There was one game played on Saturday 31st October when Foyle and Londonderry College travelled to play a game against the Belfast Metropolitan College team from which the Foyle College team emerged as convincing 53-14 winners. The Belfast Met team scored two converted tries in the course of the game. Tim Cole scored two tries for the Foyle College team as did Jack Smyth. Stephen Konopka, Chris Gill, Mark Williams, David Jackson and Michael Orr all touched down for one try each. Michael Orr was successful with three conversions with Chris Gill kicking one to ensure the 53-14 win for the Foyle and Londonderry College team.

Three midweek friendly games, as well as a number of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2ndxv and 3rdxv Cup matches, were played on Wednesday 4th in the lead up to a list of fixtures on Saturday 7th November. There were also two games played on Friday 6th November.

Dalriada School hosted their near neighbours from Coleraine Grammar School in a game the Coleraine GS team won by 27-7. The Coleraine team had built up a 21-7 by halftime with tries from Thomas Lavery, Andrew McKee and Callum Smith. Callum was successful with all three conversions. In reply, Dalriada scored a try through their full back, Thomas Hunter. The try was converted by Stuart Moore.

The second half was a more evenly contested affair with the only points of the half coming from the trusty boot of Callum Smith who was successful with two penalty kicks. These points ensured the 27-7 victory for the Coleraine Grammar School team.

Friends’ School, Lisburn played Wellington College, Belfast in a high scoring game the Lisburn team won by 36-10. David Stewart kicked an early penalty for the Friends’ School team to give them a 3-0 lead. Wellington College responded immediately with a successful penalty from Jamie Dorman to take the score to 3-3. Alex O’Brien then ran in for an unconverted try to put the Friends’ School team into an 8-3 lead. George Pringle took advantage of spaces in the Wellington College defence to touch down for two tries. David Stewart converted both tries to give the Friends’ School team a 22-3 lead at the interval.

Early in the second half the Friends’ School lead extended to 29-3 when David Newell scored a try which was converted by David Stewart. The Wellington College team refused to lie down to the Friends’ School onslaught and ran in for a converted try to reduce the deficit to 29-10. Aaron Nelson scored the try following a powerful run which left a trail of despairing Friends’ School defenders in his wake. Jamie Dorman was successful with the conversion. Alex O’Brien then scored his second try of the game to put the Friends’ School team into a 34-10 lead. David Stewart was successful with the conversion kick to see the Friends’ School, Lisburn team through as 36-10 winners.

This was a team effort from the Friends’ School squad but Curtis Dundas, Alex O’Brien, David Stewart and Adam Milligan all played leading roles in the successful outcome for the Lisburn team. Aaron Nelson and Jamie Dorman were the outstanding players for the Wellington College team.

In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup Down High School travelled to play Omagh Academy and came away with a 14-5 victory.

In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rdxv Cup the Royal School, Armagh team travelled to Roughfort to play Belfast Royal Academy. The Royal School, Armagh team emerged from this game as 26-7 winners. Meanwhile, in a closely contested encounter in the same competition, the Banbridge Academy team lost out by 23-22 against the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team. St Columb’s College defeated St Columba’s College, Stranorlar by 39-12 in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup.

Banbridge Academy got back to winning ways when they played Carrickfergus Grammar School under lights at Banbridge Rugby Club on Friday 6th November. The Banbridge team had built up a 17-0 lead by halftime before going on to win the game by 41-0. Outhalf, Ben Thompson, scored the first try of the game after just three minutes. Ben converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead. This lead was extended to 12-0, a short time later, when Ben Russell touched down for an unconverted try. Towards the end of the second quarter of the game the Banbridge Academy scrum half, Jordan Mount, scored an unconverted try to give his team a 17-0 at the interval.

Three minutes after the restart the Banbridge prop, John Wilson, scored an unconverted try to increase the Banbridge lead to 22-0. Twelve minutes later Tommy Russell scored another unconverted try to increase the lead to 27-0. Ethan Cromie then capped a fine personal display with a try, which Ben Thompson converted, to put his team into a 34-0 lead. With the last play of the game replacement winger, Jamie Ewing, ran in for a try. Ben Thompson added the extras to seal the 41-0 win for the Banbridge Academy team. Jordan Mount, John Wilson, Jonny Campbell and Ethan Cromie all impressed with their performances for the Banbridge team throughout the game.

