The last group stage games of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup, Shield and Trophy competitions were played during the week beginning Monday 7 October.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup
On Wednesday 9 October, Belfast Royal Academy played Ballymena Academy while over at the Belmont Road venue, Campbell College hosted Dalriada School in the last of the Group A games.
The scores in these games were Belfast Royal Academy 21 Ballymena Academy 28 and Campbell College 42 Dalriada School 12.
In the last of the Group B games, Methodist College played Sullivan Upper School and recorded a 43-3 victory.
These final Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup Group Stage results ensure that Campbell College will play Methodist College in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Cup on Wednesday 23 October at Kingspan Stadium, KO 2.30pm.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield
In the last of the Group A games, Regent House School played Dromore High School while Wallace High School played Ballyclare High School.
The Regent House v Dromore High School game ended with both teams getting a share of the points while the Wallace High School v Ballyclare High School game finished with the scoreboard reading Wallace High School 17 Ballyclare High School 22.
Foyle College hosted Royal School Armagh in the last of their Group B games.
This game ended with the scoreboard reading Foyle College 19 Royal School Armagh 26.
This result ensures that Royal School Armagh will play the Ballyclare High School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield which will take place at Friends’ School Lisburn on Wednesday 16 October 2024, KO 2.45pm.
On Saturday 12 October, the last of the Shield’s group stages were played. Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Rainey Endowed School in a game Rainey won by 17-15.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy
On Thursday 10 October, in the last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Trophy Group A games, Bangor Academy played Omagh Academy. Omagh Academy won the game with a 43-14 victory.
This result ensures that Omagh Academy will play Antrim Grammar School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Trophy which will take place at Royal School Armagh on Saturday 19 October, KO 10.30am.
On Saturday, in the last of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Trophy Group B games, Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock were scheduled to play Friends’ School Lisburn in a game which saw Friends’ emerge with a five-point bonus.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1XV Games
One 1XV friendly game was played on Wednesday 9 October when Friends’ School, Lisburn played Grosvenor Grammar School in a game Friends’ won by 21-3.
Paddy Armstrong, with an early length of the pitch run in, Gethin Mageean and Ethan Salt were Friends’ try scorers. Ross Glover had a fine game off the tee with all three successful conversion kicks.
The Grosvenor Grammar points came through a superb long range penalty kick from Ewan Roberts.
On Friday 11 October, Wallace High School played Belfast Royal Academy at Upper Dub Lane, Queen’s University RFC.
This closely contested encounter finished with Wallace High School securing a 19-13 victory. Ben Moore, Quinn Armstrong and Sam Warwick scored the Wallace High School tries with Luke Dillon adding two successful conversion kicks.
Belfast Royal Academy scored one try through Max McKitterick with Connor McVicker adding one conversion as well as two successful penalty kicks.
Both teams would like to thank Queen’s University RFC for the provision of excellent facilities and hosting the game.
On Saturday 12 October a good range of 1XV fixtures took place.
Antrim Grammar School played Foyle College and won the game by 24-12.
The Antrim Grammar School points came through first half tries from Michael McKay and Adomas Blazauskas, one of which was converted by Tom McNeilly, to take a 12-0 lead into the break.
The second half was more evenly contested with Antrim Grammar School scoring two more tries through Michael McKay, converted by Tom McNeilly, and Jake Quigley
The Foyle College try scorers were Adam Woods and Thomas Williamson with Thomas adding one successful conversion kick.
Ballyclare High School played Belfast High School and recorded a 58-14 victory.
The Ballyclare High School team scored ten tries through Reuben Ennis, Josh McColgan, Stuart Thomson, Ross Ferguson, with two, James Woodside, Isaac Shiels, Ben Vance, Luke Beattie and Lewis Flynn. James Woodside added the extras to four of the Ballyclare High School tries.
The Belfast High School team worked hard throughout the game and got some reward for their input when Ben Gardner and Archie Cruikshank touched down for second half tries both of which were converted by Archie.
Ballymena Academy hosted Methodist College in their annual Young Memorial Cup game.
The Ballymena Academy team continued their recent run of good form with a 26-12 victory.
