There were five midweek games played in the lead up to a normal list of fixtures on Saturday 10th November.
Banbridge Academy played an Ulster Clubs’ U17 squad in a floodlit fixture at Rifle Park, the home of Banbridge RFC.
The game was played over three x twenty five minute sessions with both teams able to utilise all members of their extended squads. In the first period of play, the Banbridge Academy team took a 5-0 lead when their scrum half, Conor Morrow, ran in for an unconverted try. The Banbridge Academy team continued to dominate possession and territory but good defence from the Ulster U17 players kept their line intact. With the final play of the first third, the Ulster team scored an unconverted try in the corner to take the score to 5-5.
The Ulster U17 team extended the score to 15-5 in the course of the second period of play when they scored two unconverted tries.
The arrears were reduced to 15-12 early in the third period of play when Calum Boardman, the impressive Banbridge Academy prop, scored a well worked try. Replacement full back, David Carlton, added the conversion. The final fifteen minutes saw both teams work hard and provide some entertaining rugby for the good crowd gathered to watch the game. The Banbridge Academy team was pressing for a score to win the game when they were turned over and the Ulster team went on to score an unconverted try in the corner to see the U17 team emerge as 20-12 winners.
This was a good competitive game which was enjoyed by all concerned. Both teams would like to thank Banbridge RFC for hosting the game.
Wellington College hosted Friends’ School and both teams took some time to settle into the game.
There were no scores in the first half but the Wellington College team went on to dominate proceedings in the second half. Andrew Hanna opened the scoring for the Wellington team with a penalty to give them a 3-0 lead. Wellington College went on to score three tries through Sam Bridge, Matthew Elliott and Kier Patterson, all of which were converted by Andrew Hanna, to see the Wellington College team emerge as deserved 24-0 winners.
Sullivan Upper recovered from their last minute defeat in their previous game against Royal School, Armagh to record an impressive 38-14 midweek win against Regent House.
Antrim Grammar School hosted a midweek run out against the Belfast Boys’ Model School with the Antrim GS 2ndxv playing against the Boys’ Model in the first period of play.
The second period of play saw the Antrim GS 1stxv play against the Belfast Boys’ Model team. The Boys’ Model team put on a very good display in the first game and won by 7-0. Their good performance in the first game gave the Boys’ Model team great confidence as they took on the Antrim GS 1stxv in the second game. However, despite starting the game slowly and conceding a converted try to the Boys’ Model team, the Antrim GS team recovered to score three unconverted tries with Chris Donnelly, on his return from a long lay-off, Mark Strange and Jason Lyle all touching down for the home team who won the game by 15-7. Both teams got a great deal from the games played and credit must go to the Belfast Boys’ Model team for their skilful and spirited display in both games.
Limavady Grammar School and Omagh Academy met in a midweek fixture in a game which was played in very wet and windy conditions in Limavady.
Even in poor conditions Limavady attempted to run the ball at every opportunity. Limavady GS dominated both possession and territory and, after ten minutes, took the lead when No 8, Sam Mackey, touched down after a driving maul off a line-out. Jack McCool converted the try to give the home team a 7-0 lead. Limavady GS continued to dominate but conditions made it difficult to play running rugby and the game was error-strewn. Twenty minutes into the game, Omagh Academy, had a clearance kick charged down by prop, Brendan Ferguson, who followed up to touch down close to the posts. Again, Jack McCool was successful with his conversion attempt to put his team into a 14-0 lead, a lead they held until the interval.
The second half began like the first with Limavady applying pressure although they found the Omagh Academy team to be very combative at the breakdown. Man of the Match, Andy Millar, was constantly taking Limavady GS forward and, following one of his runs, the ball was recycled quickly and moved wide for Jack McCool to score under the posts. Jack added the conversion to give his team a 21-0 lead. A quickly taken penalty from Omagh then caught Limavady napping and Dean Henderson ran the length of the pitch to score in the corner and reduce the arrears to 21-5. Limavady responded immediately and their backs moved the ball wide for their winger, Joel Stirling, to run in under the posts from sixty metres. Jack McCool added his fourth successful conversion to secure a 28-5 win for the Limavady Grammar School team.
There were a number of schools’ fixtures played on Saturday 10th November.
