Monday 18 December
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played a “Senior” Select XV against their neighbours from St Michael’s College, Enniskillen.
The game was played at Mullaghmeen, home of Enniskillen RFC.
The scoreline at the final whistle read 19-12 to St Michael’s College.
At one stage of the game St Michael’s had built up a 19-0 lead before Enniskillen Royal Grammar School mounted a comeback.
Eoin Ratchford, Tiernan Swift and Cahal Kelly scored the St Michael’s College tries with Eoin adding the extras to two of the tries.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School’s points came through tries from Harry West and Odhran McLernon with Odhran adding one successful conversion kick.
This was a great exhibition game with both teams displaying a great deal of skill and athleticism.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Enniskillen RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game, and hope that this game can become a regular fixture in the seasons ahead.
Earlier that evening Dalriada School 1XV and Medallion/U16XV teams played the Ulster Clubs’ U18 and U17 teams at the Meadowbank Stadium in Magherafelt.
The U17 game ended up with Ulster recording a 12-5 victory.
Alfie King scored an unconverted try for Dalriada School.
The Ulster Clubs points came through two tries from Austin McAreevey, Lurgan RFC, with one conversion from Sam Craig, Ballymena RFC.
The U18 game was a closely contested affair as well. Ulster Clubs’ won by 25-19.
Matthew Fox, Isaac Moore and Ben Stewart scored the Dalriada School tries with Gabriel Stubbs-Carton adding two successful conversions.
Ryan Duffy, Cavan RFC, Lorcan McLarnon, Rainey RFC, and Dylan Fox, Malone RFC, scored the Ulster Clubs’ tries. Fiontan Bradley, Ballymena RFC, had a fine game off the tee when he converted two of the tries as well as two successful penalty kicks.
Tuesday 19 December
Royal School Armagh 2XV hosted Campbell College 2XV in Round 3 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup.
Campbell College 2XV won, 29-14.
Down High School and Royal School Dungannon played their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round 3 game.
This game was played at Ballymacarn Park, home of Ballynahinch RFC.
Royal School Dungannon, coached by the experienced former King’s Scholar, Keith Patton, won the game by 42-10.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators, would like to thank Ballynahinch RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
The draws for the quarter-final games in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup, 2XV Plate and 2XV Trophy competitions were released to all schools.
The results of the draws are as follows: -
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup Quarter-Finals
- Belfast Royal Academy v Sullivan Upper School
- Campbell College, Belfast v Wallace High School
- Regent House School v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
- Rainey Endowed School/Methodist College, Belfast v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Plate Quarter-Finals
- Banbridge Academy v Bangor Grammar School
- Ballyclare High School v Ballymena Academy
- Friends’ School Lisburn v Royal School Dungannon
- Rainey Endowed School/Methodist College v Royal School Armagh
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Trophy Quarter-Finals
- Bangor Academy v Dalriada School
- Belfast High School/Antrim Grammar School v Foyle College
- Dromore High School v Down High School
- Omagh Academy v Coleraine Grammar School
Games from all these draws must be played on/before Saturday 20 January.
Also on Tuesday 19 December, Methodist College, Belfast played the Portugal U19 team at the end of the Methodist College training camp in the Algarve.
Methodist College coaches used this training camp to play an extended squad of players with all the players involved getting at least 20 minutes playing time against Portugal U19.
The first session saw Methodist College gain a 12-0 lead before the strength of Portugal U19 came to bear with the result reading Portugal U19 41, Methodist College, 12.
Methodist College, Belfast’s points came through a Jack Tindal goal with an unconverted try from Lewis Doherty.
Wednesday 20 December
Friends’ School Lisburn played Regent House School in a 1XV friendly.
Both teams used this game to give game time to an extended number of players in the lead up to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen games to be played on/before Saturday 27 January 2024. The final score resulted in 29-5 to Regent House.
Regent House School was 12-5 ahead by the break before going on to record their convincing win.
Friends’ School Lisburn’s points came through an unconverted try from Harry Moore.
Regent House School scored five tries through Tom Bell, Isaac Lowe, Sam McClements, Ewan Baker and Nathan Bell. Evan McGonigle added the extras to two of the Regent House School tries.
Later that evening Coleraine RFC U18 played a Ballymena Academy “Select” XV under the lights at the Lodge Road venue.
The game, in which Ballymena Academy used 28 players, was played in hurricane conditions but was greatly enjoyed by every one of the players involved.
Ballymena Academy won the game by 12-0 with Michael McLean and Daniel Vercoe Rodgers each scoring a try to which Reuben Allen added one conversion.
