Weather again played a degree of havoc with the schedule right across the Schools' age-group, but some key clashes did survive.
There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield game, an Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup game and a series of Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup and Plate games played during the week leading to a list of Medallion Shield and 1st XV games played on Saturday.
But on Saturday the toll taken by the conditions was considerable. In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield the games involving Royal School Armagh and Down High; and Limavady Grammar and Larne Grammar School were postponed. Both have been rescheduled for Tuesday, 19th January.
Also due to be given new dates are the Medallion Shield games involving Ballymena Academy and Friends’ School, Lisburn; Portora Royal School against Banbridge Academy; and the tie between Rainey Endowed and Regent House.
The Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup game between Ballymena Academy and Bangor Grammar School was also postponed.
And at 1st XV level the rain, snow and ice put paid to an intriguing tranche of friendlies: Limavady GS v Sligo Grammar, Cambridge House v Omagh Academy, Portora RS v Carrickfergus GS, Wallace High v Blackrock College, Belfast Royal Academy v Portadown College, Dalriada v Friends’, Regent House v Down HS, Campbell College v St Andrew’s College, Dublin, and RS Dungannon v Banbridge Academy.
CUP AND SHIELD ACTION
But back to the action that did go ahead last week, and on Tuesday in the Medallion Shield replay Friends’ School, Lisburn, defeated Cambridge House 15-11.
On Wednesday, in the Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup, Down HS emerged emphatic 30-5 winners over Regent House. That same afternoon Methodist College, Belfast 3rd XV beat old rivals RBAI Fifths 45-8 in the 3rd XV Cup.
In the 3rd XV Plate Ballyclare High School beat Methody Fifths 46-19, while BRA Fourths lost 54-0 to Ballyclare Secondary School’s First XV.
Despite the difficult conditions on Saturday a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup, 3rd XV Cup, Medallion Shield and Trophy games were played.
In the 2nd XV Cup replay Dalriada travelled to Lurgan College and returned north with a 24-12 victory, and will now play the RBAI in the next round.
In the 3rd XV Cup Sullivan Upper 3rdxv beat RBAI 3rds 17-10, though the Belfast ‘Inst’ 4th XV had an impressive 34-5 win over Campbell College Thirds in the same competition.
In the Danske Bank Medallion Shield Portadown College defeated Dalriada School by 8-0, the Portadown captain Dylan Nelson scoring a try and kicking a penalty.
Also in the Shield RS Dungannon had a hard-earned 12-5 win at Bangor GS, based on a fine all-round performance, particularly from the pack. Joshua Clarke scored two tries, one of which Luke McMullan converted.
In the Medallion Trophy preliminary round Antrim GS made the trip to Strabane Academy worthwhile with a 45-5 victory.
BANGOR GS 43 – 5 BELFAST MET
Bangor Grammar hosted to the Belfast Metropolitan College team in a midweek friendly, and using an extended squad the home team’s recent good form continued with a foreshortened match 43-5.
Zack Kerr had a fine game Bangor, contributing no less than 28 points with four tries and four successful conversions. Jamie Fulton, Lewis Brett and Chris Goldthorpe each scored tries in a comprehensive, morale-boosting Bangor win.
SULLIVAN UPPER 7 – 2 RBAI
Sullivan Upper went down by 22-7 in Holywood to RBAI in a 1st XV friendly on Saturday.
Belfast ‘Inst’ built up a 10-7 lead in a closely-contested first half, and the visitors went on to secure their win with a dominant second half performance.
Michael Lowry gave ‘Inst’ a 3-0 lead with an early penalty kick, then Mark Keane then ran in for a try which Lowry converted for a 10-0 advantage.
Sullivan came back strongly and its enterprising approach saw it spend a lot of time in the opposition ‘22’. The home team turned down a potential scoring opportunity from a penalty opting to keep the ball in hand and was rewarded when Michael Houston scrambled over for a try improved by Rory Kilpatrick.
Ahead 10-7 at the start of the second half ‘Inst’ controlled territory and possession for long periods, during which Charley Fryers rumbled over for a try converted by James Hume for a 17-7 lead.
And RBAI sealed its 22-7 victory when Neil Saulters touched down for an unconverted try in the closing moments.
GROSVENOR GS 8 – 7 RAINEY
In a closely-contested friendly on Saturday Grosvenor Grammar made home advantage count with an 8-7 win over Rainey Endowed.
Rainey took a 7-0 lead in the first half when a familiar figure on the score sheet, Lorcan Quinn, ran in for a try which he converted.
As conditions worsened in the second half Rainey appeared to fall off the pace off the game and Grosvenor capitalised to score a try through Jack Mahon, then Daniel Martin landed a penalty for an 8-7 lead.
Rainey Endowed scorned a penalty chance in the closing minutes, instead opting to keep the ball in play, but determined Grosvenor defence turned the ball over to secure a hard earned 8-7 victory over the Magherafelt visitors.
METHODIST COLLEGE 24 – 7 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS, MONKSTOWN
Methodist College played Christian Brother’s College, Monkstown, in Dublin and recorded a good 24-7 win on Saturday.
Methody scored four tries, two of which were converted. Zach Jordan ‘capped’ a fine personal performance with two tries, while Alex Cairns and Mattie Loane each crossed for tries, and Paul Kerr was successful with two conversions.
