Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
On Tuesday 25 February, Royal School Armagh and Rainey Endowed School played in the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-finals in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters.
Royal School Armagh dominated both territory and possession for long periods of time and ran out as 48-19 winners.
Led by their impressive captain, Thomas Dougan, RS Armagh scored four tries in each half of the game.
Charlie Reaney, Cameron Cummings and Will Boyd, with a brace, scored the first half tries, to which Evan Hughes added two conversions.
Evan then went on to score two tries in the second half, with Ryan Hamilton doing likewise.
Evan added one successful conversion and Adam Harrison a second successful conversion in the course of the second half.
Rainey Endowed School added a lot to the game in terms of the pace at which they played game.
Lorcan McLarnon scored a first half try which was converted by Owen O’Kane.
The second half saw the Rainey Endowed team score two further tries through Owen O’Kane and Eoin McGucken to which Owen O’Kane added one successful conversion.
On Wednesday 26 March, Wallace High School and Belfast Royal Academy played in the second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-final at the Kingspan Stadium.
A large crowd of enthusiastic supports had gathered to watch this game which ended with a scoreline of Wallace High School 28 Belfast Royal Academy 15.
Wallace scored four tries through Quinn Armstrong, their dynamic captain, Jon Rodgers, Rio McDonagh and Michael McCavery.
Josh Geddis was successful with all four of his conversion kicks.
Belfast Royal Academy contributed a lot to the game and their positive attitude was rewarded with tries from Ryan Calwel and Frank Davis.
Connor McVicker was successful with one conversion kick as well as one penalty goal.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final, featuring Royal School Armagh and Wallace High School will take place at the Kingspan Stadium on Monday March 17 at 3.00pm.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl
Monday 24 February saw Royal School Dungannon play Ballyclare High School in their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl semi-final game.
The final score in this game was Royal School Dungannon 13 Ballyclare High School 30.
The Royal School Dungannon points came through a try from Max Patterson alongside one conversion and two penalty goals from James Gibson.
The Ballyclare High School team scored four tries through Andrew Cooper, with two, Zach Thompson and Ross Ferguson.
James Woodside contributed two successful conversion kicks, as well as two penalty goals, off the tee.
On Wednesday 5 March, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl final took place at the Kingspan Stadium where Ballyclare High School played Limavady Grammar School.
Ballyclare High School won the game by 38-3, scoring five tries and kicking five conversions as well as one penalty in the process.
Austin Adair and Ben Vance touched down for two tries each with Josh Tweed running in for a fifth try.
James Woodside added the extras to all the tries and converted the penalty goal.
Limavady Grammar School started the game strongly and took an early 3-0 lead when James Laird converted a penalty kick opportunity.
Both teams were delighted to have this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl final played at the Kingspan Stadium and would like to thank all those who made it possible.
After the final whistle, Laurence Rocke, President of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Jonathan Diamond, and his team of John Adams, Jack Coyle and Nick Scott, for the way in which they controlled the game.
Laurence, alongside Aaron Ennis, Head of Specialist Business at the Danske Bank, then went on to present the finalist medals to all the players involved and the Bowl to Isaac Shiels, captain of the victorious Ballyclare High School team.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy
At Pirrie Park, Antrim Grammar School played Larne Grammar School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy.
Antrim Grammar School won the game by 22-19.
Tom McNeilly, Jonah Woolley and Eoin Byrne scored the Antrim Grammar School tries.
Isaac Lynn added the extras to two of the tries as well as converting one penalty kick.
The Larne Grammar School team was leading the game for a long period of time.
Their points came through tries from Ryan McDowell, with a brace and Max Gault.
Ethan Duncan was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
After the final whistle, Hugh McC Logan, a former President of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Paul Morriss, for the way in which he controlled the game, thanked Methodist College and especially Nick Wells, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 20th season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Hugh then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy to, Jack McNeilly, captain of the victorious Antrim Grammar School team.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' 2XV Cup
On Monday 3 March the semi-final replay, featuring Royal Belfast Academical
RBAI won the game by 29-12.
On Friday 7 March, Deramore Park was the venue when Campbell College played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup.
RBAI won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup final by 15-5.
After the final whistle, Neale Wilson, representative of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Colin Stanley, and his team of Rory Stewart and Dave Henderson for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked Belfast Harlequin’s RFC and especially Richie Stevens, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked Danske Bank.
Neale then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup to Luis Keenan, captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield
On Tuesday 25 February, Pirrie Park was the venue when Sullivan Upper School played Friends’ School Lisburn in the replay of their previously drawn Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield semi-final game.
The Friends’ School Lisburn team won this very closely contested game by 8-7.
On Tuesday 4 March, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield final took place at the Kingspan Stadium where Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Friends’ School Lisburn.
RBAI won the Medallion Shield by 38-7.
