Due to the inclement weather on Saturday 20th January, a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup games were postponed until mid-week.
Wednesday 24th January (Kick-off 1.00pm)
Omagh Academy v Bangor Grammar School
Omagh Academy will play Bangor Grammar School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. This game will see both teams begin their 2017/18 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ campaigns and a large crowd will be expected to watch the game at the Campsie Playing Fields.
The Omagh Academy team is coached by Ross Hunter, who continues to receive assistance from Alistair Brown, Jonny Lagan and Ryan Mitchell. Never far away from coming forward with advice to the Omagh Academy players and coaches is Jackie Reid, a veteran who has been involved in the coaching of many Omagh Academy Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigns. Some say that Jackie has been involved in coaching the current group of Omagh Academy players, their fathers and indeed one or two of their grandfathers!! The Omagh Academy team is captained by Glenn McKinley, who was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squad earlier in the season as were his Omagh Academy colleagues, Jake McCay and Robbie Sproule. It has been a season of mixed results for the Omagh Academy squad but the players will see their forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Bangor Grammar School as the ideal opportunity just to show the talent there is in the ranks of the Omagh Academy team. Troy Booth is the top try scorer for the Omagh Academy team this season while Taine Lagan has been the top points scorer. Getting players such as Taine and Philip Rainey back from long lay-offs will be key to the Omagh Academy team progressing in the current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
The Bangor Grammar School team contains a lot of talented players in their ranks. Coached by Jason Morgan, the Bangor Grammar School team is captained by Zach Kerr. Zach was involved with the Ulster U19 team during their Inter-Provincial series of games earlier in the season. Alongside Zach, in a very talented Bangor Grammar School back line, is Aaron Sexton. Aaron played with an Ireland U18 squad last season and is in line for Ireland Schools’ U18 honours this season. He played a leading role in the success of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team during their Inter-Provincial series earlier in the season. Whilst Aaron has gained most of his representative rugby honours as a winger he has also featured in the centre for the Bangor Grammar School team and might even be seen playing at outhalf in the course of the current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Aaron is also a Commonwealth Youth Games Gold Medal sprint champion and he will need to be monitored closely by the Omagh Academy defence. Both Zach and Aaron are the leading try scorers for the Bangor Grammar School team this season. Interestingly, both Zach’s father, Chris, and Aaron’s father Roger, played in the last Bangor Grammar School team to have won the Ulster Schools’ Cup back in 1988. How the sons would love to emulate the success of the fathers thirty years on!! Ben McCrossan was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team earlier in the season while Gareth Bell and Riley Westwood have been involved with U17 Ulster Schools’ Development squads. Daniel Young is a very effective full back who is also a very fine place kicker. This Bangor Grammar School team feels this could be their year and will be going all-out to make a good start to their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
Wednesday 24th January (Kick-off 2.30pm)
Rainey Endowed v Portadown College
Rainey Endowed School will play their second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup fixture at home when they play Portadown College.
Over the years all Rainey Endowed School teams have proven difficult to beat at home in the Ulster Schools’ Cup and the 2017/18 squad will aim to continue that tradition. They got off to a positive start when they defeated Belfast High School in the previous round. They are at home to a team they have already beaten earlier in the season and would have every right to see themselves as favourites to win this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 tie.
The Rainey Endowed School team, coached by Chris Campbell, who receives great assistance from Jeremy Hastings and Stu McCalmond, is captained by Adam Thornton. Adam can call upon the services of some very talented players. Bryan Hall is the top try scorer and the reliable boot of Harry Evans earns him the right to be top points scorer. Bryn Davies played on the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools' U18 team with David Dripps playing a leading role in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' U17 squad. The talents of all these players shone through in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Bryn Davies, in particular, impressed with his fine performance which saw him score a hat trick of tries in the course of that game. Karl Warner, Jack Bresland and Ciaran Doyle all scored tries in the course of that game as well and they will be hoping for more of the same when they meet the Portadown College team in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
The Portadown College team started their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 game against Limavady Grammar school in a somewhat nervy way. It took a little time for the players to adapt to the demands of Schools’ Cup rugby. However, once the nerves settled, the Portadown College team went on to record an impressive win against a very spirited Limavady Grammar School team. The Portadown College team is coached by Andrew Symington, who is assisted by Paul Heasley. Team captain, Matthew Neill, impressed with his leadership skills in the previous round. He will need to have those skills finely honed as he prepares to lead his team into the 3rd round encounter against the Rainey Endowed School team. Adam Speers displayed great game management skills in the second half of the game against Limavady Grammar School. He will need a repeat performance for the entire game against the Rainey Endowed School team if the Portadown College team is to come away with anything from this game. Christopher Thornberry, Daniel Moorcroft, Brett and Drew Fleck and Dylan Nelson are talented players on the Portadown College team. They gained a lot from their experiences in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 encounter with Limavady Grammar School. They will need to build on those positive experiences when they line up to face a very confident Rainey Endowed School team in the 3rd Round.
