Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup
On Saturday, Bangor Grammar School played Rainey Endowed School in an entertaining game Rainey won by 56-12.
Bangor Grammar scored their points through tries from Cal Banyard and George Patterson with Adam Bickerstaff adding one successful conversion.
Rainey scored eight tries during the game.
Owen O’Kane and Lorcan McLarnon each scored two tries with Jonathan Johnston, Charlie McConville, Emmett McNulty and Luke Caskey each touching down for one try.
Owen O’Kane capped a fine personal performance with seven successful conversion kicks with Emmett McNulty adding the eighth conversion.
Campbell College played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in an exhilarating game RBAI won by 19-17.
Campbell College scored two tries through James Callaghan and Ollie Park with Henry Ralston adding both conversions as well as one successful penalty kick.
RBAI scored three tries through Jack Coulter, George Craigan and Connor Patton.
Charlie O’Connor was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
Coleraine Grammar School played Regent House School in a game the Regent House School team won by 42-7.
Coleraine Grammar contributed a lot to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Joel Milford touched down for a try which was then goaled by Joshua Hawe.
Regent House scored six tries with Lewis Robinson and Matthew Callaghan each scoring a brace alongside Toby McSorley and Finn McClean who ran in for one try apiece.
Josh Colville had a great morning “off the tee” with all six successful conversion kicks.
Dalriada School played Ballymena Academy at Ballymoney RFC in a game which finished as a 14-14 draw.
Dalriada’s were scored by Angus Graham and Matthew Fox.
Alfie Millar subsequently added the conversions to both tries.
Ballymena Academy scored their points early in the game with Tom Wylie and Reuben Allen scoring one try each to which Reuben added both conversions.
Both teams, their coaches and spectators would like to thank Ballymoney RFC for the use of facilities and hosting the game. Due to the game ending a draw, this fixture will be replayed this week.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Wallace High School in a game, where despite going 7-0 behind early on, Wallace emerged as 31-7 winners.
Ben Foster scored an early try for Enniskillen with Sam Paton, whose grandfather Wilton, a King’s Scholar’s RFC Legend, captained Campbell College to Schools’ Cup success against Coleraine AI in 1966, adding the conversion.
Wallace High School then went on to score five tries.
Rio McDonagh scored two with Michael McCavery, Sam Warwick and Daniel Wilson touching down for one try each.
Josh Geddis added three successful conversion kicks.
Methodist College played Belfast Royal Academy in a high scoring encounter BRA won by 43-26.
The Methodist College points came through two tries from Oliver Gartley and one try apiece from Callum Godfrey and Sam Nixon.
Louis Curran added three successful conversion kicks.
BRA scored their points through tries from Jayden Irwin, Frank Davis, Ryan Calwell, Max McKitterick, Jake Carpenter and Caleb McWhinney.
Connor McVicker used his trusty boot to add five successful conversions as well as one penalty goal.
Royal School Armagh played Down High School and recorded a 38-0 victory.
Hero of the Day for the Armagh team was Sam Gray who touched down for a hattrick of tries. Thomas Dougan, Cameron Dale and Paddy Seweryn scored the other three Royal School Armagh tries.
Evan Hughes added the extras to three tries with Adam Harrison adding a fourth successful conversion.
As a result of a recent initiative proposed by Ulster Rugby, the eighth Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round of Sixteen game, involving Banbridge Academy and Sullivan Upper School, took place as a curtain raiser game prior to the Ulster v Zebre URC game at the Kingspan Stadium on Sunday.
This game resulted in Sullivan emerging as the victors, beating Banbridge 24-3.
Banbridge Academy's points came from a penalty kick scored by Andrew Jackson.
Sullivan Upper's tries were scored by Hamish Johnston, Louis Baird, Harry Thallon and Jacob McKeown. Hamish Johnston added two successful conversions.
Once the results of all the Schools’ Cup and Bowl Round of Sixteen games were known, the draws for the quarter-final games in the Schools’ Cup, Schools’ Shield, Bowl and the Trophy competitions were made.
The draws were hosted by Friends’ School Lisburn in recognition of the school’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The draws were organised by Richard Clingan, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Rugby Committee and made by Mr Stephen Moore, Principal of Friends’, Richard Clingan, and Ulster Rugby Domestic Manager, Chris Webster.
The results of the draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Quarter-Finals
Rainey Endowed School v Dalriada School/Ballymena Academy
Royal School Armagh v Regent House School
Sullivan Upper School v Belfast Royal Academy
Wallace High School v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Shield Quarter-Finals
Methodist College v Bangor Grammar School
Banbridge Academy v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
Dalriada School/Ballymena Academy v Down High School
Campbell College v Coleraine Grammar School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Quarter-Finals
Dromore High School/Royal School Dungannon v Omagh Academy
Limavady Grammar School v Portadown College
Cambridge House Grammar School v Friends’ School /Belfast High School
Grosvenor Grammar School v Ballyclare High School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Finals
Preliminary Round
Carrickfergus Grammar School v Foyle College
This game MUST take place on/before Saturday 1 February.
Quarter-Finals
Dromore High School/Royal School Dungannon v Friends’ School /Belfast High School
Bangor Academy v Carrickfergus Grammar School/Foyle College
Larne Grammar School v Strabane Academy
Antrim Grammar School v Lurgan College
All of these games MUST be played on/before Saturday 8 February.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl
On Wednesday 22 January, two Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Round of Sixteen games took place.
In an early kick off game, Strabane Academy hosted Grosvenor Grammar School in a game the Grosvenor won by 38-3.
The young Strabane Academy team scored their points through a well struck penalty goal from the talented Jonny Orr.