Both the Banbridge Academy and Carrickfergus Grammar School teams would like to thank Banbridge Rugby Club for the provision of facilities and hosting the game which was played under the floodlights at Rifle Park.
Bangor Grammar School hosted Belfast Royal Academy in another floodlit game played at Uprichard Park on Friday 6th November. The BRA team won the game by 24-7. BRA winger, Jack Burton, scored two tries with Conor McAuley scoring one. Michael Wilson converted all three tries as well as adding one penalty kick.
Both Bangor Grammar School and Belfast Royal Academy would like to thank Bangor Rugby Club for the use of facilities and hosting the game.

There was one Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup game played on Saturday 7th November when Royal Belfast Academical Institution defeated their Methodist College, Belfast counterparts by 36-0.

The Rainey Endowed team was missing a number of key players, including team captain, Andrew Brown, and Ulster U19 prop, Anton Lupari, who picked up a knock at the recent Ireland U19 Camp at Rockwell College, when they played the Royal School, Dungannon team. The only things that separated the teams at the end of a game, played in poor weather conditions, were two Lorcan Quinn penalties which ensured a 6-0 win for the Rainey Endowed School team. Lorcan kicked a penalty in each half of the game. Year 12 players, David Atkinson and Matthew Smyth, impressed with their performances for the Rainey Endowed School team.

Coleraine Grammar School hosted their near neighbours from Ballymena Academy in a closely contested game the Ballymena team won by 14-5. The difficult weather conditions made it hard for either team to enjoy any real periods of territory or possession. The game was played mainly in the middle third of the pitch in the first half. The Ballymena Academy team had the advantage at set piece time but astute tactical kicking from Callum Smith ensured the Coleraine GS line remained intact. The closest either team came to a first half score was when a well struck Callum Smith penalty was just wide off the upright.

Ballymena Academy started the second half strongly with Angus Kernohan and Marcus Rea combining to put Azur Allison in for the first points of the game. Michael Stronge added the conversion to give his team a 7-0 lead. From the restart Ballymena Academy found themselves close to the Coleraine Grammar School line once again. Alexander Clarke hit the tail of a lineout where Jonny McKeown plucked the ball. Jonny outstripped three defenders before touching down for a try. Michael Stronge added the conversion to put the Ballymena Academy team into a 14-0 lead. The Coleraine GS team rallied and got rewarded for their endeavours when they gathered a charge down kick and ran in for an unconverted try close to the end of the game. There were no further scores which ensured the Ballymena Academy team returned home as 14-5 winners.

Regent House played Cambridge House in a game the composite Regent House team won by 55-28. Regent House had built up a 17-14 lead by half time with tries from Ryan McCarroll, Kyle Van Gleisen and Brandon Frazer. Robbie Johnston added one conversion. The Cambridge House team scored two converted tries in the first half.

In the second half Alistair Deering scored three tries with David Jameson touching down for two and Tom Donnan scoring one. Robbie Johnston was successful with four conversions. Cambridge Hose scored two converted tries in the second half which ensured the final score read 55-28 in favour of the Regent House team.
The Omagh Academy team maintained their unbeaten run against school teams in Ulster when they travelled to Lurgan College to play a game the Omagh team won by 7-3. Both teams had difficulty in adapting to the weather conditions prevalent throughout the game. The Omagh pack, led by Matthew Clyde, provided the foundation for the success of the team during the game. It was the proven duo of Matthew Clyde and Kyle Beattie that scored the Omagh Academy points. Matthew got the touchdown, following a well-organised Omagh lineout, to put his team into a 5-0 lead. Kyle added the conversion to make that lead 7-0. Lurgan College replied immediately with a penalty from Jamie Patterson to reduce the deficit to 7-3.

The second half saw both sets of forwards dominate proceedings with the respective backlines seeing little of the ball. There were no further scores which ensured the Omagh Academy team finished as 7-3 winners at the end of the game.

