Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
As mentioned last week, Tuesday 12 December the launch of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Bowl launch and Round of 16 Draw took place in the AL Goodbody Lounge at the Kingspan Stadium.
Denis Gardiner, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, welcomed all the school staff and players in attendance to the draws.
Richard Clingan, Chairman of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Committee and Ian Russell, Head of Home Buying, Danske Bank, spoke with the assembled company prior to the draws being made.
Richard went on to give a speech, thanking all involved from the Ulster Schools' Cup, Danske Bank, to all the coaching staff teachers and boards of governors for everything they do to support school rugby.
Two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup group stage games, that were previously postponed, were played on Wednesday 13 December when Rainey Endowed School hosted Foyle College in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group C game and Larne Grammar School played Royal School Dungannon in a Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group D game.
Rainey Endowed School team scored a comfortable 40-0 victory with players such as Paul McCloskey, Ben Bell, Steffan Lloyd-Evans, Peter Craig, Nathan Overend, Luke Caskey, George Stone, Glenn Caldwell and Owen O’Kane impressing with their performances during the game.
For the Foyle College team players such as Robbie Patterson, Darwyn Nutt, Thomas Williamson and Cathair McKay displayed great commitment throughout this final Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup group stage game.
Meanwhile, in Larne, Larne Grammar School hosted Royal School Dungannon in their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group D game.
Despite being 12-8 behind at the interval, it was Larne Grammar School team that emerged from this closely contested Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage game with a narrow 20-19 victory.
“Man of the Match”, Ryan McDowell ran in for an unconverted first try for the Larne Grammar School team and proceeded to complete his hattrick with two second half tries. Ethan Duncan converted a first half penalty kick and added the extras to one of the second half tries.
Royal School Dungannon team scored two first half tries through Ben Doyle, one of which was converted by James Gibson.
Nathan Hamilton scored a second half try for the RS Dungannon team with James Gibson successfully adding the extras.
The final fixtures for the next round of 16 are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen
· Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Campbell College Belfast
· Rainey Endowed School v Methodist College Belfast
· Portadown College v Banbridge Academy
· Wallace High School v Royal School Armagh
· Sullivan Upper School v Larne Grammar School
· Belfast Royal Academy v Ballymena Academy
· Regent House School v Dromore High School
· Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Friends’ School Lisburn
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen games MUST be played on/before Saturday 27 January 2024.
Ulster U17 Club/School
On Tuesday 12 December, an Ulster U17 Club & School squad played the touring Australian New South Wales Raptors team in a game the Ulster team won by 22-19.
On Thursday, an Ulster U17 School squad played the Raptors team in another closely contested game the team won by 15-14.
Our provincial talent coach, Michael Black said “This is an excellent opportunity for 50 of our best U17 club and school players who have been identified through our summer programme and monitored during the season via or flagging and scouting network across Ulster. The games present a unique challenge to bench mark the guys against players who bring a completely different style of rugby and a huge physical edge. I’ve no doubt the experience for the Ulster players will have been an enjoyable one and added hugely to their individual development as part of the Ulster Player Pathway.”
Both games were played at Belfast Harlequin’s RFC and both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Belfast Harlequin’s RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Preliminary Round
· Limavady Grammar School v Lurgan College
This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Preliminary Round game MUST be played on/before Saturday 20 January 2024.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen
· Wellington College, Belfast v Foyle College
· Bangor Grammar School v Cambridge House Grammar School
· Ballyclare High School v Grosvenor Grammar School
· Antrim Grammar School v Down High School
· Limavady Grammar School/Lurgan College v Omagh Academy
· Carrickfergus Grammar School v Belfast High School
· Royal School Dungannon v Dalriada School
· Coleraine Grammar School v Strabane Academy
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games MUST be played on/before Saturday 27 January 2024.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup
On Wednesday, in Round 3 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup, two games took place.
Ballyclare High School 2XV played Wallace High School 2XV in a game the Wallace High School team won by a comfortable 36-0.
Rainey Endowed School 2XV was scheduled to have played Methodist College Belfast 2XV but, due to the fact the Rainey Endowed 1XV were playing in their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage game, this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup Round 3 has been rescheduled to be replayed prior to the end of term.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution 2XV hosted Friends’ School Lisburn 2XV and won the game by 40-0.
On Friday 15 December, Sullivan Upper School 2XV played Royal School Dungannon 2XV. The Sullivan Upper School 2XV won this game by 35-19.
On Saturday 16 December a number of games took place. Banbridge Academy 2XV hosted Belfast Royal Academy 2XV in a game the Belfast Royal Academy 2XV won by 47-19.
Bangor Grammar School 2XV played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 2XV and the game ended with the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 2XV team recording a 40-19 victory.
Regent House School 2XV played Ballymena Academy 2XV and, on the back of an impressive “Man of the Match” performance from Zac Parker, the Regent House School 2XV won the game by 22-20.