Wednesday 24th January (Kick-off 2.30pm)
Coleraine Grammar School v Friends' School, Lisburn
Coleraine Grammar School met Friends’ School, Lisburn at a similar stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup last season. They drew the first game in Lisburn and then lost the replay at home. That defeat will spur the Coleraine Grammar School squad on and they will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter as an opportunity to right what many of the players concerned saw as a wrong! While results have not always gone their way this season the Coleraine Grammar School team will see themselves as clear favourites to win this game.
The Coleraine Grammar School team is coached by Richard Boyd who uses Michael Ferguson as his forward’s coach and Mikey Poskitt who works with the backs. The squad is captained by Callum Beggs and he is charge of an experienced squad of players, Vice-Captain, Max Baillie, was involved with the Ulster U19 squad earlier in the season although injury prevented him from playing in the Inter Provincial series. Max has returned to full fitness and this will be seen as a great boost for his colleagues. David Brown played on the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team and Oscar Egan was involved with that extended squad. The Coleraine Grammar School squad has three Year 12 players, nine Year 13 and eleven Year 14 players in the ranks. Their key forward players are Max Baillie in the 2nd Row and Calum Beggs and David Brown in the back row. Max is a real lineout target and ball carrier while Calum is a very clever player at the breakdown. David is another strong ball carrier who loves to take things forward from the base of the scrum. In the backs the key performers are the midfield trio of Pierce Crowe, Ross Moore and Andrew White. Pierce displays good game management skills and is an excellent place kicker. He is the top points scorer for the Coleraine team this season. Ross and Andrew form a very competent centre partnership which is very strong in defence and can run very strong lines in attack. They will all test the Friends’ School team in the course of this eagerly anticipated Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team started the season strongly but injuries to key players have somewhat halted their progress in recent weeks. The Friends’ School team is coached by Stephen Robinson, who receives great assistance from Norman Gamble. Norman has been coaching rugby at Friends’ School for his entire career and his knowledge of the game has been off great benefit to generations of players coming through the school. Hugh McCaughey, another person who has been assisting the coaches at Friends’ School over many years, brings a wealth of experience for the players while Peter Weir looks after the S&C aspects of preparation. The loss of team captain, George Pringle, to injury has been a major blow for the Friends’ School squad. However, Ross Stewart has stood in as captain and he has gained the respect of his players as well as the coaching staff for the leadership qualities he has shown in testing times. Ben McCaughey was a member of the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team while Bradley Mulholland came close to selection with that squad. Ben, Ross and Stewart are the leading try scorers for the Friends’ School team with Ben’s place kicking abilities enabling him to be the top points scorer this season. Reece Malone, Jack Harte, Ross Stewart and Stuart Patterson have been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 Development squad and all these players will need to be monitored closely by the Coleraine Grammar School defence if there is not to be a major shock in terms of the result at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match.
Thursday 25th January (Kick-off 1.30pm)
Cambridge House v Regent House
Cambridge House Grammar School worked hard before they overcame a determined Banbridge Academy team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup when the teams met under the lights at Eaton Park in early January.
