The first round games in the 2017/18 Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup will take place on Saturday 9th December when Wellington College, Belfast will host Belfast High School and Carrickfergus Grammar School will play Strabane Academy.
Wellington College, Belfast vs Belfast High School (Kick-off 10.00am)
The Wellington College team has experienced some difficulties in terms of positive results since the start of the season. However, in recent weeks the squad would appear to have turned the corner and seems to be hitting some good form at just the right time.
Head Coach, Peter Chambers, is able call upon the considerable experience of Latimer Adair and Gareth Montgomery to assist him with the preparation of, what is essentially, a very young Wellington College squad. The squad has only four Year 14 players involved and is captained by scrum-half, Oliver McKibbin. Oliver is about to embark upon his third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign and will be looking forward to leading his team into this home fixture against Belfast High School. In the course of the season thus far Oliver has received great support from all his players. The try scoring performances of players such as Marcus Smyth, Adam Savage, James Milligan and Chris Nevin will enable the Wellington College team to enter this game knowing that, on their day, the squad can cause what would be seen as an upset at the end of this game.
The Belfast High School team should be aware that discipline will be important as Jake Hamilton has the ability to kick penalty points from most places in the opposition half. This Wellington College, Belfast team is comprised of players who are committed to the cause. They have worked hard with their coaches and the players are keen to improve their individual, unit and team skills. They have enjoyed working hard and will be determined to see their hard work pay off in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match.
The Belfast High School team has struggled for consistency in the course of the current season. They will go into this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game knowing that only a consistently positive performance against the Wellington College team will be sufficient to see them take their place in the second round of the competition.
The Belfast High School team is coached by Michael Rainey who is assisted by David Scott and Mark Webb. These three wily campaigners will be attempting to turn around a season where it has proven difficult for their team to get anything in the way of consistency in terms of positive results. They will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game as a game their team would be expected to win.
The Belfast High School team is captained by Ryan Gibson who has led the side by example through what has been a difficult season so far. As well as leading by example Ryan has been the top try scorer for the Belfast High School team this season. He has received great support from players such as Brandon McMinn who has an eye for the opposition line as well. Brandon is also a first class place kicker and the Wellington College team will know this. The Belfast High School players always try to play an attractive brand of flowing rugby. Paddy Johnston, Scott Hutton, Cameron McKimm, Ewan Watson and Jack Love will hope they get the chance to do so in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game.
Carrickfergus Grammar School vs Strabane Grammar School (Kick-off 10.30am)
Carrickfergus Grammar School will play Strabane Grammar School in the second of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 games on Saturday 9th December.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team would have good reason to see themselves as favourites to win this game having recently recorded a morale boosting win against the same opposition in a friendly game. However, team coach, Neal Kennedy, who is assisted by the experienced team of Peter Martin and the effervescent Michael Dickson, will be well aware that his players would do well not to underestimate the Strabane Academy team.
The Carrickfergus Grammar school team is captained by Daniel Curley, a young player who has made a real impression in recent seasons with his ability to score tries and kick precious points. Daniel has the ability to display great game management skills and this will be required during this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game. Daniel has received great support from players such as Jack Leathem, Joshua Irvine, Craig Lindsay, Adam Gardner and David Doherty during the current season.
Like other teams in the competition the Carrickfergus Grammar School team has a limited number of Year 14 players involved with just five available for selection for this game. This has paved the way for quite a few younger players to get involved and the entire squad is looking forward to the challenges ahead. There are two sets of brothers playing in the Carrickfergus Grammar School team in Iain and Jack Dick and Tiernan and Ethan McGreevy. They will all be hoping that some ‘brotherly’ love will help in seeing the Carrickfergus Grammar School through this potentially challenging Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game.
The Strabane Academy team will take great heart from the fact that when these two teams me at the same stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition exactly one year ago it was the Strabane team that came through having recorded a notable victory.
Team coach, Niall McDonnell, who receives great support from Stephen Smyth, Steve Sargent and Adam Bratton, will encourage his players to take a positive frame of mind into this game. A number of members of the Strabane Academy squad know what it is to experience the thrill of winning a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game. They will all wish to experience the same feelings once again.
Team captain, Ralph Mealiff, is a talented player who is entering his third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. He has been the talisman for the Strabane Academy team this season and will want to show off his undoubted talents in the course of this game. Whilst he has been top points scorer for the Strabane Academy team he has received great support from players such as Jack Kee, Jack Sayers, Michael Doherty, David Shaw, Steven Shields, Gareth Glendinning and Arun Mehan throughout the current season. These players will feel that on their day they can match up to any of the other teams playing in Round 1 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
The Strabane Academy squad, accompanied by their coaching staff, went to the Brown’s Training Camp on the Algarve in Portugal. Here they had the opportunity to put in some quality time on and off the pitch. The feeling is that the Strabane Academy squad learnt a lot about the game as well as about each of their players as individuals. The players, and coaches, see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game against Carrickfergus Grammar School as the ideal opportunity to put into practice what they learnt from their training camp.
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Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Round 2 Fixtures:
(Saturday 6th January 2018)
Portadown College v Limavady Grammar School
Larne Grammar School v Lurgan College
Cambridge House Grammar School v Banbridge Academy
Carrickfergus Grammar School / Strabane Academy v Regent House
Rainey Endowed School v Wellington College / Belfast High School
Grosvenor Grammar School v Antrim Grammar School
Foyle College v Dromore High School
Wellington College, Belfast vs Belfast High School (Kick-off 10.00am)
The Wellington College team has experienced some difficulties in terms of positive results since the start of the season. However, in recent weeks the squad would appear to have turned the corner and seems to be hitting some good form at just the right time.
