### Saturday 6 January
Sullivan Upper School 1XV recently played Wesley College, Dublin in a close encounter the Wesley College team won by 28-26.
Sullivan Upper’s points came through tries from Jacob McKeown, Max Readman, Harry McKeown and a team try involving an exchange of plays, involving both forwards and backs, which was finished off by Cameron Irwin. Harry McKeown was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Wesley College’s Charlie Hempenstall put on a “Man of the Match” performance with a brace of tries and four successful conversions. Jack Freyne and David Gilmore scored the other two Wesley College tries.
### Wednesday 10 January
On Wednesday 10 January, the two outstanding games in Round 3 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup and Round 1 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Trophy took place.
In the previously postponed Round 3 of the 2XV Cup, Rainey Endowed School 2XV hosted Methodist College, Belfast 2XV in a game the Methodist College, Belfast 2XV won by 26-17.
Methodist College, Belfast 2XV will now play at home to Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 2XV in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup on/before Saturday 20th January.
Rainey Endowed School 2XV will now play Royal School Armagh 2XV at home in the quarter-final of the 2XV Plate on/before Saturday 20th January.
In the previously postponed Round 1 2XV Trophy game, Belfast High School played Antrim Grammar School in a game the Belfast High School 2XV won by 34-22.
This means that Belfast High School 2XV will now play at home against Foyle College 2XV in the quarter-final of the 2Xv Trophy on/before Saturday 20th January.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate, Down High School 3XV played Methodist College, Belfast 4XV in a game the Methodist College, Belfast team won by 17-5.
This game was played at Ballymacarn Park and both teams, their coaches and travelling spectators, would like to thank Ballynahinch RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
In a friendly game, Wellington College Belfast 1XV played a Royal Belfast Academical Institution “Select” XV with the Belfast Inst team winning the game by 30-14.
Ethan White and Max Downing each scored a try for the Wellington College team with Finn Ritchie adding the extras to both tries. The Wellington College players displayed great commitment and determination throughout the game. None more so that their captain, John Valeixo, who led by example and was well supported by players such as Leon Sadria.
On the same afternoon Omagh Academy was to have played Strabane Academy in their previously postponed 1XV friendly game at the Campsie Playing Fields. However, a severe covering of frost on the Campsie Pitches ensured the game had to be cancelled.
### Friday 12 January
On Friday 12 January Ballymena Academy hosted Sullivan Upper School at Eaton Park, home of Ballymena RFC, for a 1XV friendly game. The game was played in front of a good crowd of enthusiastic supporters which included several interested Belfast Royal Academy staff members.
The Ballymena Academy squad had come to the end of a four-week break and recorded an impressive 38-7 victory by the final whistle.
Daniel Vercoe Rodgers, Charlie Hargy, Henry Lamont, Ben Millar, with two, and Callum Mustoe scored the Ballymena Academy tries. Robbie Coleman was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Sullivan Upper School contributed a lot to the game with players such as Will Sheridan Josh Davidson, Harry McKeown and Cameron Irwin impressing with their performances.
Josh Davidson ran in for a consolation Sullivan Upper School try which was converted by Harry McKeown.
Both teams, their coaches and travelling spectators, would like to thank Ballymena RFC RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
Another 1XV game took place on Friday 12 January when Wallace High School travelled to the Belfield Bowl, home of University College, Dublin RFC, where they played Cistercian College, Roscrea in their annual fixture.
This was a closely contested game which the Cistercian College, Roscrea team might have won only to see a last kick of the game conversion attempt rebound off the upright to leave the Wallace High School team as 32-31 victors.
The Wallace High School team scored four tries through Carter Thompson, Michael McCavery, Matthew Dickson and Jon Rodgers. Lewis Stevenson added three successful conversions as well as two successful penalty kicks.
The Cistercian College, Roscrea team had a “Man of the Match” performance from Jack Deegan, who ran in for three tries, all of which he converted. Billy Hayes and Sean Killeen each touched down for an unconverted try.
Both teams, their coaches and travelling spectators, would like to thank University College, Dublin RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
### Saturday 13 January
On Saturday 13 January the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl preliminary round game, featuring Limavady Grammar School and Lurgan College, took place.
Limavady Grammar School recorded a 40-0 victory and will now entertain Omagh Academy in the quarter-final of the Bowl competition on/before Saturday 27 January.
Odhran Clenaghan, Cooper McCausland, with two, James Laird, Jack Butcher, with two, and James Rhodes were the Limavady Grammar School try scorers. James Laird added the remaining points with one successful conversion as well as one successful penalty kick.
Despite losing the game players such as Ben Maxwell, Daniel Wilson, Pedro Melo and Adam Ewart displayed great skills and determination in their approach to the game for the Lurgan College team.,
On the same morning, one of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup quarter-final games took place when Ballymena Academy 3XV hosted Wallace High School 3XV in a game which, most unusually, finished as a 0-0 draw.
In Round 1 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate, Methodist College 5XV was to have played Royal School Armagh 4XV, and Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5XV team was to have played Regent House 3XV. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, these games did not take place and have had to be rescheduled.
Several Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1XV friendly fixtures took place on Saturday 13 January.
Antrim Grammar School hosted a round-robin blitz tournament with Ballyclare High School and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. This gave all three teams the opportunity to use extended squads of players with each player getting at least one start.
Antrim Grammar School had good performances from players such as Jake Quigley, Eoin Byrne, Bailey Coates, Boris Lestianskey and Jack McNeilly.
