5. St Michael’s College scored a converted try just before the final whistle to deservedly win the game by 31-5.