There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield game, an Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup game and a series of Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup and Plate games played during the week leading to a list of Medallion Shield and 1st XV games played on Saturday.
But on Saturday the toll taken by the conditions was considerable. In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield the games involving Royal School Armagh and Down High; and Limavady Grammar and Larne Grammar School were postponed. Both have been rescheduled for Tuesday, 19th January.
Also due to be given new dates are the Medallion Shield games involving Ballymena Academy and Friends’ School, Lisburn; Portora Royal School against Banbridge Academy; and the tie between Rainey Endowed and Regent House.
The Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup game between Ballymena Academy and Bangor Grammar School was also postponed.
And at 1st XV level the rain, snow and ice put paid to an intriguing tranche of friendlies: Limavady GS v Sligo Grammar, Cambridge House v Omagh Academy, Portora RS v Carrickfergus GS, Wallace High v Blackrock College, Belfast Royal Academy v Portadown College, Dalriada v Friends’, Regent House v Down HS, Campbell College v St Andrew’s College, Dublin, and RS Dungannon v Banbridge Academy.
CUP AND SHIELD ACTION
But back to the action that did go ahead last week, and on Tuesday in the Medallion Shield replay Friends’ School, Lisburn, defeated Cambridge House 15-11.
On Wednesday, in the Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup, Down HS emerged emphatic 30-5 winners over Regent House. That same afternoon Methodist College, Belfast 3rd XV beat old rivals RBAI Fifths 45-8 in the 3rd XV Cup.
In the 3rd XV Plate Ballyclare High School beat Methody Fifths 46-19, while BRA Fourths lost 54-0 to Ballyclare Secondary School’s First XV.
Despite the difficult conditions on Saturday a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup, 3rd XV Cup, Medallion Shield and Trophy games were played.
In the 2nd XV Cup replay Dalriada travelled to Lurgan College and returned north with a 24-12 victory, and will now play the RBAI in the next round.
In the 3rd XV Cup Sullivan Upper 3rdxv beat RBAI 3rds 17-10, though the Belfast ‘Inst’ 4th XV had an impressive 34-5 win over Campbell College Thirds in the same competition.
In the Danske Bank Medallion Shield Portadown College defeated Dalriada School by 8-0, the Portadown captain Dylan Nelson scoring a try and kicking a penalty.
Also in the Shield RS Dungannon had a hard-earned 12-5 win at Bangor GS, based on a fine all-round performance, particularly from the pack. Joshua Clarke scored two tries, one of which Luke McMullan converted.
In the Medallion Trophy preliminary round Antrim GS made the trip to Strabane Academy worthwhile with a 45-5 victory.
BANGOR GS 43 – 5 BELFAST MET
Bangor Grammar hosted to the Belfast Metropolitan College team in a midweek friendly, and using an extended squad the home team’s recent good form continued with a foreshortened match 43-5.
Zack Kerr had a fine game Bangor, contributing no less than 28 points with four tries and four successful conversions. Jamie Fulton, Lewis Brett and Chris Goldthorpe each scored tries in a comprehensive, morale-boosting Bangor win.
SULLIVAN UPPER 7 – 2 RBAI
Sullivan Upper went down by 22-7 in Holywood to RBAI in a 1st XV friendly on Saturday.
Belfast ‘Inst’ built up a 10-7 lead in a closely-contested first half, and the visitors went on to secure their win with a dominant second half performance.
Michael Lowry gave ‘Inst’ a 3-0 lead with an early penalty kick, then Mark Keane then ran in for a try which Lowry converted for a 10-0 advantage.
Sullivan came back strongly and its enterprising approach saw it spend a lot of time in the opposition ‘22’. The home team turned down a potential scoring opportunity from a penalty opting to keep the ball in hand and was rewarded when Michael Houston scrambled over for a try improved by Rory Kilpatrick.
Ahead 10-7 at the start of the second half ‘Inst’ controlled territory and possession for long periods, during which Charley Fryers rumbled over for a try converted by James Hume for a 17-7 lead.
And RBAI sealed its 22-7 victory when Neil Saulters touched down for an unconverted try in the closing moments.
GROSVENOR GS 8 – 7 RAINEY
In a closely-contested friendly on Saturday Grosvenor Grammar made home advantage count with an 8-7 win over Rainey Endowed.
Rainey took a 7-0 lead in the first half when a familiar figure on the score sheet, Lorcan Quinn, ran in for a try which he converted.
As conditions worsened in the second half Rainey appeared to fall off the pace off the game and Grosvenor capitalised to score a try through Jack Mahon, then Daniel Martin landed a penalty for an 8-7 lead.
Rainey Endowed scorned a penalty chance in the closing minutes, instead opting to keep the ball in play, but determined Grosvenor defence turned the ball over to secure a hard earned 8-7 victory over the Magherafelt visitors.
METHODIST COLLEGE 24 – 7 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS, MONKSTOWN
Methodist College played Christian Brother’s College, Monkstown, in Dublin and recorded a good 24-7 win on Saturday.
Methody scored four tries, two of which were converted. Zach Jordan ‘capped’ a fine personal performance with two tries, while Alex Cairns and Mattie Loane each crossed for tries, and Paul Kerr was successful with two conversions.