Head Coach, Peter Chambers, is able call upon the considerable experience of Latimer Adair and Gareth Montgomery to assist him with the preparation of, what is essentially, a very young Wellington College squad. The squad has only four Year 14 players involved and is captained by scrum-half, Oliver McKibbin. Oliver is about to embark upon his third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign and will be looking forward to leading his team into this home fixture against Belfast High School. In the course of the season thus far Oliver has received great support from all his players. The try scoring performances of players such as Marcus Smyth, Adam Savage, James Milligan and Chris Nevin will enable the Wellington College team to enter this game knowing that, on their day, the squad can cause what would be seen as an upset at the end of this game.
The Belfast High School team should be aware that discipline will be important as Jake Hamilton has the ability to kick penalty points from most places in the opposition half. This Wellington College, Belfast team is comprised of players who are committed to the cause. They have worked hard with their coaches and the players are keen to improve their individual, unit and team skills. They have enjoyed working hard and will be determined to see their hard work pay off in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match.
The Belfast High School team has struggled for consistency in the course of the current season. They will go into this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game knowing that only a consistently positive performance against the Wellington College team will be sufficient to see them take their place in the second round of the competition.
The Belfast High School team is coached by Michael Rainey who is assisted by David Scott and Mark Webb. These three wily campaigners will be attempting to turn around a season where it has proven difficult for their team to get anything in the way of consistency in terms of positive results. They will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game as a game their team would be expected to win.
The Belfast High School team is captained by Ryan Gibson who has led the side by example through what has been a difficult season so far. As well as leading by example Ryan has been the top try scorer for the Belfast High School team this season. He has received great support from players such as Brandon McMinn who has an eye for the opposition line as well. Brandon is also a first class place kicker and the Wellington College team will know this. The Belfast High School players always try to play an attractive brand of flowing rugby. Paddy Johnston, Scott Hutton, Cameron McKimm, Ewan Watson and Jack Love will hope they get the chance to do so in the course of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game.
Carrickfergus Grammar School vs Strabane Grammar School (Kick-off 10.30am)
Carrickfergus Grammar School will play Strabane Grammar School in the second of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 games on Saturday 9th December.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School team would have good reason to see themselves as favourites to win this game having recently recorded a morale boosting win against the same opposition in a friendly game. However, team coach, Neal Kennedy, who is assisted by the experienced team of Peter Martin and the effervescent Michael Dickson, will be well aware that his players would do well not to underestimate the Strabane Academy team.
The Carrickfergus Grammar school team is captained by Daniel Curley, a young player who has made a real impression in recent seasons with his ability to score tries and kick precious points. Daniel has the ability to display great game management skills and this will be required during this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game. Daniel has received great support from players such as Jack Leathem, Joshua Irvine, Craig Lindsay, Adam Gardner and David Doherty during the current season.
Like other teams in the competition the Carrickfergus Grammar School team has a limited number of Year 14 players involved with just five available for selection for this game. This has paved the way for quite a few younger players to get involved and the entire squad is looking forward to the challenges ahead. There are two sets of brothers playing in the Carrickfergus Grammar School team in Iain and Jack Dick and Tiernan and Ethan McGreevy. They will all be hoping that some ‘brotherly’ love will help in seeing the Carrickfergus Grammar School through this potentially challenging Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game.
The Strabane Academy team will take great heart from the fact that when these two teams me at the same stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup competition exactly one year ago it was the Strabane team that came through having recorded a notable victory.
Team coach, Niall McDonnell, who receives great support from Stephen Smyth, Steve Sargent and Adam Bratton, will encourage his players to take a positive frame of mind into this game. A number of members of the Strabane Academy squad know what it is to experience the thrill of winning a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game. They will all wish to experience the same feelings once again.
Team captain, Ralph Mealiff, is a talented player who is entering his third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. He has been the talisman for the Strabane Academy team this season and will want to show off his undoubted talents in the course of this game. Whilst he has been top points scorer for the Strabane Academy team he has received great support from players such as Jack Kee, Jack Sayers, Michael Doherty, David Shaw, Steven Shields, Gareth Glendinning and Arun Mehan throughout the current season. These players will feel that on their day they can match up to any of the other teams playing in Round 1 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
The Strabane Academy squad, accompanied by their coaching staff, went to the Brown’s Training Camp on the Algarve in Portugal. Here they had the opportunity to put in some quality time on and off the pitch. The feeling is that the Strabane Academy squad learnt a lot about the game as well as about each of their players as individuals. The players, and coaches, see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 game against Carrickfergus Grammar School as the ideal opportunity to put into practice what they learnt from their training camp.
---
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Round 2 Fixtures:
(Saturday 6th January 2018)
Portadown College v Limavady Grammar School
Larne Grammar School v Lurgan College
Cambridge House Grammar School v Banbridge Academy
Carrickfergus Grammar School / Strabane Academy v Regent House
Rainey Endowed School v Wellington College / Belfast High School
Grosvenor Grammar School v Antrim Grammar School
Foyle College v Dromore High School