Several schools took the opportunity of playing early season fixtures a week before the official start of the new season on Saturday 7 September.
Friday 30 August
Enniskillen Royal GS hosted RS Armagh in a very closely contested game RS Armagh won, 19-17.
With both teams having players involved with the Ulster Age Grade teams it presented the opportunity for both squads to use an extended numbers of players.
Enniskillen scored three tires through Jamie Morrow, Josh Ovens and Clarke Balfour. Sam Patton added the extras to one of the tries.
Rob Hamilton, Alex Stinson and Paddy Seweryn touched down for RS Armagh, with Evan Hughes adding two successful conversion kicks.
Later that evening Stevenson Park was the venue when RS Dungannon played the Dungannon FC U18 team.
With several RS Dungannon players unavailable due to the Ulster Age Grade interprovincial games, this game gave the new RS Dungannon Master-in-Charge of Rugby, Alistair Ferguson, the opportunity to cast his eye over an extended squad of players in a competitive friendly game.
Following a very closely contested game, it was Dungannon FC U18 that emerged as 26-24 winners.
RS Dungannon scored four tries through Blake Redmond, Thomas Jenkins, Max Patterson and Ben Lowey. Blake Redmond capped a fine personal performance with one successful conversion with Jack Evans adding a second.
Dungannon FC U18’s points came through four tries from James Adamson, who ran in for two, Adam Watt and Ronan Quinn. James Adamson added to his impressive performance with three successful conversion kicks.
Saturday 31 August
Coleraine GS, with former Ulster and Ireland scrum-half, Kieran Campbell, as the new Director of Rugby, travelled to play Belfast Royal Academy in an extended squad training game.
Both squads were fortunate that a member of the USRFR, Alan O’Neill, was on hand to talk with the players and coaches about the changes to the Domestic Laws of Rugby for the incoming season. Alan had then the opportunity to referee the changes during the training games which all involved found to be a useful experience.
For the BRA, players such as Frank Davis, Zach Archer, Elijah Fitzpatrick and Jake Carpenter impressed with their performances during the run out.
Noah Beggs, Joe Coates, Luke McMillan, Ben Todd, Colin Patton, Archie McClenaghan and Joel Madden were among the Coleraine GS players who impressed with their input throughout the morning.
In Limavady, the Limavady GS coaches were delighted to have Aubrey Kerrigan, a member of the USRFR, on hand to work with their squad of senior players during a full contact series of training games at the Ballyquin Road venue. Aubrey spoke with all concerned about the Law Changes and then participated by refereeing the training games over 3x20 sessions.
Among the Limavady GS players who really benefitted from the training sessions were Scott Hawthorne, Antoni Zietala and Christopher Smyth.
Meanwhile, at Pirrie Park, Methodist College played St Gerard’s School, Bray in a closely contested game the St Gerard’s School team won by 26-21.
Scott Harrower, Sam Nixon and Matthew Gourley scored Methodist College’s tries with Louis Curran adding three successful conversion kicks.
St Gerard’s scored four tries through Zenon Chambers, Colin Whitten, who ran in for a brace, and Luke Tanner. Zenon was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Tuesday 3 September
Bangor RFC U18 team hosted Grosvenor GS at Upritchard Park.
This game, which the Grosvenor GS team won by 31-14, proved to be a useful early season run out for both teams. The game was refereed by David Coey, a member of the USRFR. David was able to speak with both teams prior to the game about the recent Law Changes.
Grosvenor scored five tries through Adam Osbourne, Ben Rea, James Campbell, Robin Cooper and William Marsh. Shea Taggart was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Bangor RFC U18 scored two tries through Sean Hynes and Lucas Lennon with Sean adding the extras to both tries.
Saturday 7 September
As part of the launch of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the school, Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Bangor GS in a game that was refereed by Stephen Snoddy, a current member of both the USRFR and the Manchester and District Society of Referees and a former Friends’ School 1XV captain.
In a game played in front of a good crowd, which Friends’ won by 49-7, both teams were determined from the outset to play with the ball in hand. In the early stages of the game, Bangor GS was in the ascendancy, but the Friends’ defence held firm.
Friends’ then started to put a few phases together and took control of the game.
They scored three first half tries with Scott Henderson touching down for two and Paddy Donaghey running in for one. Three Ross Glover conversions saw Friends’ into a 21-0 half time lead.
Bangor GS started the second half strongly and got reward for their endeavours with a try from Rory Harris which was converted by Adam Biggerstaff.
Four more Friends’ tries, with one from Ryley Murphy, one from Tadhg McMaster and a brace from Rob Henderson, all converted by Ross Glover, secured the 49-7 victory for Friends’.
Ballymena Academy hosted Ballyclare HS in a game the Ballymena Academy team won by 36-12.
Ballymena’s points came through tries from Peter Bailie, Luke McCluskey, two from Tom Wylie, Ollie Collins and Jacob Casson. Seth McCready was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Ballyclare scored two tries through Josh McColgan and Ross Ferguson with James Woodside adding one conversion.
