Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
On Monday 2nd March, Methodist College played Campbell College in the first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup semi-finals at the Affidea Stadium.
The final score in this very close and exciting game was Campbell College 24 – 21 Methodist College.
Harry Wells, Russ Lovo and Raanan Potter scored the Campbell tries with the trusty boot of Jack Best adding all three successful conversion kicks as well as one penalty goal.
The Methody points came through tries from Callum Largey, Zach Neill and Oliver Hartley.
Louis Curran was successful with all three of his conversion kicks.
On Wednesday 4 March, Ballymena Academy played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in the second of the Schools’ Cup semi-final games at the Affidea Stadium.
In another exciting semi-final, the Ballymena players found themselves with a 14-12 lead at the break before the RBAI made a second half recovery to finished the game as 22-14 winners.
The Ballymena points came through first half tries from Ollie Collins and the impressive Callum Hargy.
James McMillan was successful with both his conversion kicks.
The RBAI try scorers were Adam Millar with two and Ross Dillon with two.
Charlie O’Connor was successful with one conversion kick.
Ulster Age-Grade
On Monday, the Meadowbank Arena in Magherafelt was the venue when Rainey Endowed School provided the opposition for the Ulster U18 Clubs.
The final score in this high scoring game read Ulster U18 Clubs 33 – 31 Rainey Endowed School.
Noah McClelland (Coleraine RFC), with two, Ayrton Pienaar (Virginia RFC), Josh Morrow (Finn Valley RFC) and Aydan Byrne (Dungannon FC) were the try scorers for Ulster.
Conor Frazer (Malone RFC) added four successful conversion kicks.
Rainey scored five tries as well in the course of the game.
Luke Caskey and Emmett McNulty each touched down for two tries with William Hunter running in for one try.
Adrian Martin was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Danske Bank Schools’ Trophy
On Saturday 7 March, Foyle College played Omagh Academy in the Schools’ Trophy Final on the WK Armstrong pitch at the Royal School Dungannon.
At the end of this final, it was the Omagh Academy team which emerged as 17-12 winners.
Ryan Mitchell, Sam Harper and Joshua Orr each scored a try for the Omagh Academy team with Sam Harper adding one successful conversion kick.
The Foyle College team scored two tries through Thom O’Neill and Cian O’Leary with Darwyn Nutt adding one successful conversion kick.
After the final whistle, Gary Greer, Chair of the Ulster Age Grade Committee, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Graham Gibson for the way in which he controlled the game, thanked Richard Clingan, David Riddles and the Royal School Dungannon ground staff for the use of facilities and hosting the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support.
Gary then went on to present the finalist medals to all the players involved and the Schools’ Trophy to Harry McIlwaine, captain of the Omagh Academy team.
Danske Bank Subsidiary Shield
On Friday 6 March, Belfast Royal Academy played Coleraine Grammar School in the Schools’ Subsidiary Shield Final at Affidea Stadium.
This very high scoring final finished with Belfast Royal Academy winning the game, 43-35.
The BRA points came through tries Connor McVicker, Jayden Irwin, Harry O’Kane, Daniel Henderson, Alex French and Daniel Bell.
Connor McVicker had a great game off the tee with five successful conversion kicks as well as one penalty goal.
The Coleraine Grammar team contributed a lot to the game with their power and pace, scoring five tries in the process.
Cody Moffatt and Luke McMillan each scored a brace with Luke McCauley adding a fifth try.
Ben Todd added the extras to two of the Coleraine Grammar School tries as well as kicking two successful penalty goals.
After the final whistle, Paula Stewart, Junior Vice President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Oisin Quinn and his team of Ross Copeland, Shane Toolan and Nathan Lamont for the way in which they controlled the game and thanked the Danske Bank for their continued support.
Paula then went on to present the finalist medals to all the players involved and the Subsidiary Shield to Connor McVicker, captain of the Belfast Royal Academy team.
Danske Bank Schools’ Bowl
On Thursday 5 March, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played Bangor Grammar School in the Bowl Final at Affidea Stadium.