Ballyclare High School had players such as Harry Thompson, Joel Logan, Josh McColgan, Isaac Shiels and Jacob Scarlett who impressed with their performances.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School had good performances from players such as Cameron Smith, Jake Irwin, Jamie Morrow, James Trotter, Ben Shaw, Morgan Graham and Clarke Balfour.
Banbridge Academy hosted Royal School Dungannon and won the closely contested encounter by 12-7.
Despite being 7-0 behind at the interval, Banbridge Academy scored two second half tries through the impressive Conor Magee, one of which was converted by Andrew Jackson.
Ben Hazlett impressed for the Royal School, Dungannon team throughout the game and capped a fine personal performance with a try. James Gibson added the conversion to the try.
Belfast High School hosted Down High School in a game the Down High School team won by 48-7.
Belfast High School’s points came through a Joey Ashby try which was converted by Archie Cruickshank.
Down High School scored eight tries through “Man of the Match, Ryan Connolly, who ran in for a hattrick, Jonny Russell, who scored a brace, and Scott Mitchel, Eoin McMullan and Bailey Parker who each scored one try. Josh McCaughey added three successful conversions with Conor Powderly adding a fourth successful conversion.
Carrickfergus Grammar School played a Campbell College “Select” XV in a game the Campbell College, “Select” team won by 39-5.
Ellis Branagh scored the unconverted Carrickfergus Grammar School try with Aaron McReynolds, Alex Pherson, Cameron Brown, Logan McLaughlin and Harry Kennedy all impressing with their performances for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team.
Campbell College’s points came from three tries from Leo Graham, two tries each from Ollie Armstrong and Matthew Thompson and two successful conversions from Matthew Thompson.
At the same time Campbell College 2XV played the Bangor RFC U18 team in a game the Campbell College team won by 31-10.
Dromore High School entertained Royal School Armagh at the Barban Hill venue and won the game by 26-19.
Dromore High School scored four tries through Harry Cromie, Josh Brown, Matthew Heasley and Eren Strydom. Daniel Ennis-McMannus was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Royal School, Armagh scored three tries through Kai Sterritt, Archie Johnston and Will Boyd with Josh Lowey adding two successful conversion kicks.
Foyle College played Coleraine Grammar School and Coleraine Grammar School emerged as 42-32 winners following a twelve try thriller.
Foyle College’s try scorers were James Kelly, with two, Adam Woods, Oliver Allen, Robbie Patterson and Markus Smith. Darwyn Nutt was successful with one conversion kick.
Coleraine Grammar School’s points came through two tries from Jordan McAuley and one try apiece from Clarke Logan, Joel Madden, Archie McClenaghan and Myles Jordan. Jordan McAuley had a fine morning off the tee with six successful conversion kicks.
Friends’ School Lisburn played Dalriada School and had to produce a watertight defensive display in the first half, before going on to win the game by 28-0.
Following a scoreless first half, Friends’ School ran in four tries in the second half when Paddy Donaghey and Joel Barron each touched down for a brace of tries. Harry Moore added the extras to all four tries thus securing the 28-0 win for the Friends’ School, Lisburn team.
Grosvenor Grammar School played Cambridge House in a game the Cambridge House Grammar School team won by 42-0.
Justin Mark, with two, Josh Dobbin, with two, Alex Murphy and Paddy Roberts, with one try each, were the Cambridge House Grammar School team try scorers. Paddy Roberts rounded off a fine personal display with six successful conversion kicks.
Methodist College travelled to Dublin once again. This week the opposition was from Christian Brother’s College, Monkstown.
Methodist College was leading by 20-17 going into the final minute of the game when, a counter attack from the home team finished with a try in the corner, which was converted, to see the final result read Christian Brother’s College, Monkstown 24 Methodist College 20.
Eoghan O’Hanlon, the CBC Monkstown captain, scored their opening try with Ben Sharpe, Chris O’Toole and “Hero of the Day”, replacement winger, Charlie O’Connor, touching down for the other three CBC Monkstown tries. Eoghan O’ Hanlon was successful with two conversions, including the last kick of the game conversion from the touchline.
Methodist College scored their points through tries from Lewis Doherty, Scott Harrower, and Oliver Gartley. Jack Tindal added one successful conversion as well as one penalty kick.
Omagh Academy entertained a Belfast Royal Academy “Select” XV in a high scoring game the Omagh Academy team won by 48-26.
Callum Doherty, with two, Andrew King, Harry McIlwaine, with two, Jamie Mitchell, with two and Matthew Moore scored the Omagh Academy tries. Samuel Busby added the extras to four of the tries.
Belfast Royal Academy scored four tries through Jayden Irwin, who ran in for a brace, Zac Archer and Jack Bacon. Jake Carpenter was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Portadown College played Regent House School in a game the Regent House School team won by 43-0.
Nathan Bell, with two, Jack Sharpe, Tom Bell, Isaac Lowe, Ethan Spratt and Evan McGonigle scored the Regent House tries. Evan McGonigle added the extras to four of the Regent House School tries.
Rainey Endowed School continued their recent run of good form when they played Larne Grammar School in a controlled training session game which ended with the Rainey Endowed School team running in six tries.
Luke Caskey, Steffan Lloyd Evans, Charlie McConville, Peter Craig, Rossa Bell and Matthew Chambers each scored one try for the Rainey Endowed School team.