Campbell College hosted Belfast Royal Academy and recorded a 27-14 victory following 3x20 minute sessions of play.
James Callaghan touched down for two tries for Campbell, with Ollie Park and Leo Graham touching down for one try apiece. Jenson Gowdy was successful with two penalty kicks as well as one conversion kick.
BRA had standout performances from players such as Hadwyn Hughes, Frank Davis and Zach Archer during the game.
Frank and Zach each scored one try with Frank adding the extras to both tries.
Carrickfergus GS played Carrickfergus RFC U18s and recorded a hard earned, but deserved, 26-5 victory.
Fielding several 1XV debutants, all of whom put in distinguished performances, Carrickfergus GS can approach the season with a renewed sense of optimism.
Among the Carrickfergus GS debutants were Toby Cummings, who scored a try, Alex McAllister, who converted three tries, Bailey Morton, who impressed with his open field play and Bobby Brown, who marshalled his team well from his scrum half position.
Other try scorers for Carrickfergus GS were Adam Magill, Saul Logan and Joshua Oluwatula.
Carrickfergus RFC scored a deserved consolation unconverted try when, near the end of the game, their pack rumbled over the whitewash following a 5m lineout win.
Down High School played Regent House in a game Regent House team controlled for long periods of time before finishing with a 40-0 victory.
Among the players who impressed on the Regent House team were Lewis Robinson, Jacob Mount, Sam McClements, Daniel Moore, Joel Clarke, Evan McGonigle, Harry Jackson, Josh Colville, Joel Davidson and Ewan Baker.
Enniskillen Royal GS hosted Omagh Academy in a game Enniskillen won by46-5.
Jake Irwin, with two, Josh Owens, Thomas Barnett, Shane Hoy, Morgan Whittaker, Jamie Morrow and Toby Newman were the Enniskillen Royal GS try scorers to which Jake Irwin added several conversions.
Omagh Academy team played very well throughout the game and scored the opening points of the game through an unconverted try from Sam Harper.
Foyle College played Coleraine GS in a very competitive Northwest “derby” game the Coleraine GS team won by 38-0.
Foyle College team was unfortunate not to have scored tries on several occasions during the game. A mixture of unfortunate final passes, as well as a resolute Coleraine GS defence, ensured the Coleraine whitewash remained intact.
Joe Coates, Archie Clenaghan, Ben Todd, Callum Jackson, and Lewis Magowan each scored one try for the Foyle team. Joshua Hawe had a fine morning off the tee with five successful conversions as well as one successful penalty kick.
Limavady GS played Dalriada School in a very closely contested game Dalriada won by 12-10.
Limavady’s points came through a try from Seth Guy with a conversion and penalty from Ben Moore who, along with Graeme Rosborough, was a standout player for the Limavady GS team.
Dalriada, with the Graham brothers impressing, scored two tries through Angus Graham and Isaac Moore. Alfie Millar added the extras to one of the tries.
The players and coaches from both teams were delighted to have had Paul Clifford appointed to referee this game.
Lurgan College hosted Portadown College in a Co.Armagh “derby” game from which the Portadown College team emerged as 21-5 winners.
Danny Guy, Billy Cannon and Thomas Kenny scored the Portadown College tries with Danny adding two conversions and Charlie Rodgers adding the third conversion.
Ben Maxwell scored an unconverted try, midway through the second period of play, for the very determined Lurgan College team.
Methodist College played Larne GS in a game Methodist College won by 48-8.
Methodist College’s points came through tries from Techin McGarvey, with two, Matthew Bell, Joe Thompson, Matthew Gourley, Rhys Hill, Scott Harrower and Sam Nixon. The remaining points came through several successful conversion kicks from Louis Curran.
Larne’s points came through a try from Ryan McDowell and a penalty kick from Ethan Duncan.
RBAI travelled to Dublin to play Belvedere College and, despite losing the game by 38-36, the RBAI team came within a whisker of winning the game having been 26-7 behind at the interval.
Belvedere College scored tries through Cillian McCann, Alex Clarke, Aidan O’Donnell, Dylan Lord and Mark McAuley. Tom Quinn was successful with three of his conversion kicks. The Belvedere College team was also awarded one penalty try.
RBAI scored six tries during the game. George Craigan scored two, with Jack Coulter, Sebastian Clarke, Ben McCausland and Andrew Purcell each touching down for one try. Jonah Power was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Wallace High School entertained St Gerard’s College, Bray in a closely contested game the Wallace team won by 7-0.
Wallace’s points came through a try from David Wilson which was converted by Jack Dillon.
Meanwhile, at Grosvenor GS, the annual Ian H Graham Trophy competition took place when Grosvenor GS hosted teams from Antrim GS, Banbridge Academy, Cambridge House GS and Rainey Endwed School.
Following a series of games, with over 100 players taking part, it was the Rainey Endowed School captain for the day, Ewan McKay, who emerged with the Ian H Graham Trophy at the end of a great morning of schoolboy rugby football.