Last week the school rugby season came to a conclusion with a number of final stage games including a spectacular finale to the Danske Bank Schools' Cup competition on St. Patrick's Day...
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Final
Down High School 5, Wallace High School 21 (Monday 14th March)
This game was played in excellent conditions in front of a large band of enthusiastic supporters at Kingspan Stadium. It resulted in Wallace High School lifting the Subsidiary Shield for the first time having shared it with Omagh Academy in 1986.
Down HS missed an early chance to take the lead when a 3rd minute penalty was pushed wide. Wallace took the lead on six minutes with their first attack. Down were punished for killing the ball on the ground and the Wallace HS scrumhalf and captain, Jonny Stewart, landed a penalty from just inside the 10m line to give his team a 3-0 lead. Wallace then got the game's opening try on 22 minutes when they elected to kick a penalty into the corner. From the lineout No. 8, Gary Dillon, made a break but he was stopped short. The forwards, with Michael Smyth leading the charge, worked the ball through a number of phases before Jonny Stewart surged through a gap to touch down under the posts. Jonny converted his own try to send his team into a 10-0 lead. Down High might have had a try following their first sustained period of pressure in the Wallace 22m area. Their forwards rumbled close to the line for a few phases before No. 8, Zac Ward, son of former European Cup winner and Ulster captain, Andy, barged over but he was held up. From the resultant scrum, Down High conceded a penalty allowing the Lisburn side to clear their lines. Then, in injury time, Wallace extended their first half lead with a second try. Winger, Josh Cardosi, made a break from his own half and he fed Kyle Hayes who carried deep into the Down 22m area. Kyle cut inside and offloaded to centre, Johnny Hunter, who dotted down for an unconverted try to give Wallace High School a 15-0 advantage at the interval.
Jonny Stewart added a penalty for Wallace six minutes after the restart to increase their lead to 18-0. Wallace then took advantage of Down indiscipline as Jonny added another penalty on 49 minutes to increase the Wallace lead to 21-0. Then Down wasted another opportunity to get points on the board when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts a Wallace player was caught offside. They elected to kick to the corner and from the lineout the forwards drove close to the Wallace High School line. However, Wallace defended cleverly and the ball was ripped in contact allowing Wallace to clear the danger. Down High eventually opened their account on 56 minutes. They kicked a penalty into the corner and their forwards made the hard yards before prop, Harry McCormick, charged through a gap and swan dived over the line to touch down for an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 21-5. Both teams went looking for more points but both defenses were determined to let no-one through. No further points ensured it was Wallace who celebrated their 21-5 victory in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield.
Gary Clarke Cup Tournament (Tuesday 16th March)
Last Tuesday, Lurgan RFC hosted the annual Gary Clarke Cup tournament involving the senior players from Lurgan College, Banbridge Academy, Friends’ School Lisburn and Portadown College. This tournament has become a firm favourite of the players and coaches from the four schools involved and this season’s tournament was no exception. The Gary Clarke Cup was shared between Banbridge Academy and Friends’ last season but both teams had their hold on the trophy loosened when Portadown College defeated Friends’ by 3-0 with a penalty kick which was the final play of the tournament. The Friends’ team defeated Lurgan College by 7-0 in their first game. Daniel Patterson and Henry Tolerton combined to send Curtis Dundas in for a try which was converted by George Pringle. Friends’ then drew 0-0 with Banbridge Academy in an exciting game in which both defences excelled. In their final group stage game, the Friends’ team defeated Portadown College by 7-0. George Pringle broke from the half way line and rounded the Portadown defence to touch down for a try. George added the conversion to secure the win. This set up a final run-out against the Portadown team, who had Michael Orr to thank for his successful penalty with the last kick of the game. All the teams involved would like to thank Lurgan RFC for organising the tournament which was enjoyed by all the players involved, as was the post-match hospitality.
3rd XV Plate Final
Ballyclare High School 14, Ballyclare Secondary School, 14 (Wednesday 16th March)
This game was played in excellent spirit with both teams determined to play the game in a positive manner. The Ballyclare High School team took a 3-0 lead when Bruce Deyermond converted a penalty opportunity following a Ballyclare Secondary School infringement at the breakdown. Ballyclare Secondary School then responded with a converted try from Jacob Dougan which ensured they took a 7-3 lead into the break.
A Sam Caldwell penalty in the early stages of the second half reduced the High School deficit to 7-6. However, the Ballyclare Secondary School team then took a 14-6 lead when their impressive Ulster Clubs’ U18 player, Aaron Hall, stormed in for a converted try. The Ballyclare High School team responded positively to that setback and reduced the arrears to 14-11 when Reece Turner scored an unconverted try in the corner. This had the effect of recharging the High School’s batteries. They pressurised the Ballyclare Secondary School team into conceding a penalty. With the clock in the dying minutes, up stepped Sam Caldwell to bisect the posts with his kick to see the game finish as a 14-14 draw.