Coleraine RFC not only provided facilities and hosted the game but all the players, as well as their management teams, were treated to excellent post-match hospitality which was much appreciated by everyone involved.
Friday 22 December
On Friday 22 December Friends’ School Lisburn hosted Regent House School in Round 3 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield.
This was a closely contested game which Regent House School won by 17-15 and, with it, a place in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen draw.
Wednesday 27 December
Wallace High School was due to have played Coleraine Grammar School, but this game was cancelled.
Thursday 28 December
Methodist College Belfast entertained St Gerard’s School from Bray.
St Gerard’s School were 21-0 ahead by the break before going on to win the game by 36-24.
Methodist College, Belfast were missing several key players but scored four second half tries through Callum Godfrey, Lewis Doherty, Oliver Gartly and Jack Tindal. Jack was also successful with two of his conversion kicks.
St Gerard’s School, Bray scored six tries during the game. Hugh Gilmore touched down twice with Ronan Kelly, Martin Sweeney, Zenon Chambers and Ultan Woods touching down for one try each. Zenon completed a “Man of the Match” performance with three successful conversions.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Belfast Royal Academy and won this excellent eight try game by 28-20.
Charlie Gray, James Clark, Adam Boyd and Jamie Beattie each scored a try for Royal Belfast Academical Institution with Alex Place adding the extras to all four tries.
Belfast Royal Academy points came through unconverted tries from Alex French, Ryan Calwell, Frank Davis and Matthew McQuiston.
Saturday 30 December
Rainey Endowed School was scheduled to have played Royal School Armagh, but due to the prevailing weather conditions, the game was cancelled.
Wednesday 3 January
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate, Ballyclare High School 3XV hosted Banbridge Academy 3XV.
The Ballyclare High School 3XV won by 46-17.
Meanwhile in Dublin, Sullivan Upper School travelled to play St Mary’s College in a game St Mary’s College won by 43-19.
Evan Monaghan, Jack Halpin, Jack Moloney, Conor Halpin, Aaron O’Brien and Cillian Jacobs were among the St Mary’s College try scorers in the course of the game.
The Sullivan Upper School took some time to settle into the game and, when they did, scored three tries. Will Sheridan, Joss Davidson and Ollie Keown scored the tries with Harry McKeown adding two successful conversion kicks.
Friday 5 January
Dromore High School hosted Wellington College, Belfast in Round 1 of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy.
Dromore High School won, 40-0.
Campbell College Belfast hosted Clongowes Wood College in a game which marked the end of a short training trip undertaken by the Clongowes Wood College SCT.
Campbell College were missing several key players and the Clongowes Wood College, one of the favourites to win the upcoming Leinster Schools’ Cup, won the game by 40-0.
Players such as Ross Doyle, Ross Adams, Luke Fitzgerald, Calum McDonald and Conor Lysaght impressed with their performances for Clongowes Wood College.
Saturday 6 January
One Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate game, the remaining five Medallion Shield Round 3 games took place alongside two Medallion Trophy games as well as a series of 1XV friendly games.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Plate, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School 3XV hosted Limavady Grammar School 3XV and won by 36-7.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield, Coleraine Grammar School played Bangor Grammar School and won, 8-0.
Dalriada School played Rainey Endowed School and won the game by 33-13.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Limavady Grammar School and recorded a 47-7 victory.
Foyle College hosted Portadown College and won by 24-17.
Royal School Armagh played Omagh Academy and won the game by 17-7.
In the first round of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy, Cambridge House Grammar School played Bangor Academy, Bangor Academy won, 12-7.
Lurgan College hosted Larne Grammar School and recorded a 12-3 victory in the same competition.
Once the results of all the games in the third round of the Medallion Shield and the first round of the Medallion Trophy games were known, the draws for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen games, the Medallion Bowl quarter-finals and the Medallion Trophy quarter-finals were made.
The draws were conducted by Mr Ian McConaghy, Principal, Dromore High School.
The results of these draws are as follows: -
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Round of Sixteen
- Belfast Royal Academy v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
- Campbell College, Belfast v Methodist College, Belfast
- Ballyclare High School v Foyle and Londonderry College
- Regent House School v Antrim Grammar School
- Coleraine Grammar School v Royal School, Armagh
- Ballymena Academy v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
- Royal School, Dungannon v Dalriada School
- Wallace High School v Sullivan Upper School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Quarter-Finals
- Down High School v Portadown College
- Grosvenor Grammar School v Bangor Grammar School
- Omagh Academy v Rainey Endowed School
- Limavady Grammar School v Friends’ School, Lisburn
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Quarter-Finals
- Ballymoney High School v Banbridge Academy
- Dromore High School v Belfast High School
- Ballyclare Secondary School v Lurgan College
- Strabane Academy v Bangor Academy
Games from all these draws must be played on/before Saturday 20 January.
