Danske Bank 3XV Cup
On Wednesday 20 November, five Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup Round 1 games took place.
Banbridge Academy 3XV played Methodist College 5XV, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3XV hosted Campbell College 4XV, Foyle 3XV played Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4XV, Methodist College 4XV played Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5XV and Omagh Academy 3XV entertained Regent House School 3XV.
The results of these games are as follows:
- Banbridge Academy 3XV 14 – 45 Methodist College 5XV
- Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3XV 0 – 19 Campbell College 4XV
- Foyle College 3XV 21 – 55 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4XV
- Methodist College 4XV 31 – 10 Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5XV
- Omagh Academy 3XV 29 – 7 Regent House 3XV
On Thursday 21 November, Wallace High School 4XV hosted Sullivan Upper School 3XV in their Round 1 game.
At the end of this game the scoreboard read 15 – 10 to Wallace.
On Friday 22 November, Carndonagh Community College, on the Inishowen Peninsula, Co Donegal, was scheduled to have played Ballyclare High School 3XV in their Round 1 game.
However, this fixture fell victim to the weather conditions and has been rescheduled for Monday 25 November.
Friendlies
On the Friday 22 November, Friends’ School Lisburn was scheduled to have played Banbridge Academy.
This fixture fell victim to the prevailing weather conditions as did the fixture featuring Ballymena Academy and Belfast Royal Academy.
Later that afternoon, Upritchard Park, home of Bangor RFC, was the venue when Bangor Grammar School played Down High School.
The result of this game was Bangor Grammar School 12 Down High School 31.
Bangor Grammar started the game strongly and built up an early 12-0 lead with tries from Cal Banyard and Rory Fulton, with Adam Bickerstaff adding one successful conversion.
After this Down High started to take control of both territory and possession.
Five unanswered tries from Lewis Connolly, with two, Ben Spiers, Jacob Bradshaw and Ethan Whyte, three of which were converted by Josh McCaughey, accounted for the Down High School tally.
Both teams, and their coaches, would like to thank Bangor RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
On the same evening, Stevenson Park, home of Dungannon FC, was the venue when Royal School Dungannon entertained Dromore High School.
Royal School Dungannon won this game by 21-7.
Blake Redmond scored two Royal School Dungannon tries with Ben Lowey touching down for a third. James Gibson had a successful game off the tee and added all three successful conversions.
Both teams, and their coaches, would like to thank Dungannon FC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
Meanwhile, at Newforge Country Club, Sullivan Upper School and Royal School Armagh played out a three-session training game scenario. This structure gave both coaches the opportunity to use extended squads of players.
Players such as Sam Harper, Jake Scott, Nathan Noble, Hamish Johnston and Jack Law stood out for the Sullivan Upper School squad while players such as Will Boyd, James Reid, Charlie Reaney, James Reid and Harry Dougan stood out for the Royal School Armagh squad.
A series of 1XV friendly games was scheduled to have taken place on Saturday 23 November.
However, all these games, including the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup Round 2 game, involving Omagh Academy and Friends’ School, Lisburn, were either postponed or cancelled due to the prevailing weather conditions.,
The friendly games which were not played were Carrickfergus Grammar School v Cambridge House Grammar School, Coleraine Grammar School v Rainey Endowed School, Dalriada School v Antrim Grammar School, Larne Grammar School v Grosvenor Grammar School, Methodist College, Belfast v Clongowes Wood College, Omagh Academy v Foyle College, Regent House School v Wallace High School and Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Campbell College.