### Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup | Round of 16
On Saturday 27 January, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen games took place.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution hosted Campbell College in a re-run of the 2023 Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Final.
The game proved to be very well contested encounter that was won by the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team with a score of 15-6.
Blake McClean and Freddie Clark each scored a try for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team with Alex Place adding two penalties.
Campbell College’s points came through two successful penalty kicks from Henry Ralston.
Rainey Endowed School hosted Methodist College in a game the Methodist College team won by 22-9.
Owen O’Kane kicked three successful first half penalties for Rainey Endowed School.
Lewis Doherty scored an unconverted first half try for Methodist College.
Rainey made Methodist College work hard for their win and had taken a 9-5 lead into the break.
Going into the last ten minutes of the game, with Methodist College leading by 12-9 after a Jack Tindal try and conversion, Rainey spurned a potential try scoring opportunity and Methodist College took advantage with two unconverted tries in the final few minutes from Michael Armstrong and Peter Molloy, securing their hard earned 22-9 victory.
Portadown College played their near neighbours from Banbridge Academy who won the game with a convincing 40-0 scoreline.
Connor Magee, with two, Darragh Knox, Fergus Alway, Dan Hutchinson and Nazie Mulligan scored the Banbridge Academy tries. Andrew Jackson added the extras to five of the tries.
Tom Neill and Danny Guy impressed with their performances for Portadown College while Fergus Alway and Andrew Jackson stood out with their performances for Banbridge Academy.
Wallace High School played Royal School Armagh and recorded a reasonably comfortable 31-7 victory having built up a 19-0 lead by the interval.
Wallace High School scored five tries through Ben Moore, Alex Stephenson, William Sproule, Rio McDonagh and Lewis Stevenson. Lewis added the extras to three of the tries.
Cameron Cummings scored the Royal School Armagh try which was converted by Josh Lowey.
Sullivan Upper School played Larne Grammar School and recorded a 41-3 victory.
Max Readman, Alex Dunlop, with two, team captain, Ruan Waryck, with two, Jack Law and Hamish Johnston were the Sullivan Upper School try scorers. Harry McKeown was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Ethan Duncan kicked a consolation penalty for Larne Grammar School for whom Reuben Marsden, Ethan Anderson and Daniel Halliday stood out with their performances during the game.
Belfast Royal Academy played Ballymena Academy in an extremely closely contested game from which the Ballymena Academy emerged as 17-15 winners.
Adam Hewitt scored the first try for BRA, whilst Frank Davis put on a “Player of the Match” display for the Belfast Royal Academy team with a try, one conversion and one penalty kick.
Ballymena Academy’s try scorers were Ben Neilly, Callum Mustoe and Michael McLean with Robbie Coleman adding the extras to one of the tries.
Regent House School entertained Dromore High School and ended up winning this high scoring game by 34-21.
Regent House School scored six tries with Nathan Bell touching down for a hat-trick, Shay Duckett running in for a brace and Ethan Spratt diving over for one. Evan McGonigle was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
Dromore High School were awarded a penalty try and scored two other tries through Daniel Ennis McMannus and Eryn Strydom. Daniel was also successful with two conversion kicks.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Friends’ School Lisburn and despite being 5-0 behind coming up to the break, went on to win the game by 13-5.
Alex Howe scored the Enniskillen RGS try, with Jake Irwin adding the conversion, on the dot of half time, to take a 7-5 lead into the interval.
Jake added two successful penalty kicks for the home team during the second half.
Ryley Murphy ran in for the first half unconverted try for Friends’ School Lisburn.
Despite the best efforts of players such as Calum Millar, Ethan Salt, Alex McKinley and Joel Barron Friends’ School could find no way past the resolute Enniskillen defence.
### Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl |Round of 16
On Friday 26 January, Ballyclare High School played Grosvenor Grammar School.
This game was played at The Cloughan, home of Ballyclare RFC. Ballyclare High School won this game by 38-5.
Ballyclare High scored six tries through Ian O’Hara, Joel Logan, Ben Vance, Isaac Shiels, Josh McColgan and Ethan Norwood. Harry Thompson was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Grosvenor Grammar School team displayed great commitment throughout the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Adam Osborne touched down for an unconverted try.
Both teams, their coaches and travelling spectators, would like to thank Ballyclare RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game under the lights on an excellent pitch.
