Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 Results

On Saturday 15^th December the two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 1 games were played. Antrim Grammar School 10 Carrickfergus Grammar School 24 The Antrim Grammar School team started the game in a very positive manner and had built up an early 10-0 lead after only a few minutes play. Ross Mackay broke away from his own 22m area and left a trail of despairing defenders in his wake before touching down for a try. Callum Hull added the extras to give the Antrim Grammar School team a 7-0 lead. This became 10-0 when Callum converted a penalty opportunity. The Carrickfergus Grammar School team gradually worked their way back into the game following the early setbacks. Their pack started to gain ascendancy and Josh Ervine crashed over the Antrim Grammar School line to score an unconverted try and reduce the deficit to 10-5. Early in the second half Liam Kaprigiannis-Green touched down for a try, which Daniel Curley converted, to give the Carrickfergus GS team a 12-10 lead. Daniel Curley made good use of the wind advantage and his game management skills shone through. A period of concerted Carrickfergus Grammar School pressure forced the Antrim Grammar School team into conceding possession in their 22m area. Ellis Bradley took full advantage of this and ran in for a try, one again converted by Daniel Curley, to extend the Carrickfergus Grammar School lead to 19-10. With the prevailing conditions worsening Josh Ervine secured possession before touching down for an unconverted try which ensured the Carrickfergus Grammar School team recorded a 24-10 win at the no-side whistle. Despite the difficult weather conditions both teams really stepped up to the mark in terms of their standard of play. Callum Hull, Callum McComb, Ethan McGarry, Jack Craig, Stewart Smyth and Adam Carville all impressed for the Antrim Grammar School team. Daniel Curley, Jack Dick, Ellis Bradley, Adam Anthony, Josh Ervine and Liam Kiprigiannis-Green were the leading lights in terms of performance in a very committed Carrickfergus Grammar School team. Strabane Academy 21 Wellington College, Belfast 17 That doyen of the Ulster Society of Rugby Football Referees, Mark Orr, was refereeing in his 31^st consecutive Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign when he officiated at the Strabane Academy v Wellington College, Belfast game. Despite being played in dreadful conditions the players on both teams put in splendidly combative cup performances before the Strabane Academy team emerged as 21-17 winners. The Strabane Academy team had built up a 21-10 lead by the interval and had to put in a big defensive performance in the second half when they had to thwart wave after wave of Wellington College attacks. The Strabane Academy points came through tries in the first half from Reuben Orr, who took full advantage of great work from his pack after a lineout, Nicky Sayers, who touched down following Finn Hampton charging down a Wellington College clearance kick and Gavin Doherty, who ran straight and hard at the Wellington College defence. Harry McCrossan was successful with all three conversion kicks. The Wellington College, Belfast points, in the first half of the game, came through unconverted tries from Chris Campbell and Marcus Smyth. The second half saw the Wellington College team dominate the game in terms of possession and territory. However, the Strabane Academy defence restricted the Wellington College team to just one more try. No 8, Adam Savage, picked the ball from the base of a scrum and powered over from 15 metres out. Marcus Smyth added the conversion to see the scoreboard reading Strabane Academy 21 Wellington College, Belfast 17 at the end of the game. --- 2018/19 DANSKE BANK ULSTER SCHOOLS’ CUP ROUND 1 Antrim Grammar 10 Carrickfergus Grammar 24 Strabane Academy 21 Wellington College 17 Games to be played on Saturday 15th December 2018. ROUND 2 Limavady Grammar v Larne Grammar Grosvenor Grammar v Friends’ School Cambridge House v Banbridge Academy Lurgan College v Foyle College Dromore HS v Regent House Carrickfergus Grammar v Down HS Belfast HS v Strabane Academy Games to be played on Saturday 12th January 2019. ROUND 3 The seven winners from Round 2 will be joined in the Round 3 draw by: Ballyclare High School, Bangor Grammar School, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Grammar School, Dalriada School, Omagh Academy, Portadown College, Rainey Endowed School and Royal School Dungannon. Games to be played on Saturday 26th January 2019. ROUND 4 The eight winners from Round 3 will be joined in the Round 4 draw by: Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Methodist College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Royal School Armagh, Sullivan Upper School and Wallace High School. Games to be played on Saturday 9th February 2019. QUARTER-FINALS Games to be played on Saturday 23rd February 2019. SEMI-FINALS Tuesday 5th March 2019, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium. Wednesday 6th March 2019, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium. FINAL Monday 18th March 2019, 3.00pm at Kingspan Stadium.