The Cambridge House team, coached by John Nicholl, who receives great assistance from Chris Smyth, Adrian Hamilton, Stephen Mulholland, Jamie Smyth and Josh McIlroy, will take a positive outlook into their 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against a re-vitalised Regent House team as they have recorded some impressive victories in the course of the season so far. Despite losing very narrowly to Regent House earlier in the season the Cambridge House team feels it is their turn to record an overdue victory. The team captain is captained by No 8, Jack Wilson, who is also their leading try scorer. He leads a relatively young squad of players with ten Year 12 starters in the ranks. Jack has led his team to nine wins, one draw and eight losses thus far this season. He will be encouraging his players to display confidence in their abilities and go all for the win in this game. Sam Millar is the top points scorer for the Cambridge House team and the Regent House team will need to be disciplined if they are to deny Sam the opportunity to display his kicking skills. Curtis Henry is a young player who has caught the eyes of the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department and his progress will be monitored closely. Kane McIlroy, Peter Munce, Andrew Wilson and Rhys Ervine are other Cambridge House players who have been among the try scorers this season. They will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game as an opportunity to add some more tries against their names.
The Regent House team, coached by Nick Gamble, Mervyn Tweed and Neil Dougan, who looks after the Strength and Conditioning of the players, is captained by the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' U18 player, Robbie Johnston. They have experienced many difficulties in the course of the current season but feel that, given a fair wind, they can be competitive against anyone on their day. They were competitive against the Carrickfergus Grammar School team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and emerged with their confidence enhanced following that encounter. Robbie Johnston, Jack Smith, Ethan McFerran, Aaron Migan and Stuart Martin have been the top try scorers for the Regent House team with the trusty boot of Robbie Johnston elevating him to the rank of top points scorer this season. Robbie was selected to attend a recent Ireland Schools'/Clubs' U 18 camp in Dublin putting him in line for selection for a team scheduled to play the England Home Counties over two games later in the season. The Cambridge House Grammar School team will need to monitor him closely. Will Hopes was involved with the Ulster Schools' U17 squad earlier in the season and there are high hopes for this young player as well. Matthew Foster, the Regent House No 8, has played cricket for Irish Schools and will bring a competitive edge to this game. Beaten in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl last season the Regent House team will be hoping to keep their competitive season progressing in a positive manner at the end of this 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup match.
Wednesday 24th January (Kick-off 1.00pm)
Omagh Academy v Bangor Grammar School
Omagh Academy will play Bangor Grammar School in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. This game will see both teams begin their 2017/18 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ campaigns and a large crowd will be expected to watch the game at the Campsie Playing Fields.
The Omagh Academy team is coached by Ross Hunter, who continues to receive assistance from Alistair Brown, Jonny Lagan and Ryan Mitchell. Never far away from coming forward with advice to the Omagh Academy players and coaches is Jackie Reid, a veteran who has been involved in the coaching of many Omagh Academy Ulster Schools’ Cup campaigns. Some say that Jackie has been involved in coaching the current group of Omagh Academy players, their fathers and indeed one or two of their grandfathers!! The Omagh Academy team is captained by Glenn McKinley, who was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squad earlier in the season as were his Omagh Academy colleagues, Jake McCay and Robbie Sproule. It has been a season of mixed results for the Omagh Academy squad but the players will see their forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against Bangor Grammar School as the ideal opportunity just to show the talent there is in the ranks of the Omagh Academy team. Troy Booth is the top try scorer for the Omagh Academy team this season while Taine Lagan has been the top points scorer. Getting players such as Taine and Philip Rainey back from long lay-offs will be key to the Omagh Academy team progressing in the current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
The Bangor Grammar School team contains a lot of talented players in their ranks. Coached by Jason Morgan, the Bangor Grammar School team is captained by Zach Kerr. Zach was involved with the Ulster U19 team during their Inter-Provincial series of games earlier in the season. Alongside Zach, in a very talented Bangor Grammar School back line, is Aaron Sexton. Aaron played with an Ireland U18 squad last season and is in line for Ireland Schools’ U18 honours this season. He played a leading role in the success of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team during their Inter-Provincial series earlier in the season. Whilst Aaron has gained most of his representative rugby honours as a winger he has also featured in the centre for the Bangor Grammar School team and might even be seen playing at outhalf in the course of the current Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Aaron is also a Commonwealth Youth Games Gold Medal sprint champion and he will need to be monitored closely by the Omagh Academy defence. Both Zach and Aaron are the leading try scorers for the Bangor Grammar School team this season. Interestingly, both Zach’s father, Chris, and Aaron’s father Roger, played in the last Bangor Grammar School team to have won the Ulster Schools’ Cup back in 1988. How the sons would love to emulate the success of the fathers thirty years on!! Ben McCrossan was involved with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team earlier in the season while Gareth Bell and Riley Westwood have been involved with U17 Ulster Schools’ Development squads. Daniel Young is a very effective full back who is also a very fine place kicker. This Bangor Grammar School team feels this could be their year and will be going all-out to make a good start to their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign.
