Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
On Saturday 24 January, eight Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen games, as well as the seven remaining Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games, took place.
Ballymena Academy played Portadown College and recorded an impressive 40-0 victory.
Jacob Casson, James McMillan, Seth McCready, Zak Topping, Billy Wylie, Will Coffey and James McMillan all contributed to the Ballymena scorers’ list.
Belfast Royal Academy hosted Campbell College in a game Campbell College won, 17-5.
Daniel Bell scored the consolation unconverted try for BRA.
Campbell College scored two tries through Paul Henry and David Nelson with the trusty boot of Jack Best adding two successful conversion kicks as well as one successful penalty goal.
Friends’ School Lisburn played Methodist College in a game that saw a spirited Friends’ make MCB work hard for their deserved 47-10 victory.
Zac Wilson scored the Friends’ try with Ross Glover adding one successful conversion kick as well as one successful penalty goal.
The MCB points came through tries from Peter Molloy, Zac Neill, Brody Magowan Gould, Oliver Hartley, Ruairi Kennedy, Harry Docherty and Callum Godfrey.
Louis Curran added four successful conversion kicks with Peter Molloy adding two further conversions.
Regent House School played Ballyclare High School in a very close encounter Regent House won, 14-12.
Tom Bell scored both Regent House tries with Zach McMinn adding the extras to both tries.
Zach Thompson and Joshua Tweed each scored one try for Ballyclare High.
James Woodside was successful with one of his conversion kicks.
RBAI entertained Coleraine Grammar School in a game which RBAI won, 45-10.
Sebastian Clarke, with a brace, Jack Coulter, Elliott Magowan, Jonah Power, Adam Boyd and Ross Dillon were the RBAI try scorers.
Charlie O’Connor was successful with five of his conversion kicks.
The hard-working Coleraine Grammar got some reward for their endeavours when Oliver McClean ran in for a try, which was converted by Ben Todd, who also added one successful penalty goal.
Royal School Armagh played Wallace High School in a game which swung to and froe before Wallace emerged as 21-14 winners.
Alex Stinson and Charlie Reaney scored the RSA tries with Tom Kennedy adding both successful conversion kicks.
The Wallace points came through tries from Isaac Brett, with two, and Adam Crone.
James Curran was successful with all three of his conversion kicks.
Royal School Dungannon played Rainey Endowed School in a very exciting game te Rainey won, 12-10.
Blake Redmond scored the RSD try with James Gibson adding one successful conversion kick as well as one successful penalty goal.
The Rainey points came through tries from William Hunter and Jude McPuffin with one successful conversion from Adrian Martin.
Sullivan Upper School hosted Down High School and recorded a 15-0 win.
Finn McGrath scored two tries for the home team with Henry Calvert adding one successful conversion kick as well one successful penalty kick.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl
On Wednesday 21 January, Strabane Academy hosted Dromore High School in their Round of Sixteen game.
At the end of this exciting game, Dromore High emerged as 33-21 winners.
Jonathan Orr, Andrew McGarrigle and Harvey Shields scored the Strabane tries with Jonathan Orr adding two successful conversion kicks and Hayden Snodgrass adding a third.
Lewis Mulligan, Jake McKittrick, with a brace, Aaron Bell and Alfie Clarke scored the Dromore High School tries with Alfie Clarke adding four successful conversion kicks.
On Saturday, Antrim Grammar School played Lurgan College in a game Antrim Grammar team won, 12-0.
Antrim Grammar, on the back of a strong performance from Rio McKee, scored two tries through Sam Barclay and Tom McNeely. One successful conversion kick from Isaac Lynn secured the 12-0 victory.
Belfast High School played Bangor Grammar School in a game which saw Bangor Grammar record a 47-7 victory.
Ben Gardner scored the Belfast High try to which he also added the conversion.
Calvin Cousins, with three, Luke McKenzie, Rory Fulton, Paddy McClure, Noah Lack, Bruce McClure and Albie Scott scored the Bangor Grammar tries. Rory Fulton added the extras to one of the tries.
Cambridge House Grammar School played Limavady Grammar School in a game Limavady Grammar won, 8-0.
Alexander Howe kicked a first half penalty to give the Limavady Grammar School team a 3-0 lead at the interval. A second half unconverted try from Joseph Murphy ensured the 8-0.
Dalriada School played Bangor Academy and won the game, 40-0.
Archie Graham, Matthew Nicholl, Noah McMullan and Matthew McCamphill were all among try scorers for the Dalriada School team. Chris Finney added several successful conversion kicks as well as one penalty goal.
Grosvenor Grammar School played Banbridge Academy in a game Banbridge Academy won, 19-5.
The Grosvenor points came through an unconverted try from William Marsh.