The remaining six games in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games were played on Saturday 27 January.
Bangor Grammar School played Cambridge House Grammar School and this exciting game finished as a 24-24 draw.
Noah Courtney Gardner scored a brace for the Bangor Grammar School team with Zach Cummings and Callum Moore each touching down for one try. Adam Bickerstaff was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
It was a similar scoring pattern for the Cambridge House Grammar School team.
Jamie Birrell touched down for a brace with Justin Mark and Paddy Roberts running in for one try apiece. Paddy was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
The replay for this game was reorganised very quickly and will take place at Cambridge House Grammar School on Wednesday 31 January, 14.00.
Antrim Grammar School hosted Down High School in a game the Down High School team won by 40-0.
Despite losing the game, players such as Calum Campbell, Alexander Lynn, Casey Heaney, Rhys McGrandless and Joel McLaughlin impressed with their performances for the Antrim Grammar School team.
Down High School scored six tries through Ryan Connolly, Alex Carville, Peter Quinn, Jonny Russell, Lewis Connolly and Ben Cassidy. Josh McCaughey was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
Limavady Grammar School played Omagh Academy in a hard-fought game the Limavady Grammar School team won by 29-12.
Cooper McCausland, Odhran Clenaghan, James Rhodes and Adam McConnellogue scored the Limavady Grammar School tries. The talented James Laird added the extras to two of the tries as well as successfully converting a penalty kick opportunity.
Carrickfergus Grammar School played their near neighbours from Belfast High School and won this closely contested game by 12-10.
Ellis Branagh and Max Matuszewski scored the Carrickfergus Grammar School tries with Ellis adding one successful conversion.
Joey Ashby was the Belfast High School dangerman and he ran in for two unconverted tries.
Royal School Dungannon played Dalriada School and won this hard-fought game by 12-5.
Reuben Gibson and Matthew Burrows scored the Royal School, Dungannon tries with James Gibson adding one successful conversion.
Isaac Moore ran in for an unconverted try for the Dalriada School team.
Coleraine Grammar School hosted Strabane Academy and recorded a comfortable 47-7 win.
Players such as Jack Burnett, Josh Hawe, Lewis Marshall, Myles Johnston, Clarke Logan, Matthew Lennox, Jordan McAuley, and Ollie McLean all featured strongly for the Coleraine Grammar School team.
For Strabane Academy, players such as Callum Kelly, Ryan McCormack, Conor Gilloway, Max Mealiff, Hayden Snodgrass and Felix Foley displayed great commitment throughout the game.
Once the results of these Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup and Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games were known, the draws took place for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup quarter-finals, the Subsidiary Shield quarter-finals, the Bowl quarter-finals, and the Trophy quarter-finals.
The draws took place at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and were organised by Richard Clingan, the acting Principal of Royal School Dungannon and Chairman of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Committee.
Richard was delighted to be organising the draws in his alma-mater, and was assisted by Elizabeth Armstrong, Principal of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Stephen Moore, Principal pf Friends’ School, Karen Turner, Danske Bank Assistant Branch Manager in Omagh and Chris Webster, Ulster Rugby Domestic Manager.
The results of the draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Finals
- Banbridge Academy v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
- Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Wallace High School
- Regent House School v Ballymena Academy
- Methodist College v Sullivan Upper School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Quarter-Finals
- Larne Grammar School v Dromore High School
- Friends’ School, Lisburn v Campbell College
- Rainey Endowed School v Royal School Armagh
- Portadown College v Belfast Royal Academy
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Quarter-Finals
- Bangor Grammar School/Cambridge House Grammar School v Coleraine Grammar School
- Royal School Dungannon v Ballyclare High School
- Foyle College v Carrickfergus Grammar School
- Limavady Grammar School v Down High School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Finals
- Antrim Grammar School v Lurgan College
- Omagh Academy v Bangor Grammar School/Cambridge House Grammar School
- Strabane Academy v Belfast High School
- Grosvenor Grammar School v Dalriada School
These games MUST be played on/before Saturday 10 February.
### Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Competitions
On Wednesday 24 January, Limavady Grammar School team hosted Friends’ School, Lisburn in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl. Friends’ School, Lisburn won the game by 47-7.