At 1XV level, several friendly games took place.
Banbridge Academy played Down High School and recorded a hard-earned 19-12 victory.
On the back of a “Man of the Match” performance from Noah Haughey, Banbridge Academy scored three tries through Fergus Always, Nazie Mulligan and Luke Charman. Andrew Jackson added two successful conversions.
Down High School scored their points through tries from Lewis Connolly and Ben Spiers with Josh McCaughey adding one successful conversion.
Ballyclare High School played Rainey Endowed School in a game Rainey Endowed School won by 59-21.
Ballyclare High School scored three tries through Andrew Cooper, Aaron Beattie and Josh McColgan. Harry Thompson was successful with all three conversions.
Rainey Endowed School scored eleven tries with James Cappel touching down for a hattrick, Stefan Lloyd Evans, Billy Allen and Rossa Bell each scoring a brace and George Stone and Peter Craig running in for one try apiece. Owen O’Kane and Ben Bell each added one conversion.
Belfast High School played Grosvenor Grammar School and won the close encounter by 14-12.
Andrew Campbell and Joey Ashby scored the Belfast High School tries with Archie Cruickshank adding both conversions.
Grosvenor Grammar School’s points came through one try each from Ross Millar and Stefan Buick with Ross adding one successful conversion kick.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Dromore High School and recorded a comfortable 36-19 victory.
Belfast Royal Academy scored six tries through Ethan Pavlovic, Oran Cole, Ryan Calwel, Matt McLaughlin, Jack Webb and Josh Harold. Frank Davis added three successful conversion kicks.
Dromore High School contributed much to the game and their endeavours were rewarded with three tries.
Callum Bradley, McKensie Garnham and Luke Dillon scored the tries with Daniel Ennis-McMannus adding two successful conversions.
Carrickfergus Grammar School was scheduled to have hosted Cambridge House Grammar School, but the game was cancelled.
Coleraine Grammar School entertained their near neighbours, Dalriada School in a close game where Coleraine won, 23-21.
Clark Logan and Joel Madden each scored a try for Coleraine Grammar School, with Jordan McAuley adding two successful conversions as well as three penalty kicks.
Dalriada School scored three tries with a penalty try as well as individual tries from Zach McIlhagga and Joe Lynas. Gabriel Stubbs-Carton converted both these tries.
Methodist College, Belfast travelled to Dublin where they played Blackrock College.
Methodist College had to field quite a few Year 12 players in the game which saw Blackrock College record an impressive, all-consuming victory.
Michael Armstrong scored a consolation try for Methodist College with Jack Tindal adding the successful conversion.
Blackrock College players such as Brian O’Flagherty, Charlie Moloney, Derry Molony, Jack Pollard, Joe Reddan, Jack Angelo, Niall Smyth, Michael Walsh, Conor O’Shaughnessy and Peter Clancy all impressed with their performances through the game.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution had a training camp in Portugal which finished with a game against Presentation Brother’s College, Cork.
Both teams used their extended squads throughout the game which finished with Presentation Brother’s College, Cork recording a 36-19 victory.
The RBAI scorers were Ross Dillon, James Clark and Blake McClean with one try apiece. Alex Place added the extras to two of the tries.
Presentation Brother’s College had players such as Mark Hetherington, James O’Leary, Liam Tuohy, Harry Murphy, George O’Keefe and Gene O’Leary Kareem who impressed with their performances throughout the game.
Royal School Armagh were scheduled to have played Ballymena Academy, but the game was cancelled due to poor pitch conditions.
Royal School Dungannon and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played out a 3x20 minute sessions training game which enabled the coaching staff from both schools to use extended squads.
Royal School Dungannon scored 24 points with Enniskillen Royal Grammar School scoring 7 points.
Ben Doyle, John Carroll, Nathan Hamilton and Ryan Hamilton each scored a try for Royal School Dungannon with James Gibson adding the extras to two of the tries.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School’s points came through a try from Jake Irwin which was converted by Odhran McLernan.
Wallace High School played St Mary’s College, Dublin at the Clonevin Park venue, and lost the game, 32-17.
Michael McCavery, Sam Warwick and Ben Moore scored the Wallace High School tries with Lewis Stevenson adding one successful conversion.
St Mary’s College scored five tries through Evan Moynihan, who touched down twice, Chris Maguire, Aaron O’Brien and Jack Halpin. Gavin Foley added three successful conversion kicks.