Wednesday 24th January (Kick-off 2.30pm)
Rainey Endowed v Portadown College
Rainey Endowed School will play their second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup fixture at home when they play Portadown College.
Over the years all Rainey Endowed School teams have proven difficult to beat at home in the Ulster Schools’ Cup and the 2017/18 squad will aim to continue that tradition. They got off to a positive start when they defeated Belfast High School in the previous round. They are at home to a team they have already beaten earlier in the season and would have every right to see themselves as favourites to win this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 tie.
The Rainey Endowed School team, coached by Chris Campbell, who receives great assistance from Jeremy Hastings and Stu McCalmond, is captained by Adam Thornton. Adam can call upon the services of some very talented players. Bryan Hall is the top try scorer and the reliable boot of Harry Evans earns him the right to be top points scorer. Bryn Davies played on the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools' U18 team with David Dripps playing a leading role in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' U17 squad. The talents of all these players shone through in the previous round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Bryn Davies, in particular, impressed with his fine performance which saw him score a hat trick of tries in the course of that game. Karl Warner, Jack Bresland and Ciaran Doyle all scored tries in the course of that game as well and they will be hoping for more of the same when they meet the Portadown College team in the 3rd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup.
The Portadown College team started their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 game against Limavady Grammar school in a somewhat nervy way. It took a little time for the players to adapt to the demands of Schools’ Cup rugby. However, once the nerves settled, the Portadown College team went on to record an impressive win against a very spirited Limavady Grammar School team. The Portadown College team is coached by Andrew Symington, who is assisted by Paul Heasley. Team captain, Matthew Neill, impressed with his leadership skills in the previous round. He will need to have those skills finely honed as he prepares to lead his team into the 3rd round encounter against the Rainey Endowed School team. Adam Speers displayed great game management skills in the second half of the game against Limavady Grammar School. He will need a repeat performance for the entire game against the Rainey Endowed School team if the Portadown College team is to come away with anything from this game. Christopher Thornberry, Daniel Moorcroft, Brett and Drew Fleck and Dylan Nelson are talented players on the Portadown College team. They gained a lot from their experiences in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 2 encounter with Limavady Grammar School. They will need to build on those positive experiences when they line up to face a very confident Rainey Endowed School team in the 3rd Round.
Wednesday 24th January (Kick-off 2.30pm)
Coleraine Grammar School v Friends' School, Lisburn
Coleraine Grammar School met Friends’ School, Lisburn at a similar stage of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup last season. They drew the first game in Lisburn and then lost the replay at home. That defeat will spur the Coleraine Grammar School squad on and they will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup encounter as an opportunity to right what many of the players concerned saw as a wrong! While results have not always gone their way this season the Coleraine Grammar School team will see themselves as clear favourites to win this game.