Tom Wylie, Joshua Patterson, Reuben Allen and Harry Lamont scored the Ballymena Academy tries with Reuben adding three successful conversion kicks.
Methodist College scored two tries through James Reid with Louis Curran adding one successful conversion kick.
Banbridge Academy played Down High School in a high scoring game Down High School won 41-26.
Banbridge Academy’s points came through tries from the very impressive Adam Jones, who touched down for a brace, Sam Leslie and Gordon Porter. Andrew Jackson added the extras to three of the Banbridge Academy tries.
Down High School had the equally impressive Josh Herron in their ranks. Josh touched down for a hattrick of tries, with Scott Mitchell, Lewis Connolly, Ethan Whyte and Oliver Robinson scoring one try each. Josh McCaughey was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School hosted Rainey Endowed School and won the closely contested game by 26-20.
Morgan Whittaker, Sam Paton, and Robbie McIlwrath, with two, scored the Enniskillen tries. Sam Paton added the extras to three of the tries.
Rainey’s points came through tries from Lorcan McLarnon, who touched down twice, and Emmett McNulty. Owen O’Kane added one conversion as well as one penalty.
Lurgan College hosted Cambridge House Grammar School in a game Cambridge House won 33-13.
Lurgan College scored two unconverted tries through Andrew Bird and with Andrew Lyttle kicking one early penalty.
Thomas Calwel, with two, Justin Mark, Scott Steele and Harry Campbell were the Cambridge House try scorers. Justin Mark added four successful conversion kicks.
Omagh Academy played Royal School Dungannon and won the game by 18-7.
On the back of impressive 1XV debutant performances from Harvey Woods and Harry McMaster, Omagh Academy scored three tries through Ryan Mitchell, Charlie Farrell and James Miller. Jack Adams completed the scoring with one penalty kick.
RS Dungannon scored one try through Max Patterson which was converted by Blake Redmond.
Regent House School played their near neighbours, Campbell College in a game Campbell won 33-5.
Regent House, with players such as Evan McGonigle, Tom Bell and Matthew Callaghan impressing, started the game strongly and took an early 5-0 lead when Daniel Moore crashed over the Campbell College whitewash to touch down for a 5-0 lead.
Campbell College responded with a try, close to the break, from James Wells which was converted by Isaac Hatch, to see the visitors into a 7-5 lead at the interval.
The second half saw Campbell dominate both territory and possession for long periods of time.
Tries from Oli Park, one penalty try, Leo Graham and James Callaghan, plus two Isaac Hatch conversions, secured the 33-5 win for the Campbell College team.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Sullivan Upper School and recorded a 33-7 victory.
George Craigan, with two, Andrew Purcell, with two, and Adam Millar were the RBAI try scorers. Charlie O’Connor added the conversions to four of the tries.
Sullivan’s points came through a try from Jack Law which was converted by Hamish Johnston.
At the same time Royal Belfast Academical Institution fielded a Senior “Select” XV against Dalriada School.
Dalriada School 1XV team won this game by 33-21.
Seb Clark, Jamie Stewart and Luke Holland scored the RBAI tries with Ollie Howe-Joyce adding all three conversions.
Dalriada scored five tries through Angus Graham, who touched down twice, Archie Graham, Matthew Fox and Isaac Moore. Alfie Millar added the extras to four of the Dalriada School tries.
Royal School Armagh played Friends’ School Lisburn and won the game by 45-0.
RS Armagh scored seven tries through Cameron Dale, Will Boyd, Zakir Majid, Thomas Dougan, Harry Dougan, Cameron Cummings and Sam Gray. Evan Hughes added four conversions with Tristan Morris adding a fifth.
Despite losing the game, players such as Ross Glover, Ethan Salt and Joel Collins impressed with their performances for the Friends’ School team.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
On Saturday 12 October, the first of this season’s Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup group stage games took place when Limavady Grammar School entertained Larne Grammar School in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group E game.
The Larne Grammar School points came through two tries from Ryan McDowell, both of which were converted by Will Millar.
The Limavady Grammar School team won this game by 26-14 with both teams scoring two tries during the game.
Seth Guy and Killian Brolly scored the Limavady Grammar School tries with James Laird adding two successful conversions as well as four successful penalty kicks.