Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield
The first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2024-25 competition finals took place when Royal School Armagh played Ballyclare High School, the current holders, in the final of the U16 Shield at Friends’ School Lisburn on Wednesday 16 October.
Both teams, as well as Friends’ Schoo, were delighted to have Laurence Rocke, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, in attendance at this final.
Following an extremely closely contested game the final scoreboard read Royal School Armagh 14 Ballyclare High School 15.
Royal School Armagh team tries through Harrison Wright and Charlie Reaney with Eric Thompson adding the extras to both tries.
The Ballyclare points came through tries from Seth Scarlett and Daniel Montgomery along with one successful conversion and one successful penalty from Jude Semple.
Post-match, Laurence Rocke presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield to the joint captains of the victorious Ballyclare High School team, Jude Semple and Austin Adair, along with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Shield Finalist medals to members of both squads.
Laurence congratulated both teams, and their coaches, for making it through to the U16 Shield final, thanked Ivor Monaghan, as well as his ground staff at Friends’ School, for hosting the game on such an excellent surface, thanked the parents/guardians of the players for their support in the course of the season so far, thanked the referee, Graeme Ormiston, and his assistants, Billy Halliday and Robbie Mitchell, for the way in which they controlled the game. Laurence then finished proceedings by thanking Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of Ulster Schools’ Rugby, now in its 20th season.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Trophy
On Saturday 19 October, at Royal School Armagh, Omagh Academy and Antrim Grammar School contested the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Trophy competition.
At the end of this very closely contested encounter the scoreboard read Omagh Academy 10 Antrim Grammar School 6.
Antrim Grammar School had actually taken a 6-3 lead into the break with Isaac Lynn converting two penalty kick opportunities with Ethan Duncan responding with one penalty for the Omagh Academy team.
Omagh Academy then gained more control in the second half of the game. A try from Isaac Crawford, converted by Ethan Duncan, secured the 10-6 win for the Omagh Academy team.
Post-match, Paul Johnston, City of Armagh FC representative on the Ulster Branch, presented the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Trophy to Jacob Crosbie, the captain of the victorious Omagh Academy team, along with the medals to members of both squads.
Paul congratulated both teams, and their coaches, for making it through to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U16 Trophy final, thanked Gareth Beggs, as well as his ground staff at the Royal School Armagh for hosting the game on such an excellent surface, thanked the parents/guardians of the players for their support in the course of the season so far, thanked the referee, Stuart Campbell, and his assistants, Mark Orr and Geoffrey Berry, for the way in which they controlled the game. Paul then finished proceedings by thanking the Danske Bank for their continued sponsorship of Ulster Schools’ Rugby, now in its 20th season.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
On Wednesday, two Schools’ Cup qualifying games took place when Grosvenor Grammar School hosted Belfast High School in their Match A game and Strabane Academy hosted Bangor Academy in their Match C game.
Grosvenor Grammar School defeated Belfast High School by 27-5 in their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Game A Qualifier.
Stefan Buick, with a brace, and Ewan Roberts were the Grosvenor Grammar School try scorers to which Shea Taggart added three conversions as well as two penalties.
Belfast High had impressive performances from players such as Freddie Bell, Archie Cruikshank and Ben Gardner during the game. The Belfast High School points came through an unconverted try from Harry Palmer.
Grosvenor Grammar School will now host Dromore High School in their first Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage B game on Saturday 26 October.
The final result of the Game C Qualifier was Strabane Academy 10 Bangor Academy 45 and ensures that Bangor Academy will travel to play Foyle College in the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage C games on Saturday 26 October.
Strabane Academy, on the back of impressive performances from players such as Ryan McAuley, Dara McGillion and Lucas Doherty, contributed a lot to the flow of this game. Their efforts were rewarded when Coan McCarron touched down for a try, which was converted by Chris McBride, and Jonny Orr converted a long-range penalty kick.
The Bangor Academy points came through tries from Steven Boyd, with a hattrick, Jaxon Morrow, Jamesie Morrison, Luke Graham and Sean Hynes. Steven added four successful conversions with Sean Hynes adding a fifth.