The Royal School Armagh 2XV game against Campbell College Belfast 2XV has been rescheduled for Tuesday 19 December.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Trophy
In Round 1 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Trophy, Limavady Grammar School hosted Coleraine Grammar School in a closely contested high scoring game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 31-25.
On Thursday 14 December Portadown College 2XV played Omagh Academy 2XV.
The Omagh Academy 2XV won this Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Trophy Round 1 game by 17-10.
Belfast High School 2XV was scheduled to have played Antrim Grammar School 2XV but this game, for a variety of reasons, has been rescheduled.
Grosvenor Grammar School 2XV played Dalriada School 2XV in a game the Dalriada School 2XV won by 22-5.
Larne Grammar School 2XV played Dromore High School 2XV in a game the Dromore High School 2XV won by 19-10.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup
In the last of the delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup Round 2 games, Methodist College Belfast 4XV played Royal School Armagh 3XV in a game the Royal School Armagh 3XV team won by 40-0.
In the last delayed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup 2nd Round game, Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4XV hosted Methodist College Belfast 3XV. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4XV won this game by 24-17.
Following all the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup Round 2 games being completed the draws were released for the Quarter Finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup and Round 1 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate.
The results of these draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup Quarter Final Draw
· Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4XV v Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3XV
· Belfast Royal Academy 3XV v Royal School Armagh 3XV
· Campbell College Belfast 3XV v Our Lady and St Patrick’s College Knock 1XV
· Ballymena Academy 3XV v Wallace High School 3XV
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup Quarter Final games MUST be played on/before Saturday 27 January 2024.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate Round 1 Draw
· Down High School 3XV v Methodist College Belfast 4XV
· Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3XV v Limavady Grammar School 3XV
· Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5XV v Regent House School 3XV
· Ballyclare High School 3XV v Banbridge Academy 3XV
· Methodist College Belfast 5XV v Royal School Armagh 4XV
· Campbell College Belfast 4XV v Bye
· Methodist College Belfast 3XV v Bye
· Rainey Endowed School 3XV v Bye
These Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate Round 1 games MUST be played on/before Saturday 13 January 2024 with the option of playing before the Christmas break.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield
In the Round 3 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Grosvenor Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School in a game the Antrim Grammar School team won by 10-5.
Friendlies
On Friday 15 December Coleraine Grammar School hosted Ballyclare High School at the Castlerock Road venue.
The Coleraine Grammar School team won the high scoring game by 33-22 and scored five tries in the process.
Ollie McClean, Zack McCartney, Joshua Hawe, Joel Madden and Myles Johnston scored one try apiece for the Coleraine Grammar School team with Jordan McAuley adding three successful conversion kicks.
The Ballyclare High School team scored four tries through Lewis Flynn, Andrew Cooper, Josh McColgan and Reuben Ennis. Harry Thompson added the extras to one of the Ballyclare High School tries.
Meanwhile, at the Magheralave Road venue in Lisburn, Friends’ School hosted Sullivan Upper School in a 1XV friendly game.
The Sullivan Upper School 1XV team won this game by 26-12.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn points came through second half tries from Conor Harvey and Rob Henderson with Ross Glover adding one successful conversion.
The Sullivan Upper School team scored tries through Ruan Waryck, Nathan Noble, Alex Dunlop and Harry McKeown with Harry McKeown adding three successful conversions.
Quite a few 1XV friendly games were scheduled to have taken place on Saturday 16 December.
However, due to a number of factors, including Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage midweek replays, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup games and end of term tours, some of the previously scheduled 1XV friendly games did not take place.
Belfast Royal Academy played a controlled 3x20 minute session against Banbridge Academy in a no scoring training game.
Campbell College Belfast hosted St Mary’s College from Dublin and won a very closely contested game by 13-12.
The Campbell College Belfast captain, James McConnell, scored a try which was converted by Henry Ralston. Henry weighed in with two successful penalty kicks as well.
Aaron O’Brien and Cillian Jacobs scored the St Mary’s College tries with Evan Moynihan kicking one successful conversion.
Carrickfergus Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School in a game the Antrim Grammar School team won by 22-0.
The Carrickfergus Grammar School coaches used this game as an opportunity to give extra game time to several of their younger squad members. Twelve of the starting fifteen were Year 12 pupils all of whom benefitted greatly from the experience.
Aaron McReynolds, Joshua Soeters, Logan McLaughlin, Ivan Onyshenko and Cameron Brown all impressed for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team with their determination and commitment throughout the game.
“Man of the Match”, Jake Quigley scored a brace of tries for the Antrim Grammar School team with Eoin Byrne and Bailie Coates touching down for one try apiece. Boris Lestiansky was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
Wallace High School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution and recorded an impressive 32-7 win.
Matthew Dickson, Harry Lightbody, Lewis Stevenson and Rio McDonagh scored the Wallace High School tries with Lewis adding three successful conversions as well as two successful penalty kicks.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution points came through a Blake McClean try which was converted by Alex Place.