Ballyclare High School hosted a Bangor Grammar School team that was keen to record a positive result, having lost their last number of games. The Bangor Grammar School team had opportunities to score points in the opening stages of the game but found their attacks met by a resolute Ballyclare High School defence. Paddy Reid opened the scoring for the Ballyclare High School team when he touched down following a series of picks and drives. Jack Irvine converted the try to put his team into a 7-0 lead. Ballyclare High School centre, Luke McAnee then cut through the Bangor defence to score a try which Jack Irvine converted. Jack then kicked a penalty to see the Ballyclare High School team into a 17-0 lead at the interval.
The Ballyclare High School team dominated possession for the duration of the second half with their half backs ensuring the possession was turned into a territorial dominance with some astute tactical kicking. Tries from Matt Mooney, Eddie McKee and James Beattie with two conversions and two penalties from Jack Irvine ensured a well-deserved 42-0 victory for the Ballyclare High School team. The Ballyclare High School captain, Jonny Darling, impressed throughout the game with a “Man of the Match” performance.
Grosvenor Grammar School hosted Campbell College and found themselves under pressure for most of the game.
Both teams had been on tour over the half term period with Grosvenor Grammar School playing two games in Scotland and the Campbell College team recording a 32-31 win against Oakham College.
Early Campbell domination led to an unconverted Harry Howard try to give the visitors a 5-0 lead. Campbell College then hit a purple patch and ran in three tries through Ross Campbell and Josh Fullerton who touched down twice. Rob Haldane converted all three tries to see his team into a 26-0 half time lead.
The Campbell College team started the second half in a sluggish manner and the Grosvenor team saw a lot more of the ball. They had opportunities to score but found the Campbell defence to be well organised. On occasions, from broken play, players such as Steven Marshall, Billy Gibson and Sam Purdon impressed with their positive attitude with the ball in hand. However, in the final ten minutes of the game it was the Campbell College team that took advantage of some weak Grosvenor defence. Mylo Shirley took advantage of a great off-load from Richard Greenwood to run in for a try which Rob Haldane converted to put his team into a 33-0 lead. Campbell College centre, Jordan Boyd, then touched down for a try which Matt McClelland converted to put the Campbell team into a 40-0 lead. The Grosvenor Grammar School team salvaged a crumb of comfort from the game when their winger, Dale Stinson, scored an unconverted try to leave the final score reading 40-5 in favour of the Campbell College team.
Coleraine Academical Institution travelled to Enniskillen to play Portora Royal School. Despite their long journey, the Coleraine AI team started strongly and scored after just five minutes when Nick Logan barged over for a try.
The try was unconverted but the Coleraine AI team had a 5-0 lead. Despite continuing to dominate possession, the Coleraine AI team made a mistake in defence which allowed the home team to score a converted try and take a 7-5 lead after twelve minutes of the game. The Coleraine AI team ensured the Portora RS lead did not last too long. Just before the interval, Ryan Boyd touched down for a try, which Conor Shiels converted, to give the Coleraine AI team a 12-7 lead at half time.
Five minutes into the second half, Ryan Boyd touched down for another try when he took advantage of good work from Thomas Pethick in a lineout. The conversion attempt was missed but the Coleraine AI lead had extended to 17-7. Portora RS reduced the arrears to 17-14 when their centre ran through some poor Coleraine AI defence to score a converted try. However, it was the Coleraine AI team that had the final say in the game when Peter Kidd took a quick penalty which paved the way for Conor Shiels to open up the home defence and send Peter Acheson in for a try. Conor converted the try to see his Coleraine AI team through with a 24-14 victory.
The Rainey Endowed team has had a very successful season so far.
They knew that travelling to play Ballymena Academy would provide a true test of their credentials. On a damp and dull morning, it was the home team who were quicker out of the blocks. Following good work from Thomas Gaston and Andrew Magrath, Ballymena gained possession from a five-metre lineout and Duncan Maguire was on hand to apply the finishing touches to a dynamic maul. The try was not converted but the Ballymena Academy team had a 5-0 lead. Rainey Endowed levelled the scores almost immediately with an unconverted try of their own following some excellent build up play involving their abrasive back row, in which Michael Dawson was outstanding. The Magherafelt team continued to dominate territory and possession throughout the first half, with the home team disappointingly off the pace. Oisin Quinn and Kieran Lynch, the Rainey half backs, combined together in a very positive manner, to keep their Rainey Endowed team on the front foot. The score remained at 5-5 until just before the half-time whistle when Rainey took the lead with a well-deserved score in the corner. The successful touchline conversion left the half-time score reading 12-5 to Rainey Endowed.