Harry Simpson, Phil McRoberts, Jonny Carson and Mark Montgomery all played well in the Lurgan College pack while Year 12 winger, Peter Jackson, and the established half back partnership of Scott Wilson and Jamie Patterson, played well in the Lurgan College backs.

Portora Royal School travelled to play Belfast Metropolitan College in a game from which the Portora RS team emerged as 41-5 winners. Both teams experienced difficulties in adapting to the muddy underfoot conditions but it was the Portora team that got early points on the board when Robert Baloucoune ran in for a try, which Dylan Crawford converted, to give his team a 7-0 lead. Portora RS were soon on the scoreboard again when Matthew Dane ran in for an unconverted try to increase their lead to 12-0. Portora began to control aspects of the game and scored a third try through Dylan Crawford. Dylan converted the try to give the Portora RS team a 19-0 lead by half time.

In the second half the Portora forwards, with Josh Kennedy and Andrew Crawford leading the way, took control of the breakdown. They produced quick ruck ball which enabled Robert Baloucoune to run in for his second try of the game. Dylan Crawford missed the conversion but the Portora team now had a 24-0 lead. Dylan Crawford then rounded off a fine personal performance to touch down for an unconverted try and extend the Portora RS lead to 29-0. The Belfast Met team touched down for an unconverted try to see the scoreboard read 29-5. The final quarter of the game belonged to the Portora Royal School team. They scored when Matthew Dane touched down for his second try of the game and then Adam Boles finished off a brilliant run from Josh Kennedy with a try under the posts. Dylan Crawford added the extras to secure the 41-5 win for the Portora Royal School team.
Campbell College hosted a mini tournament featuring two teams from Campbell College, Down High School and Dalriada School. Dalriada drew 0-0 with Down High School and lost by 8-7 against Campbell College.

Gavin McCaughern ran the length of the pitch to score a try, which was converted by Stuart Moore, to give the Dalriada team a 7-0 lead against the Campbell College team. Campbell responded with a try from Ben Webb as well as a penalty from Malcolm Corry to secure their 8-7 victory at the end of this game.

Campbell College went on to defeat Down High School by 21-0. Jamie Clarke, Jamie McCartney and Jack Barry-Glendinning each scored a try with Malcolm Corry converting all three.

Down High School defeated the Campbell College 2nd XV by 8-0 with the points coming from a William Martin try and a Charlie Power try.

Sullivan Upper defeated Royal School, Armagh by 28-5. The Sullivan Upper team was 21-0 ahead by the break with tries coming from Chris Jordan, Dan Braniff and Jukes Storey. Rory Kilpatrick converted all three tries.
Matty Moran scored a fourth Sullivan Upper try in the second half. Rory Kilpatrick was successful with the conversion. Late in the game the Royal School, Armagh team scored a consolation try to leave the final score reading 28-5 in favour of the Sullivan Upper team. No information was made available regarding the RS Armagh try scorer.

Ballyclare High School hosted Grosvenor Grammar School in a game the Ballyclare High School team won by 17-12. Grosvenor GS had taken a 5-0 lead by the break having scored an unconverted try.

The Ballyclare High School team recovered and scored three second half tries. Zachary McMurran, Ali Burke and Andrew Seymour scored the tries with Ryan McIlwaine successful with one conversion. Grosvenor scored a late converted try to leave the Ballyclare High School team as 17-12 winners.

Portadown College hosted Wallace High School in a game the Wallace team won by 25-0. Played in horrendous conditions the Wallace High School had taken a 10-0 first half lead. They scored a converted try and then converted a penalty opportunity.

The second half saw the Portadown College team control affairs for periods of time with Jordan Taylor breaking through the Wallace High School defence on a number of occasions. However, inaccurate final passes brought a number of promising passages of play to an abrupt halt. Wallace scored three unconverted tries late in the game to secure their 25-0 win. Unfortunately, despite requests, no information was made available regarding the Wallace High School points scorers.

Larne Grammar School hosted Antrim Grammar School in a game the Larne Grammar School team won by 20-18. Unfortunately no information regarding this game was made available.

Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Friends’ School, Lisburn in a game the Belfast Inst team won by 20-0.

Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Round Up: Saturday 7th November 2015

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