The Banbridge points came through tries from Arturs Jonuss, Alex Andersson and Caleb Cromie. Max Ireland was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
Larne Grammar School played Foyle College in a very closely contested game Larne Grammar won, 14-12.
On the back of strong performances from Larne Grammar players such as Jamie Jones and Corbin Marsden, Ryan McDowell scored an unconverted try, with the reliable boot of Jonnie Kennedy adding three successful penalty goals.
The Foyle points came through tries from Jaden Chen and Cian O’Leary with Niall Kelly adding one successful conversion kick.
Omagh Academy played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in an even more closely contested game, from which ERGS emerged as 14-13 winners.
The Omagh points all came in the second half of the game. Ryan Mitchell and Harry McIlwaine each scored a try with the impressive Sam Harper adding one successful penalty goal.
Likewise, the ERGS points were all scored in the second half of this game.
The trusty boot of Sam Paton contributed three successful penalty kicks before an unconverted try from Jake Irwin secured the 14-13 victory for the Enniskillen team.
In what was a busy week of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ competition games, the Ulster Schools’ Committee would like to thank the USRFR for supplying referees to all the games.
Once the results of all the Schools’ Cup and Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games were known, the draws for the quarter-finals of the Cup, Subsidiary Shield, Bowl and Trophy took place.
The draws took place at the Royal School Dungannon and were organised by Richard Clingan, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee.
Chris Webster, Ulster Domestic Rugby Manager, was in attendance to co-ordinate.
The draws were made by the Danske Bank representative, Megan Park, Mr Mark McCullough, Principal of Rainey Endowed School and Dr David Burnett, Principal of Royal School Dungannon.
The results of the draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Finals
- Campbell College v Regent House School
- Wallace High School v RBAI
- Rainey Endowed School v Methodist College
- Sullivan Upper School v Ballymena Academy
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Quarter-Finals
- Portadown College v Royal School Armagh
- Ballyclare High School v Down High School
- Belfast Royal Academy v Royal School Dungannon
- Coleraine Grammar School v Friends’ School Lisburn
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Quarter-Finals
- Dromore High School v Antrim Grammar School
- Limavady Grammar School v Larne Grammar school
- Bangor Grammar School v Dalriada School
- Enniskillen Royal Grammar School v Banbridge Academy
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Finals
- Foyle College v Cambridge House Grammar School
- Grosvenor Grammar School v Lurgan College
- Belfast High School v Bangor Academy
- Omagh Academy v Strabane Academy
These games MUST be played on/before Saturday 7 February.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Competitions
The draws for the Medallion Shield quarter-finals, Medallion Plate quarter-finals, Medallion Bowl semi-finals and the Medallion Trophy semi-finals were released on Monday 19 January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Quarter-Finals
- Omagh Academy v Wallace High School
- Coleraine Grammar School v RBAI
- Royal School Armagh v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
- Sullivan Upper School v Methodist College
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Quarter-Finals
- Banbridge Academy v Ballymena Academy
- Larne Grammar School v Ballyclare High School
- Campbell College v Grosvenor Grammar School
- Rainey Endowed School v Regent House School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Semi-Finals
- Belfast Royal Academy v Limavady Grammar School
- Royal School Dungannon v Friends’ School Lisburn
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Semi-Finals
- Belfast High School v Wellington College
- Cambridge House Grammar School v Foyle College
These games MUST be played on/before Saturday 31 January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Competitions
On Monday 19 January, the previously delayed 2XV Plate quarter-final featuring Coleraine Grammar School 2XV and Sullivan Upper School 2XV was played at the Castlerock Road venue in Coleraine.
Sullivan Upper won this game, 19-12.
Following the outcome of this game, the draws for the semi-finals of 2XV Cup, 2XV Plate and 2XV Trophy were released.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup Semi-Finals
- Methodist College v Ballymena Academy
- Campbell College v RBAI
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Plate Semi-Finals
- Belfast Royal Academy v Regent House School
- Royal School Dungannon v Sullivan Upper School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Trophy Semi-Finals
- Foyle College v Limavady Grammar School
- Bangor Grammar School v Omagh Academy
These semi-finals MUST be played on/before Saturday 31 January.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Competitions
On Wednesday, Omagh Academy 3XV hosted Bangor Grammar School 3XV in their 3XV Trophy Round of Sixteen game.
Bangor Grammar won this game, 24-19.
In the same competition, RBAI 5XV played Methodist College 4XV.
RBAI won this game, 47-7.
The draw for the 3XV Trophy quarter-finals are as follows:
- Banbridge Academy 3XV/RBAI 4XV v RBAI 5XV
- Sullivan Upper School 3XV v Regent House School 3XV
- Bangor Grammar School 3XV v Wallace High School 3XV
- Foyle College 3XV v Down High School 3XV
These 3XV Trophy games MUST be played on/before Saturday 31 January.
Photography provided by Front Row Union Sports.