Friendly Fixture
Ballymena Academy 2nd XV 39, Belfast Metropolitan College 0 (Wednesday 16th March)
The respective teams are coached by the Moore brothers, Aaron and Nathan, and it was Aaron’s team that won on the day with a strong performance. Michael Stronge scored two tries for the Ballymena Academy team with Scott Agnew, Ben Savage, Jordan Foster and David Hogg each scoring one apiece. David McCluggage was successful with three conversions as well as one penalty kick.
Three Team Series
Rainey Endowed School v Omagh Academy (Wednesday 16th March)
At the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena Rainey Endowed School and Omagh Academy played a three team series of games at U17 A, U17 B and U16 level. The games were all very closely contested with Omagh Academy winning the U17 A game by 5-0 and the U17 B game finished as a 5-5 draw. The scorers were Oisin Shiels and Taine Lagan for the Omagh teams with Adam Thornton touching down for the Rainey team. The Rainey Endowed team won the U16 game by 5-0 with Tom Hughes scoring the try. Almost 100 U16 and U17 players took part in these games and the occasion was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone involved.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final
RBAI 13, Campbell College 3 (Thursday 17th March)
Perfect conditions ensured both the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Campbell College teams were able to play a hotly contested game at a great pace. James Hume was the hero as the RBAI team won back-to-back Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup titles for the first time since 1948. James kicked two first half penalties and converted his own last-minute try to seal a historic win for RBAI who were on the back foot for the entire second half.
After two hugely entertaining semi-finals a large crowd of 7,000 attended a sunny Kingspan Stadium hoping for some free-flowing rugby, but the game proved to be a tightly contested affair. RBAI enjoyed a great start to the match and, when a Campbell defender was penalised for not rolling away at a ruck, James Hume knocked over a straight-forward third minute penalty to give his team a 3-0 lead. His side almost got the game's opening try just moments later when a beautiful reverse pass by Rhys O'Donnell sent James through to within metres of the line, but the return pass was spilled by the lively scrumhalf. The Campbell College team then grew into the game and levelled the scores in the 21st minute courtesy of a well-struck penalty by openside flanker, John Crowther. The Campbell team was now on top and a neat scrum starter play sent Jonny Haldane charging through. Unfortunately his kick for the onrushing Jack Howard was covered superbly by the Belfast Inst captain, Conor Field, who cleared the danger and saved a certain score. Neither team was able to find their way across the whitewash despite a number of line breaks. However, James Hume added a second penalty on the stroke of half time to give the RBAI team a 6-3 advantage at the interval.
Campbell started the second half much more positively and looked to have scored early on, only for Ben McGavock to produce a superb tackle to thwart Jamie Macartney's efforts to make the try line. John Crowther then had a chance from the tee to regain parity but his effort drifted to the right of the posts. RBAI lost a player to the sin-bin in the 53rd minute for a high tackle. For the next ten minutes, Campbell enjoyed a period of possession in the opposition 22m area. No. 8, Jack Barry-Glendinning, crossed from a close range drive but there was a knock-on in the build-up, much to the disappointment of the vocal Campbell College support. Campbell continued to apply pressure as the Belfast Inst team failed to implement an effective exit strategy from their 22m area. However, the Inst team displayed great character and resolve to keep their line intact as Campbell produced wave after wave of attacks in which Nicolai Koplewsky and Tom O'Toole played central roles. Close to the end of the game a loose Campbell College pass was gratefully pounced upon by James Hume who dashed in from 60 metres out to dot down under the posts. James added the extras on the final whistle and this was greeted by jubilant scenes as the RBAI supporters celebrated a memorable 13-3 triumph at the end of this enthralling Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final.
Post-Match the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup was presented to the captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution team, Conor Field, by Valerie Stewart, wife of the Ulster Branch President, Bobby Stewart.
SCHOOL FINALS RESULTS ROUND UP 2016
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup RBAI 13 v Campbell College 3
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Down High School 5 v Wallace High School 21
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Grosvenor Grammar School 7 v Portora Royal School 20
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Belfast High School 0 v Banbridge Academy 15
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup RBAI 20 v Ballyclare High School 5
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate Sullivan Upper 5 v Methodist College Belfast 20
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup RBAI 4th XV 25 v Methodist College 3rd XV 9
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Ballyclare High School 3rd XV 14 v Ballyclare Secondary School 14
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Wallace High School 8 v RBAI 22
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Sullivan Upper School 12 v Campbell College 10
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Dalriada School 13 v Bangor Grammar School 10
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Foyle College 16 v Cambridge House GS 12
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Senior Sevens Ballymena Academy
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Junior Sevens Foyle College
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Sevens Royal School Armagh
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Final
Down High School 5, Wallace High School 21 (Monday 14th March)
This game was played in excellent conditions in front of a large band of enthusiastic supporters at Kingspan Stadium. It resulted in Wallace High School lifting the Subsidiary Shield for the first time having shared it with Omagh Academy in 1986.
