Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Preview: Saturday 16 Nov 2019

Barney McGonigle previews the key tie for this week’s schools’ fixture… Following a recent review of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, there are twelve Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group matches scheduled to be played on Wednesday 13, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November. Twenty four teams competed in the first set of twelve group games on Wednesday 16, Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October. Each of the twenty four teams will play two more group games over two weekends in November (16) and December (7) with the six group winners, and four highest placed runners up, joining the six schools who are exempted from the group games, in the last sixteen of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Those six schools are Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Belfast, Methodist College, Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Royal School, Armagh and Wallace High School. The remaining teams will be joined by the winners and runners up of the Tier 4 competition to compete in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition. The “Tie of the Round” on Saturday 16 November would appear to be the West of the Bann “Derby” game, involving two of the original five Royal Schools in the province, when Enniskillen Royal Grammar School will host Royal School, Dungannon. Both teams won their opening games on 19 October in a very comfortable manner. The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School maintained their free-flowing attacking attitude that they have displayed all season in their opening Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group game against Portadown College. Coached by Ashley Finlay, Stewart McCain and Alastair Keys the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team has impressed seasoned observers of the schools’ game in Ulster this season with their flair and determination to play the game with the ball in hand. They have scored quite a few tries in the twelve games they have played and the Royal School, Dungannon defence will have to be in top form when the teams meet. Captained by their impressive centre, Robbie Mills, who is also Head Boy of the school, the team has won seven of their ten games played this season. Sam Balfour is the leading try-scorer with outside half, Eddie Keys, their leading points scorer. His ability off the tee is probably unsurpassed in Ulster Schools’ Rugby this season. His twin brother, Henry, is a hard-working flanker and both boys have gained a lot from the expert coaching provided by their father, Alistair. Callum Smyton, David Stinson, Neil Rutledge and Stuart Brown have all gained experience through their involvement with Ulster Age Grade squads this season and that experience has shone through with their displays for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team this season. The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School coaching team is very happy with the introduction of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup group stages which they feel gives a competitive edge to traditional fixtures played pre-Christmas. It has also introduced the opportunity of playing school teams that the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School players would usually not encounter. The coaches also feel it is easier to keep their players focused on short-term objectives in four-week blocks of games. The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School coaches and players will look forward to welcoming their Royal School, Dungannon counterparts to the Lough Shore Road venue on Saturday 16 November. The Royal School, Dungannon team has recorded a very positive set of results so far this season and their performances in recent games would suggest the players are hitting good form at just the right stage of the season. They recorded a comfortable victory against a determined Larne Grammar School team in their previous Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group game. The RS Dungannon squad will know that victory against the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team would go a long way in ensuring they would, in all likelihood, progress to the last sixteen of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Coached by the experienced trio of Gareth McClintock, Gareth Lucas and Richard Chambers the Royal School, Dungannon team is captained by Jack Girvan, their very talented out-half, who is the leading points scorer for his team this season. He is accompanied in the midfield of the team by his brother, James, and they form two vital parts of what is a very talented RS Dungannon back line. Jack has the ability to create space for his fellow backs and both Jack and James have assisted, on many occasions, their talented winger, Jonathan McCammond, with his impressive try scoring exploits. Jonathan has been a key finisher and leading try scorer for the team and has secured a couple of hat tricks of tries already this season. Should James and Jack require any family advice regarding playing at schoolboy level, there should be no shortage as Dad, Andrew, played for Ulster Schools’ while Uncle Ian played for, and captained, Ireland Schools. The Royal School, Dungannon pack has seen the return to play of Thomas Burns, a Deputy Head Boy in the school, from long term injury and this has strengthened the back row. Alongside Thomas is Vice- Captain, Adam Junk, who last year played in the scrum half position. This year’s scrum half, Adam Scott, has taken charge of the link between the forwards and backs, and is proving to be a dangerous player in attack as well as a hardworking defender. Logan McIlravie in the second row was also out injured for a couple of weeks but will be fully fit come the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School group match. This will strengthen the forward pack and give the team some more options for go forward possession which could be crucial in the game against the Enniskillen RGS team. At representative level there is a great deal of experience among the Royal School, Dungannon ranks. James Girvan has captained the Ulster Schools’ U17 team and Adam Scott and Jamie Allen played with the U18 Clubs’ team in the IRFU U18 Festival last summer. Michael Tate had his ability recognised when worked with Ulster Development squads during the summer period. All this experience, and more, will be required when the Royal School, Dungannon team travels to Enniskillen on Saturday 16 November. This game is scheduled to kick off at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School at 10.30am.