Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield
On Saturday 15 November, one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield result came through when Limavady Grammar School recorded a walkover against Lurgan College.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup
The draw for the first-round games in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup took place recently.
The results of the draw are as follows;
- Antrim Grammar School v Belfast High School
- Foyle College v Portadown College
- Larne Grammar School v Limavady Grammar School
These games are scheduled to be played on/before Saturday 22 November.
1XV Friendlies
On Wednesday 12 November Cambridge House Grammar School played Antrim Grammar School with extended squads giving some twenty-five players from each school the opportunity for a run out.
Cambridge House won the game 26-14.
Ben Smith, Harry Campbell and Henri Kyle, with two, were the Cambridge House try scorers. Thomas Moorehead added the extras to three of the tries.
Antrim Grammar’s points came through tries from Ethan Lucas and Tom McNeilly to which Isaac Lynn and Harry Smith each added one successful conversion kick.
Meanwhile, at the Ballyquin Road venue, Limavady Grammar School played Omagh Academy in a game Limavady Grammar won 19-14.
Antoni Zietala, James Mackey and Alex Martin each scored one try for the Limavady Grammar School team with Alexander Howe adding two successful conversion kicks.
Ryan Mitchell and Matthew McClung scored the Omagh Academy tries with Sam Harper adding both successful conversion kicks.
On the same afternoon, Royal School Dungannon hosted Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in a game RS Dungannon won 47-5.
RS Dungannon scored seven tries during the game, six of which were converted.
Adam Nixon, with a brace, Matus Slajus, Blake Gibson, Stephen Wylie alongside James Gibson, with two, were the Dungannon try scorers.
James capped a fine personal performance with six successful conversion kicks.
The consolation Enniskillen Royal unconverted try was touched down by Jake Hinchcliffe.
On Friday 14 November, Eaton Park in Ballymena was the venue when Ballymena Academy entertained Larne Grammar School in a floodlit game the Ballymena Academy team won 43-7.
Jacob Casson, with a hattrick, Zak Topping, Oliver Shaw, Ollie Collins and Joshua Patterson were the Ballymena try scorers with James McMillan adding four successful conversion kicks.
Larne Grammar School, with players such as Corbin Marsden and Sam Boyd to the fore, scored their points through a Ryan McDowell try which was converted by Jonnie Kennedy.
Both teams, their coaches and supporters, would like to thank Ballymena RFC for the provision of facilities and hosting the game.
Earlier, on the same afternoon, Methodist College played Sullivan Upper School in a game which MCB won 26-12.
Played in very difficult overhead, as well as underfoot, conditions both teams attempted to play a positive style of rugby with the ball in hand.
MCB ran in four tries through Oliver Gartley, Sam Nixon, Luca Vericat and Alex O’Hagan.
Louis Curran added the extras to three of the Methodist College tries.
Sullivan contributed a lot to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Sebby Gorman and Finn McGrath touched down for one try apiece.
Henry Calvert was successful with one conversion kick.
On Saturday, several 1XV friendly games took place.
Ballyclare High School played Coleraine Grammar School in a three-session training game scenario which saw both sets of coaches using extended groups of players.
Launch plays from scrums and lineouts, set piece practices, attacking and defensive options, alongside a twenty-minute end of session game, gave the coaching staff from both schools the opportunity to combine and work with all the players involved.
Ballyclare High School players such as Austin Adair, James Woodside, Josh McColgan and Zach Thompson found the end of session game particularly useful while Coleraine Grammar School players such as Austin Henry, Joshua Hawe, Oliver McLean and Ben Todd felt likewise.
Belfast Royal Academy played Campbell College, at the JC Picken Playing Fields at Roughfort, in a game which saw the Campbell College team emerge as 28-16 winners.
Harrison McMahon scored a try for the Belfast Royal Academy team with Connor McVicker adding one successful conversion kick as well as three successful penalty goals.
Dylan Armstrong, David Nelson, Caelan Doy Dolan and Charlie Best each scored a try for the Campbell College team.
The talented Jack Best and Isaac Hatch each added two successful conversion kicks.
Friends’ School Lisburn 2XV hosted Lurgan College 1XV in a very early kick off game which the Lurgan College 1XV won 22-14.
Friends’ points came through tries from Ben Gracey and Will Smith to which Matthew Hare added both successful conversion kicks.
Lurgan College scored their points through tries from Daniel Wilson, Ben Maxwell, Pedro Melo and Andrew Bird.
Ben Maxwell added one successful conversion kick.
The game, played in difficult conditions, was refereed by that doyen of USRFR referees, Norman Gamble, who encouraged positive play from both teams throughout the game.
RBAI played Rainey Endowed School in a game RBAI won 43-14.
Connor Davis, Benjamin McCarten, Connor Patton, Matthew Elliott, Sebastian Clarke and Ross Dillon, with two, were the Royal Belfast Academical Institution try scorers.
Jonah Power was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Rainey’s points came through one try apiece from Adrian Martin and Emmett McNulty to which Adrian added one successful conversion kick.
Meanwhile, on an adjacent pitch, RBAI played a “Select” XV v Bangor Grammar School 1XV. RBAI won this game 38-7.
Oliver Stewart and Jack Surphliss each scored two tries RBAI with Ross Montgomery and Adam Middleby each running in for one try. Ollie Taylor added four successful conversion kicks.
Bangor Grammar’s points came through a try from Adam Bickerstaff which was converted by Ryan Gowdy.
Photography provided by Front Row Union Sports