Down HS missed an early chance to take the lead when a 3rd minute penalty was pushed wide. Wallace took the lead on six minutes with their first attack. Down were punished for killing the ball on the ground and the Wallace HS scrumhalf and captain, Jonny Stewart, landed a penalty from just inside the 10m line to give his team a 3-0 lead. Wallace then got the game's opening try on 22 minutes when they elected to kick a penalty into the corner. From the lineout No. 8, Gary Dillon, made a break but he was stopped short. The forwards, with Michael Smyth leading the charge, worked the ball through a number of phases before Jonny Stewart surged through a gap to touch down under the posts. Jonny converted his own try to send his team into a 10-0 lead. Down High might have had a try following their first sustained period of pressure in the Wallace 22m area. Their forwards rumbled close to the line for a few phases before No. 8, Zac Ward, son of former European Cup winner and Ulster captain, Andy, barged over but he was held up. From the resultant scrum, Down High conceded a penalty allowing the Lisburn side to clear their lines. Then, in injury time, Wallace extended their first half lead with a second try. Winger, Josh Cardosi, made a break from his own half and he fed Kyle Hayes who carried deep into the Down 22m area. Kyle cut inside and offloaded to centre, Johnny Hunter, who dotted down for an unconverted try to give Wallace High School a 15-0 advantage at the interval.
Jonny Stewart added a penalty for Wallace six minutes after the restart to increase their lead to 18-0. Wallace then took advantage of Down indiscipline as Jonny added another penalty on 49 minutes to increase the Wallace lead to 21-0. Then Down wasted another opportunity to get points on the board when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts a Wallace player was caught offside. They elected to kick to the corner and from the lineout the forwards drove close to the Wallace High School line. However, Wallace defended cleverly and the ball was ripped in contact allowing Wallace to clear the danger. Down High eventually opened their account on 56 minutes. They kicked a penalty into the corner and their forwards made the hard yards before prop, Harry McCormick, charged through a gap and swan dived over the line to touch down for an unconverted try to reduce the deficit to 21-5. Both teams went looking for more points but both defenses were determined to let no-one through. No further points ensured it was Wallace who celebrated their 21-5 victory in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield.
Gary Clarke Cup Tournament (Tuesday 16th March)
Last Tuesday, Lurgan RFC hosted the annual Gary Clarke Cup tournament involving the senior players from Lurgan College, Banbridge Academy, Friends’ School Lisburn and Portadown College. This tournament has become a firm favourite of the players and coaches from the four schools involved and this season’s tournament was no exception. The Gary Clarke Cup was shared between Banbridge Academy and Friends’ last season but both teams had their hold on the trophy loosened when Portadown College defeated Friends’ by 3-0 with a penalty kick which was the final play of the tournament. The Friends’ team defeated Lurgan College by 7-0 in their first game. Daniel Patterson and Henry Tolerton combined to send Curtis Dundas in for a try which was converted by George Pringle. Friends’ then drew 0-0 with Banbridge Academy in an exciting game in which both defences excelled. In their final group stage game, the Friends’ team defeated Portadown College by 7-0. George Pringle broke from the half way line and rounded the Portadown defence to touch down for a try. George added the conversion to secure the win. This set up a final run-out against the Portadown team, who had Michael Orr to thank for his successful penalty with the last kick of the game. All the teams involved would like to thank Lurgan RFC for organising the tournament which was enjoyed by all the players involved, as was the post-match hospitality.
3rd XV Plate Final
Ballyclare High School 14, Ballyclare Secondary School, 14 (Wednesday 16th March)
This game was played in excellent spirit with both teams determined to play the game in a positive manner. The Ballyclare High School team took a 3-0 lead when Bruce Deyermond converted a penalty opportunity following a Ballyclare Secondary School infringement at the breakdown. Ballyclare Secondary School then responded with a converted try from Jacob Dougan which ensured they took a 7-3 lead into the break.
A Sam Caldwell penalty in the early stages of the second half reduced the High School deficit to 7-6. However, the Ballyclare Secondary School team then took a 14-6 lead when their impressive Ulster Clubs’ U18 player, Aaron Hall, stormed in for a converted try. The Ballyclare High School team responded positively to that setback and reduced the arrears to 14-11 when Reece Turner scored an unconverted try in the corner. This had the effect of recharging the High School’s batteries. They pressurised the Ballyclare Secondary School team into conceding a penalty. With the clock in the dying minutes, up stepped Sam Caldwell to bisect the posts with his kick to see the game finish as a 14-14 draw.