Meanwhile in Strabane, Strabane Academy hosted Bangor Academy in the quarter-final of the Medallion Trophy. Bangor Academy won the game by 26-3.
On Thursday 25 January, Ballyclare High School hosted Foyle College. Foyle College team won the game by 22-17.
On Friday 26 January, Ballymoney High School played Banbridge Academy in the quarter-final of their previously postponed Medallion Trophy game.
The Banbridge Academy team won the game by 15-0.
In Magherafelt, Rainey Endowed School was to have played Omagh Academy in the replay of their previously drawn Medallion Bowl quarter-final game. Unfortunately, this game was postponed due to the inclement weather conditions rendering the pitches unplayable.
Ballymena Academy played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in their postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield quarter-final game.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution won this game by 31-3.
On Saturday 27 January, Dromore High School played Belfast High School in the quarter-final of the Medallion Trophy. Belfast High School won 19-14.
In their previously postponed Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen game, Royal School Dungannon hosted Dalriada School in a game the Dalriada School team won by 18-7.
Meanwhile, at Roughfort, Belfast Royal Academy played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
Belfast Royal Academy won this game by 24-13.
Coleraine Grammar School played Royal School Armagh in another round of sixteen game, where Coleraine Grammar School won by 12-0.
Once Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen games, Medallion Bowl quarter-final games and Medallion Trophy quarter-final games were complete, the draw for the Medallion Shield quarter-finals, Medallion Plate quarter-final games, the Medallion Bowl semi-final games and the draw for the Medallion Trophy semi-final games took place.
The results of these draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Quarter-Finals
- Coleraine Grammar School v Belfast Royal Academy
- Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Campbell College
- Dalriada School v Foyle College
- Sullivan Upper School v Regent House School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Quarter-Finals
- Ballymena Academy v Wallace High School
- Ballyclare High School v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
- Methodist College v Royal School Armagh
- Royal School Dungannon v Antrim Grammar School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Semi-Finals
- Portadown College v Bangor Grammar School
- Omagh Academy/Rainey Endowed School v Friends’ School, Lisburn
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Semi-Finals
- Dromore High School/Belfast High School v Lurgan College
- Banbridge Academy v Bangor Academy
All of these games MUST be played on/before Saturday 3 February.
### Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Competitions
On Tuesday 23 January, Belfast High School 2XV was to have played Foyle College 2XV in the quarter-final of the 2XV Trophy. Unfortunately, this game was unable to be played due to the prevailing weather conditions.
On Wednesday 24 January, Belfast Royal Academy 2XV played Sullivan Upper School 2XV in their previously postponed 2XV Cup quarter-final game. The Belfast Royal Academy team won the game by 29-15.
Ballyclare High School 2XV played the Ballymena Academy 2XV in the quarter-final of the 2XV Plate in a game the Ballymena Academy team won by 48-14.
Omagh Academy played Coleraine Grammar School in their previously postponed 2XV Trophy quarter-final game, and it was Coleraine Grammar School that emerged as 34-17 winners.
The draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup semi-finals, the 2XV Plate semi-finals and the 2XV Trophy semi-finals took place.
The results of these draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup Semi-Finals
- Campbell College/Wallace High School v Methodist College/Enniskillen RGS
- Royal Belfast Academical Institution v Belfast Royal Academy
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Plate Semi-Finals
- Rainey Endowed School/Royal School Armagh v Royal School, Dungannon
- Ballymena Academy v Banbridge Academy
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Trophy Semi-Finals
- Bangor Academy v Down High School
- Coleraine Grammar School v Belfast High School/Foyle College
All of these games MUST be played on/before Saturday 3 February.
### Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Competitions
On Wednesday 24 January, Royal Belfast Academical Institution 5XV eventually got their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate Round 1 game against Regent House School 3XV played. RBAI 5XV won the game by 56-12 and will now play Ballyclare High School 3XV in the quarter-final of the 3XV Plate.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3XV hosted Methodist College 5XV in the quarter-final of the 3XV Plate. This proved to be a closely contested, eight try game, Methodist College 5XV won by 24-22.
On Saturday 27 January, in the quarter-finals of the 3XV Plate, Rainey Endowed School 3XV played Methodist College 4XV in a game which finished as a 12-12 draw.
The replay for this game should take place within the next week.