The Coleraine Grammar School team is coached by Richard Boyd who uses Michael Ferguson as his forward’s coach and Mikey Poskitt who works with the backs. The squad is captained by Callum Beggs and he is charge of an experienced squad of players, Vice-Captain, Max Baillie, was involved with the Ulster U19 squad earlier in the season although injury prevented him from playing in the Inter Provincial series. Max has returned to full fitness and this will be seen as a great boost for his colleagues. David Brown played on the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team and Oscar Egan was involved with that extended squad. The Coleraine Grammar School squad has three Year 12 players, nine Year 13 and eleven Year 14 players in the ranks. Their key forward players are Max Baillie in the 2nd Row and Calum Beggs and David Brown in the back row. Max is a real lineout target and ball carrier while Calum is a very clever player at the breakdown. David is another strong ball carrier who loves to take things forward from the base of the scrum. In the backs the key performers are the midfield trio of Pierce Crowe, Ross Moore and Andrew White. Pierce displays good game management skills and is an excellent place kicker. He is the top points scorer for the Coleraine team this season. Ross and Andrew form a very competent centre partnership which is very strong in defence and can run very strong lines in attack. They will all test the Friends’ School team in the course of this eagerly anticipated Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team started the season strongly but injuries to key players have somewhat halted their progress in recent weeks. The Friends’ School team is coached by Stephen Robinson, who receives great assistance from Norman Gamble. Norman has been coaching rugby at Friends’ School for his entire career and his knowledge of the game has been off great benefit to generations of players coming through the school. Hugh McCaughey, another person who has been assisting the coaches at Friends’ School over many years, brings a wealth of experience for the players while Peter Weir looks after the S&C aspects of preparation. The loss of team captain, George Pringle, to injury has been a major blow for the Friends’ School squad. However, Ross Stewart has stood in as captain and he has gained the respect of his players as well as the coaching staff for the leadership qualities he has shown in testing times. Ben McCaughey was a member of the successful Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team while Bradley Mulholland came close to selection with that squad. Ben, Ross and Stewart are the leading try scorers for the Friends’ School team with Ben’s place kicking abilities enabling him to be the top points scorer this season. Reece Malone, Jack Harte, Ross Stewart and Stuart Patterson have been involved with the Ulster Schools’ U17 Development squad and all these players will need to be monitored closely by the Coleraine Grammar School defence if there is not to be a major shock in terms of the result at the end of this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup match.
Thursday 25th January (Kick-off 1.30pm)
Cambridge House v Regent House
Cambridge House Grammar School worked hard before they overcame a determined Banbridge Academy team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup when the teams met under the lights at Eaton Park in early January.
The Cambridge House team, coached by John Nicholl, who receives great assistance from Chris Smyth, Adrian Hamilton, Stephen Mulholland, Jamie Smyth and Josh McIlroy, will take a positive outlook into their 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup game against a re-vitalised Regent House team as they have recorded some impressive victories in the course of the season so far. Despite losing very narrowly to Regent House earlier in the season the Cambridge House team feels it is their turn to record an overdue victory. The team captain is captained by No 8, Jack Wilson, who is also their leading try scorer. He leads a relatively young squad of players with ten Year 12 starters in the ranks. Jack has led his team to nine wins, one draw and eight losses thus far this season. He will be encouraging his players to display confidence in their abilities and go all for the win in this game. Sam Millar is the top points scorer for the Cambridge House team and the Regent House team will need to be disciplined if they are to deny Sam the opportunity to display his kicking skills. Curtis Henry is a young player who has caught the eyes of the Ulster Rugby Talent ID Department and his progress will be monitored closely. Kane McIlroy, Peter Munce, Andrew Wilson and Rhys Ervine are other Cambridge House players who have been among the try scorers this season. They will see this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round game as an opportunity to add some more tries against their names.
The Regent House team, coached by Nick Gamble, Mervyn Tweed and Neil Dougan, who looks after the Strength and Conditioning of the players, is captained by the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' U18 player, Robbie Johnston. They have experienced many difficulties in the course of the current season but feel that, given a fair wind, they can be competitive against anyone on their day. They were competitive against the Carrickfergus Grammar School team in the 2nd Round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and emerged with their confidence enhanced following that encounter. Robbie Johnston, Jack Smith, Ethan McFerran, Aaron Migan and Stuart Martin have been the top try scorers for the Regent House team with the trusty boot of Robbie Johnston elevating him to the rank of top points scorer this season. Robbie was selected to attend a recent Ireland Schools'/Clubs' U 18 camp in Dublin putting him in line for selection for a team scheduled to play the England Home Counties over two games later in the season. The Cambridge House Grammar School team will need to monitor him closely. Will Hopes was involved with the Ulster Schools' U17 squad earlier in the season and there are high hopes for this young player as well. Matthew Foster, the Regent House No 8, has played cricket for Irish Schools and will bring a competitive edge to this game. Beaten in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl last season the Regent House team will be hoping to keep their competitive season progressing in a positive manner at the end of this 3rd Round Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup match.