Friendly Fixture
Ballymena Academy 2nd XV 39, Belfast Metropolitan College 0 (Wednesday 16th March)
The respective teams are coached by the Moore brothers, Aaron and Nathan, and it was Aaron’s team that won on the day with a strong performance. Michael Stronge scored two tries for the Ballymena Academy team with Scott Agnew, Ben Savage, Jordan Foster and David Hogg each scoring one apiece. David McCluggage was successful with three conversions as well as one penalty kick.
Three Team Series
Rainey Endowed School v Omagh Academy (Wednesday 16th March)
At the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena Rainey Endowed School and Omagh Academy played a three team series of games at U17 A, U17 B and U16 level. The games were all very closely contested with Omagh Academy winning the U17 A game by 5-0 and the U17 B game finished as a 5-5 draw. The scorers were Oisin Shiels and Taine Lagan for the Omagh teams with Adam Thornton touching down for the Rainey team. The Rainey Endowed team won the U16 game by 5-0 with Tom Hughes scoring the try. Almost 100 U16 and U17 players took part in these games and the occasion was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone involved.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final
RBAI 13, Campbell College 3 (Thursday 17th March)
Perfect conditions ensured both the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Campbell College teams were able to play a hotly contested game at a great pace. James Hume was the hero as the RBAI team won back-to-back Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup titles for the first time since 1948. James kicked two first half penalties and converted his own last-minute try to seal a historic win for RBAI who were on the back foot for the entire second half.
After two hugely entertaining semi-finals a large crowd of 7,000 attended a sunny Kingspan Stadium hoping for some free-flowing rugby, but the game proved to be a tightly contested affair. RBAI enjoyed a great start to the match and, when a Campbell defender was penalised for not rolling away at a ruck, James Hume knocked over a straight-forward third minute penalty to give his team a 3-0 lead. His side almost got the game's opening try just moments later when a beautiful reverse pass by Rhys O'Donnell sent James through to within metres of the line, but the return pass was spilled by the lively scrumhalf. The Campbell College team then grew into the game and levelled the scores in the 21st minute courtesy of a well-struck penalty by openside flanker, John Crowther. The Campbell team was now on top and a neat scrum starter play sent Jonny Haldane charging through. Unfortunately his kick for the onrushing Jack Howard was covered superbly by the Belfast Inst captain, Conor Field, who cleared the danger and saved a certain score. Neither team was able to find their way across the whitewash despite a number of line breaks. However, James Hume added a second penalty on the stroke of half time to give the RBAI team a 6-3 advantage at the interval.
Campbell started the second half much more positively and looked to have scored early on, only for Ben McGavock to produce a superb tackle to thwart Jamie Macartney's efforts to make the try line. John Crowther then had a chance from the tee to regain parity but his effort drifted to the right of the posts. RBAI lost a player to the sin-bin in the 53rd minute for a high tackle. For the next ten minutes, Campbell enjoyed a period of possession in the opposition 22m area. No. 8, Jack Barry-Glendinning, crossed from a close range drive but there was a knock-on in the build-up, much to the disappointment of the vocal Campbell College support. Campbell continued to apply pressure as the Belfast Inst team failed to implement an effective exit strategy from their 22m area. However, the Inst team displayed great character and resolve to keep their line intact as Campbell produced wave after wave of attacks in which Nicolai Koplewsky and Tom O'Toole played central roles. Close to the end of the game a loose Campbell College pass was gratefully pounced upon by James Hume who dashed in from 60 metres out to dot down under the posts. James added the extras on the final whistle and this was greeted by jubilant scenes as the RBAI supporters celebrated a memorable 13-3 triumph at the end of this enthralling Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup final.
Post-Match the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup was presented to the captain of the victorious Royal Belfast Academical Institution team, Conor Field, by Valerie Stewart, wife of the Ulster Branch President, Bobby Stewart.
SCHOOL FINALS RESULTS ROUND UP 2016
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup RBAI 13 v Campbell College 3
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Down High School 5 v Wallace High School 21
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Grosvenor Grammar School 7 v Portora Royal School 20
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Belfast High School 0 v Banbridge Academy 15
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Cup RBAI 20 v Ballyclare High School 5
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv Plate Sullivan Upper 5 v Methodist College Belfast 20
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup RBAI 4th XV 25 v Methodist College 3rd XV 9
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Plate Ballyclare High School 3rd XV 14 v Ballyclare Secondary School 14
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Wallace High School 8 v RBAI 22
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Sullivan Upper School 12 v Campbell College 10
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Dalriada School 13 v Bangor Grammar School 10
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Foyle College 16 v Cambridge House GS 12
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Senior Sevens Ballymena Academy
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Junior Sevens Foyle College
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Sevens Royal School Armagh