Bangor Grammar School won this final, 20-3.
Sam Paton kicked a penalty goal to account for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School points.
The Bangor Grammar School points came through four unconverted tries from Noah Lack, Bruce McClure, with a brace and Albie Scott.
After the final whistle, Paul Hart, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Andrew Munce and his team of Alana Kerr, Terry Cooke and Glenda Mellon for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked Chris Webster and the Ulster Rugby staff for their organisation of the final, and thanked Danske Bank for their continued support.
Paul then went on to present the finalist medals to all the players involved and the Schools’ Bowl to Rory Fulton, captain of the victorious Bangor Grammar School team.
Danske Bank Medallion Shield
On Tuesday 3 March, Wallace High School played Sullivan Upper School in the final of the Medallion Shield at the Affidea Stadium.
Wallace came back from a 10-0 deficit at the interval to win this exciting game by 19-17.
After the final whistle, Paul Hart, President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, congratulated both teams, as well as their coaches, on reaching the final, thanked the parents/guardians of all the players for their support given to the players throughout the season, thanked the referee, Chris Cahoon and his team of Daniel Carson, Alan O’Neill and Robbie Mitchell for the way in which they controlled the game, thanked Chris Webster and the Ulster Staff for their organisation of the final and thanked Danske Bank for their continued support.
Paul, and Vicky Davis, CEO Danske Bank, then went on to present the finalist medals to all the players involved and the Medallion Shield to Ben Gilmore, captain of the victorious Wallace team.
Friendlies
On the Wednesday, Ballyclare High School hosted Antrim Grammar School and Cambridge House Grammar School in a four squad 10-a-side series of 15- minute games where teams fielded five-man scrums and lineouts with the scrums being non contested.
This allowed the players to experience playing in different positions while still having the opportunity to play a lot with the ball in hand.
All the players involved enjoyed the afternoon of active rugby activity with the feedback suggesting that Ballyclare High through Director of Rugby, Michael Orchin McKeever, may look at developing this format for future end of season rugby activity.
One interested spectator was former Royal School Dungannon, King’s Scholars and Dungannon FC winger, Stephen JJ Graham.
Since retiring from his role as Head of Physical Education at Coleraine Academical Institution, now Coleraine Grammar School Stephen spends a lot of time driving for a local coach company and was pleased to get the opportunity to watch the afternoon of rugby at Ballyclare High school.
Lurgan College hosted an U17 Blitz morning with teams from Antrim Grammar School and Cambridge House Grammar School taking part in an exciting morning of rugby with over 120 players taking part.
For Antrim Grammar School players such as Cameron Molyneaux, Rio McKee and Calum Lavery really impressed as did James Johnston, Shay Gill, Thomas Calwell, Jack Hyndman and Seth Daly for the Cambridge House Grammar School team with Jack Cowan, Charlie Boyce and Seth Martin impressing with their performances for the Lurgan College team.
Friends’ School Lisburn and Banbridge Academy played a full game at U17 level with the Friends’ School Lisburn team coming out as 24-12 winners.
Max Warwick, Joel Irwin, Ben Garret and Will Smyth scored the Friends’ School Lisburn tries with Will adding two successful conversion kicks.
Sam Leslie and Conor Patton scored the Banbridge Academy tries with Daniel Byrne adding the extras to one of the tries.
Meanwhile, at Osborne Park, over 450 U14 players took part in the annual Royal Belfast Academical Institution U14 Tournament.
Twenty teams, including a squad from Terenure College in Dublin, played out a series of group stage games before the finalists in the various competitions were known.
In the finals of this U14 Blitz tournament, Terenure College overcame Royal Belfast Academical Institution to win the Cup, Campbell College defeated Belfast Royal Academy to win the Plate, Coleraine Grammar School won against Regent House School to win the Trophy and Enniskillen Royal Grammar School defeated Sullivan Upper School to win the Bowl.
Photography provided by Front Row Union Sports.