Grosvenor scored their points through tries from Ewan Roberts, who ran in for two, Harley Huntley, James Campbell, Finn Henry and Adam Armstrong.
James Campbell added the extras to three of the tries with Shea Taggart adding a fourth conversion.
Later that afternoon, Omagh Academy played Bangor Academy at the Campsie Playing Fields in an exciting game Omagh Academy won by 36-5.
Omagh Academy scored six tries with Harry McIlwaine touching down for a hattrick, Ryan Mitchell scoring a brace and Lewis McIvor racing in for one try.
Sam Harper added the extras to three of the tries.
Bangor Academy made Omagh work hard for their win and players such as Sean McClory, who scored their try, Sean Hynes, Isaac Gourley and Steven Boyd stood out with their performances in the course of the game.
On Saturday, Carrickfergus Grammar School played Cambridge House Grammar School in a game Cambridge House won by 24-3.
Carrickfergus put in a solid performance with players such as Colin Campbell, Joshua Oluwatula, Toby Keating, Saul Logan and Adam Magill working hard.
Their points came through a well struck penalty kick from Alex McAllister.
Cambridge House scored their points through one try from Justin Marks alongside a hattrick from Henri Kyle.
Justin was also successful with two conversion kicks.
Dromore High School should have played Royal School Dungannon at Barban Hill but the game was postponed due to a frozen pitch. This game will be rescheduled to take place next week.
Foyle College played Limavady Grammar School in a very close encounter Limavady Grammar won by 19-17.
The Foyle College points came through two tries from Cian O’Leary with Thomas Williamson adding two successful conversions as well as one penalty goal.
Limavady Grammar scored three tries through Dara McAuley, James Mackey and Killian Brolly.
James Laird added two successful conversion kicks.
Friends’ School Lisburn should have played Belfast High School but the Belfast High School team was unable to travel. This game has been rescheduled to take place on Tuesday 28 January (kick-off 2.15pm).
Lurgan College played Ballyclare High School in a game Ballyclare High won by 26-7.
Ballyclare had built up a 14-0 lead by the interval before Lurgan responded with an early second half try scored by Andrew Lyttle and converted by Ben Maxwell.
The Ballyclare High points came through tries from Patrick McCleary, Ross Ferguson, Josh McColgan and Jack Morrow.
James Woodside added two conversions with Jude Semple adding a third.
Portadown College played Antrim Grammar School and won the game by 45-24.
Jack Todd, Jack Benson, with two, Tyler Jackson, with two, Bobby Newell and Taylor Sloan scored the Portadown tries.
Danny Guy was successful with two penalty goals as well as two conversion kicks.
Antrim Grammar scored their points with two tries from Tom McNeilly, one try from Jack McNeilly and one try from Michael McKay.
Calum Lavery added the conversions to two of the Antrim Grammar tries.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' 2XV Competitions
The draws for the 2XV Cup, 2XV Plate and the 2XV Trophy were completed.
The results of these draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Cup Semi-Finals
Ballymena Academy v Campbell College
Wallace High School v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2XV Plate Semi-Finals
Royal School Armagh v Friends’ School /Foyle College
Ballyclare High School v Coleraine Grammar School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Semi-Finals
Portadown College v Royal School Dungannon
Omagh Academy v Dromore High School
These games MUST be played on/before Saturday 1 February.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' 3XV Competitions
One recent Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup quarter-final game took place when Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4XV hosted Campbell College 4XV in a very closely contested game.
Campbell College won the game by 23-21 with their “Hero of the Hour”, Rory McIlduff, hitting a 30m drop goal, with the last play of the game, to secure the win for his team.
Campbell College 3XV played Methodist College 3XV in the quarter-final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Cup.
The Campbell College 3XV team won this game by 10-0.
On Friday 24 January, Portadown College 3XV should have played Ballyclare High School 3XV in their quarter-final game. However, due to Storm Eowyn, this game was postponed and will be rescheduled.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3XV Trophy
The last of the 3XV Trophy Round of Sixteen games took place when Banbridge Academy 3XV hosted Methodist College 5XV.
Banbridge Academy won this game by 47-12 and will now host Ballymena Academy 3XV in the quarter-finals.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Competitions
The Medallion Shield replay game involving Ballymena Academy Medallion and Down High School Medallion, was postponed due to the effects of Storm Eowyn. This game will be rescheduled for the coming week.
The draws for the Medallion Shield quarter-finals, Medallion Plate quarter-finals, Medallion Bowl semi-finals and the Medallion Trophy semi-finals took place.
The results of these draws are as follows:
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Quarter-Finals
Wallace High School v Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Sullivan Upper School v Larne Grammar School
Methodist College v Campbell College
Down High School/Ballymena Academy v Friends’ School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Plate Quarter-Finals
Belfast Royal Academy v Royal School Dungannon
Omagh Academy v Dalriada School
Down High School/Ballymena Academy v Ballyclare High School
Rainey Endowed School v Antrim Grammar School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl Semi-Finals
Bangor Grammar School v Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
Royal School Armagh v Regent House School
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Semi-Finals
Lurgan College v Belfast High School
Banbridge Academy v Bangor Academy
These games MUST be played on/before Saturday 1 February.
Friendlies
Coleraine Grammar School and Antrim Grammar School played a recent friendly fixture which Coleraine Grammar won by 31-0.
Coleraine Grammar scored five tries through Myles Johnston, Ben Todd, Archie McLenaghan, Louis McGowan and Oliver McLean.
Joshua Hawe added three successful conversion kicks.
Despite not crossing the Coleraine Grammar School whitewash, the Antrim Grammar School team had players such as Jack McNeilly, Jake Quigley, Isaac Lynn and Jake Quigley who came close to doing so on a number of occasions.