Not only did Strabane Academy host the game but also provided excellent post-match refreshments for everyone involved in the game. The Bangor Academy players and coaches were delighted with the hospitality they received.
On Saturday 19 October, the third of the qualifying games took place when Lurgan College hosted Carrickfergus Grammar School in their Match B game.
Lurgan College won the game by 27-9, and will now play away to Ballyclare High School in the first of their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Stage games on Saturday 26 October.
The Lurgan College points came through tries from Ben Maxwell, Jack McClelland, Pedro Melo and Andrew Bird. Ben was also successful with one penalty kick as well as two conversion kicks.
Carrickfergus Grammar School performed impressively throughout the game and recorded three penalty kicks through the accurate boot of Alex McAllister. Players such as Max Matuszewski, Max Campbell, Rory Pollard and Bobbie Brown shone with their performances for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 1XV Games
Two 1XV friendly games, as well as one training game, were played on Wednesday 16 October.
Campbell College entertained Terenure College Dublin in a very closely contested game the Campbell College team won by 20-17.
Leo Graham and Jed Dornan scored the Campbell College tries with Henry Ralston adding both conversion kicks. Jenson Gowdy then added two successful penalty kicks.
The Terenure College points came through a penalty try with a try, conversion and penalty from Geoff O’Sullivan.
Down High School played Dromore High School and recorded a 33-0 victory, scoring five tries in the process.
Josh Herron, with one try, and Thomas Hanlon and Lewis Connolly, with two tries each, were the Down High School try scorers. Josh McCaughey added the conversions to four of the Down High School tries.
Despite losing the game, players such as Joel Johnston, Jonny Beckett, Harry Cromie and Daniel Ennis-McManus impressed with their performances for Down High.
Rainey Endowed School played out a three-session training game with Belfast Royal Academy which gave the coaching staff from both schools the opportunity to use extended squads of players as part of the build up to their forthcoming Schools’ Cup Group Stage games on Saturday 26 October.
Some 1XV friendly games took place on Saturday 19 October.
Coleraine Grammar School played Ballyclare High School and, having built up a 12-0 by the interval, went on to win the game by 26-10.
Coleraine Grammar scored four tries through Joshua Hawe, Joel Milford, Joe Coates and James McMillan. Joshua added the extras to three of the Coleraine Grammar School tries.
The Ballyclare High School points came through a James Woodside penalty and a try from Lewis Flynn which was converted by James Woodside.
Friends’ School Lisburn hosted the City of Armagh FC U18 team for a three game training session which enabled both sets of coaches to use extended squads of players as both teams prepare for competition games in the near future.
Friends’ School players such as Ross Glover, Rylan Murphy, Andrew Jordan, Scott Henderson and Tim Searson all impressed with their work rate in both the training and playing aspects of the morning’s activities.
Methodist College played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in a game the RBAI won by 38-0.
Despite losing the game, players such as Matthew Scott, Scott Harrower, James Reid and Lewis Curran impressed with their performances for the Methodist College team.
The RBAI team scored six tries through Blake McClean, George Craigan, Darcy Donnelly, Adam Boyd, Andrew Purcell and Charlie O’Connor. Charlie was also successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Portadown College hosted Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in a game the Portadown College team won by 15-7.
Portadown College took a 3-0 lead when Danny Guy converted a penalty opportunity twenty-five minutes into the game.
Just before the interval. the Portadown College team scored a try through Billy Gannon, converted by Danny Guy, to see the home side into a 10-0 lead at the break.
Midway through the second half, Jake Irwin reduced the Enniskillen Royal Grammar school deficit to 10-7 when he touched down for a try to which he added the conversion.
However, close to the end of the game, an unconverted try from Jack Todd secured the 15-7 victory for the Portadown College team.
Regent House School played Bangor Grammar School in a local derby game the Regent House School team won by 17-0.
Daniel Moore, Evan McGonigle and Ethan Spratt scored the Regent House School tries with Josh Colville adding one successful conversion kick.
The Bangor Grammar School team contributed a lot to the game with players such as Adam Bickerstaff, Rory Fulton, Jack Patterson and Jamie Flynn impressing with their performances.