Ballymena Academy enjoyed much more of the possession in the second half and spent several long phases of play in the Rainey 22m area. Despite this domination of territory, Ballymena were unable to break down the well-organised and committed Rainey defence in which Kieran Lynch was outstanding. As the game moved into the final minutes, it seemed that Rainey team was going to hold on for a deserved victory. Ballymena Academy, however, showed patience and character and Craig Barkley powered over for a score in the last minute of normal time. Andrew Magrath’s successful conversion made the scores level at 12-12. Following the restart, Rainey re-gathered possession and were camped on the Ballymena line for several minutes. Ballymena were awarded a penalty on their own line and a quick tap from Oliver Simpson was carried superbly well by the impressive Ballymena Academy flanker, Josh McIlroy. From the edge of the Ballymena Academy 22m line the ball was moved wide to Brian Mulholland who went the length of the field before passing inside to Craig Barkley for a try below the posts. Andrew Magrath’s conversion left the final score reading 19-12 to Ballymena Academy who knew they had been in a real tussle to secure a fortuitous win at the end of the game.
The redoubtable Kenny Hooks, coach of the Royal School, Armagh team, knows that his team is coming along well but, in many aspects of the game, his players are still “work in progress” They received a major boost to their confidence by recording a hard fought 15-10 win against Wallace High School.
The Lisburn boys have been badly hit with injuries and made the Royal School team work for their win. The Armagh team scored first half tries through Daniel Ewart and Darryl Morton. Alistair Wright chipped in with a conversion and a penalty to give his RS Armagh team a 15-0 half time lead.
Wallace High School scored two tries in the course of the second half, during which they enjoyed a greater share of the possession. Neither try was converted to ensure that the RS Armagh team ran out as 15-10 winners. Toby McAlpine and Nigel Simpson impressed for the RS Armagh team in the course of the game.
Antrim Grammar School travelled to play Lurgan College with high hopes of reversing the result of the game when the two teams last met back in September.
Despite a positive start to the game from the Antrim GS team, it was the Lurgan College team that was able to bring their physicality to the fore. They scored an unconverted try after just five minutes to take a 5-0 lead. The Lurgan College team attacked from the restart and used their backs to good effect. Mark McIlwaine ran in for a try which he converted to increase the Lurgan lead to 12-0 after eight minutes of the game. Five minutes later, Dean Wilson took advantage of some poor Antrim GS defence to run in for a try. The conversion attempt was successful and the Lurgan College team now had a 19-0 lead. Despite attacking at every opportunity, the Lurgan College attack could not find a way through the Antrim GS defence for the remainder of the first half and the score remained at 19-0 until half time.
The second half saw the Antrim GS team gain much more in terms of possession and territory. They dominated proceedings for most of the second half but could not find a way through the home defence ensuring the Lurgan College team recorded a 19-0 victory at the end of the game.
Dalriada School took advantage of some poor Larne Grammar School defence in the first half of the game when the two sides met in Ballymoney.
The home team ran in three converted tries to take a 21-0 lead. The Larne GS team converted a penalty attempt through Callum McKay to reduce the arrears to 21-3 at half time.
An improved second half performance from Larne GS, linked to their back row impressing with their work rate, ensured there were no further scores in the game. Despite losing the game, the Larne GS team can take some positives from their second half performance as they build up towards the forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution, having just returned from a successful half term tour to Barcelona, took on the Royal School, Dungannon team at Osbourne Park.
CLICK HERE for Action Shots From the I & II XV games
Both teams were short of frontline players missing through injury. This situation impacted more severely on the RS Dungannon team who returned home on the wrong end of a 29-14 scoreline.
Saturday 17th November has been set aside as the day in which schools playing rugby in Ulster are asked to support the work being done by the IRFU Charitable Trust in looking after players injured on the field of play.
Ulster Schools, over the years, have raised thousands of pounds for the IRFU Charitable Trust. Fund raising, charity days, special assemblies and non-uniform days are just some of the methods used by schools to raise money for the Trust. Each of the Rugby Playing schools in the Province is a “Member” of the IRFU Charitable Trust and Saturday 17th November will provide schoolboy players playing in games throughout the Province to contribute just £1-00 pound to this most worthwhile of causes. Last season the schoolboy players in Ulster raised slightly over £5,000 which was a marvellous achievement. It would be an outstanding achievement if this total could be surpassed. Mr Stephen Black, Principal of Antrim Grammar School, is co-ordinating the appeal on behalf of all the schools in Ulster and all monies raised can be forwarded to the IRFU Charitable Trust through him.