After the final whistle, Laurence Rocke, President of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Andrew Michell, and his team of Mark Hermin, Michael Pollock and Billy Halliday, for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked Paula Bradley, Chris Webster and the Ulster Branch staff, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support, now in its 20th season, of all the Ulster Schools’ competitions.
Laurence, alongside Andrew Sproule, Senior Project Manager at the Danske Bank, then went on to present the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield and finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield to Matthew Watkins, captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution Medallion team.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate
On Thursday 27 February, Rainey Endowed School played the Royal School Dungannon in their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate semi-final game.
Rainey Endowed School won the game by 15-0.
On Saturday 8 March, Malone RFC was the venue when the Rainey Endowed School played the Down High School in the final.
Down High won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate final by 32-13.
After the final whistle, Gary Greer, a member of the USRFR and former Medallion Plate winning coach, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Neil Robertson, for the way in which he controlled the game, Malone RFC, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support.
Gary then went on to present the finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate to Oran Denvir, captain of the Down High School.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl
On Saturday 1 March, the previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl final took place at Royal School Dungannon where Royal School Armagh played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
The Royal School Armagh team won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl final by 14-3.
After the final whistle, Greg Irwin, Junior Vice-President of the Ulster Branch, Irish Rugby Football Union, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Alan O’Neill, and his team of Stephen Crooke and Laura Taggart, for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked Royal School Dungannon and especially Alistair Ferguson and Richard Clingan, for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support.
Greg then went on to present the finalist medals to all the players involved and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl to Jack Beggs, captain of the victorious Royal School Armagh Medallion team.
Ulster Clubs
On Monday evening, Foyle College U17 team played Ulster Clubs’ U17 at the Meadowbank Centre in Magherafelt.
Ulster won this game by 17-7.
The Foyle College points came through a try from Shay Grimes which was converted by Niall Kelly.
The Ulster Clubs’ points came through tries from David Dragan, Dungannon FC, Joshua Woods, Ballynahinch RFC and Conor Frazer, Malone RFC.
Joshua was successful also with one conversion kick.
Following the U17 game, Ulster Clubs’ U18 played Coleraine Grammar School in a game Ulster Clubs’ won with a last play of the game drop goal which secured them a 15-12 victory.
Coleraine Grammar School scored two tries through Luke McMillan and Hayden Dickson to which Joshua Hawe added one successful conversion kick.
The Ulster Clubs scored two tries through Adam Blaine, Ballynahinch RFC and Dylan Byrne, Dungannon FC.
Jack Robinson added one successful conversion as well as his match winning drop goal.
Friendlies & Blitzes
Looking towards next season, Cambridge House Grammar School played Lurgan College at U17 level.
The final score in this game was Cambridge House Grammar School 14 Lurgan College 17.
Thomas Caldwell and Seth O’Neill scored the Cambridge House Grammar School tries to which Thomas Moorehead added two successful conversions.
The Lurgan College team scored three tries through Lewis Irwin, Ben Maxwell and Daniel Wilson.
Andrew Lyttle was successful with one conversion kick.
Foyle College played Omagh Academy in a game at U17 level which the Omagh Academy team won by 22-14.
The Foyle College points came through tries from Cain O’Leary and Shay Grimes with Darwyn Nutt adding the extras to both tries.
The Omagh Academy team scored four tries through Harry McIlwaine, Andrew Beggs and Lewis McIvor, with two.
Sam Harper landed one successful conversion kick.
Another U17 game took place when Lurgan College hosted Friends’ School Lisburn in a game Friends’ won by 26-12.
The Lurgan College points came through tries from Andrew Lyttle and Alex McMeekin with Ben Maxwell adding the extras to one of the tries.
The Friends’ School team scored four tries through Scott Henderson, with a brace and Jonny Sammons and Patrick Arnold running in for one try apiece.
Ross Glover was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Both schools played a game involving only U18 final year leavers which the Friends’ School, Lisburn team won by 36-0.
Cillian Quinn and Ethan Salt each scored two tries with Joel Collins and Lewis Fitzpatrick each scoring one try.
Ethan Salt added two successful conversions with Joel Collins kicking a third successful conversion.
Quite a few blitz tournaments, involving U12, U13 and U14 players have been played at schools in recent weeks.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted a recent Year 8 tournament at Roughfort which involved some 320 players in a series of games.
Rainey Endowed School and Methodist College shared the Cup with Coleraine Grammar School emerging as Trophy winners.
Down High School hosted a 12-team tournament involving around 270 players with Wallace High School winning the Shield, Regent House School winning the Bowl and Grosvenor Grammar School and Killicomaine Junior High School sharing the Trophy.
The annual Royal Belfast Academical Institution U14 Tournament took place with around 460 players from 20 schools involved.
Terenure College Dublin won the Cup, Larne Grammar School won the Plate, Dromore High School won the Trophy with Regent House School and Omagh Academy sharing the Bowl.
Dalriada School, Campbell College, Belfast High School and Cambridge House Grammar School played out an entertaining series of blitz games involving some 100 U13 players.