Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup
In the quarter-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Rainey Endowed School hosted Ballymena Academy in an exciting game the Rainey won by 24-17.
Despite going 3-0 behind to a Reuben Allen penalty early in the game, the Rainey team recovered to score an unconverted try from Charlie McConville and take a 5-3 lead.
A second half try from Emmett McNulty, converted by Owen O’Kane, alongside four Owen O’Kane penalties, secured the 24 points for Rainey.
The remaining Ballymena Academy points came through tries from James Gregg and Ruari Kennedy, both of which were converted by Reuben Allen.
Royal School Armagh played Regent House School and emerged from the very closely contested encounter with a hard-earned 25-22 victory.
Charlie Reaney, with a brace, Sam Gray and Willie Boyd scored the Royal School Armagh tries.
Evan Hughes added one successful conversion as well as one successful penalty kick.
The Regent team points came through a penalty try, as well as one try each from Daniel Moore and Noah Miskimmin.
Josh Colville added the extras to one try as well as converting one penalty kick opportunity.
Sullivan Upper School played Belfast Royal Academy in another closely contested encounter from which the Belfast Royal Academy team emerged as 20-17 winners.
BRA took a 7-0 lead, ten minutes into the game, when Jayden Irwin touched down for a try which was converted by Conor McVicker.
This became 10-0 for the Belfast Royal team when Conor McVicker converted a penalty kick.
The Sullivan team responded with a try from Nathan Noble, converted by Hamish Johnston, to leave the scoreboard reading Sullivan Upper School 7-10 Belfast Royal Academy at the interval.
Ten minutes into the second half, Sullivan took the lead for the first time in the game.
A Jack Law try, converted by Hamish Johnston, saw their team into a 14-10 lead.
Back came BRA with a try from Caleb McWhinney, converted by Conor McVicker, to give their team a 17-14 lead.
A second Conor McVicker penalty increased the BRA lead to 20-14.
A Hamish Johnston penalty reduced the Sullivan deficit to 20-17 but, despite their best efforts, and good Belfast Royal Academy defence, the Sullivan Upper School team was unable to add to the scoreboard before the no-side whistle sounded.
Wallace High School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution and won the game by 21-3.
The Wallace points came through tries from Ben Moore, Sam Warwick and James Gould.
Josh Geddis had a good game “off the tee” with three successful conversion kicks.
Charlie O’Connor scored the RBAI points with an early game successful penalty kick.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Shield
In the quarter-finals of the Schools’ Shield, Banbridge Academy played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and won the game by 14-10.
Ryan Hanna and Peter Lewis scored the Banbridge tries with Andrew Jackson adding the extras to both.
Sam Clark scored an early try for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team with Sam Paon adding the conversion as well as one second half penalty.
Campbell College played Coleraine Grammar School and recorded a 38-7 victory.
Campbell College scored six tries through Jed Dornan, with two, Conor McKinney, Paul Lunney, Russ Lovo and Oli Park.
Henry Ralston was successful with four of his conversion kicks.
Coleraine Grammar School contributed a lot to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Oliver McLean touched down for a try, following some great work from the talented Joshua Hawe.
Joshua then added the extras.
Dalriada School played Down High School on Monday 10 February, and Dalriada won 26-12.
Methodist College played Bangor Grammar School and got back to winning ways with a 38-7 victory.
Sam Nixon, Peter Malloy, Matthew Gourley, with two and Harry Doherty, with two were the Methodist College try scorers.
Louis Curran added the extras to four of the tries.
The Bangor Grammar points came through the award of a penalty try.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Bowl
On Friday 7 February, Cambridge House Grammar School played Friends’ School Lisburn in the quarter-final of the Schools’ Bowl.
When that doyen of the USRFR, Mark Orr, blew the final whistle in this game, the scoreboard read 27-7 to Friends’ School.
Cambridge House contributed a lot to the power and pace of this game.
Their points came from a Scott Steele try which was converted by Justin Marks.
Despite not controlling either territory or possession for long periods of time, Friends’ scored four tries during the game.
The pace of Andrew Jordan enabled him to touch down for two tries with Tadhg McMaster and Isaac Warwick touching down for one try each.
Ross Glover added conversions to two of the Friends’ School tries as well as kicking one penalty goal.
Meanwhile, Grosvenor Grammar School played Ballyclare High School in the quarter-final of the same competition.
Ballyclare High recorded a 41-0 victory over the spirited Grosvenor team.
Ballyclare High scored their points through tries from Ross Ferguson, with two, Andrew Cooper, with two, Paddy McCleary, with two and Ben Vance with one.
James Woodside added the extras to three of the Ballyclare High School tries.
On Saturday, the two remaining Bowl quarter-final games took place.
Limavady Grammar School played Portadown College and recorded a 27-21 victory.
The Limavady team scored three tries through Seth Guy, with two and Dara McAuley.
James Laird added the conversions to all three tries as well as kicking two successful penalty goals.
Portadown College’s points came through tries from Tyler Jackson, who touched down twice and Jack Todd.
Danny Guy added three successful conversions.
Royal School Dungannon played Omagh Academy in a game that saw the RS Dungannon emerge with a hard fought, but ultimately well-deserved, 29-20 victory.
With players such as Isaac Busby, James Gibson and Blake Redmond to the fore, the Royal School Dungannon team started the game strongly.
The Omagh Academy team, with Sam Harper to the fore, and well assisted by Ryan Mitchell and Harry McIlwaine made Royal School Dungannon work hard for their victory.
Royal School Dungannon scored their points with tries from Josh Ferguson, James Gibson, Max Patterson, Blake Redmond and James Shaw.
James Gibson was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
Omagh Academy scored their points with tries from Ryan Mitchell, Lewis McIvor and Jack Adams.
Sam Harper added one conversion as well as one penalty goal.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy
Larne Grammar School hosted Strabane Academy in the quarter-final of the Schools’ Trophy and won the game against a very spirited Strabane Academy team by 40-0.
Larne Grammar tries were scored by Ethan Duncan, Nicholas Robinson, Sam Jackson, Reece Renwick, Jonathan Dallas and Matthew Crawford.
Ethan Duncan added the extras to five of the Larne Grammar School tries.
In the quarter-finals, Antrim Grammar School played Lurgan College and won the game by 19-10.
Rhys McGrandlles, Tom McNeilly and Jonah Woolley each scored one try for Antrim Grammar.
Isaac Lynn was successful with two of his conversion kicks.
Lurgan College worked hard throughout the game and got some reward when Andrew Bird touched down for a try to which, having already kicked a penalty goal, Andrew Lyttle added the conversion.
Bangor Academy played Foyle College in a game Foyle College won by 19-0.
Despite not scoring any points, Bangor Academy contributed a lot to the game and made Foyle College work hard for every point they scored.
Foyle scored their points with tries from Kaine McClelland, who touched down twice and Ben Kennedy.
Thomas Williamson added the conversions to two of the Foyle tries.
Dromore High School played Belfast High School in an exciting game Dromore High School won by 22-20.
The Dromore points came through tries from Alan Tate, Daniel Ennis-McManus, Jonny Beckett and Harry Cromie.
Daniel added also one successful conversion kick.
Belfast High School scored two tries through Ben Gardner and Rory Dunlop.
Archie Cruickshank added two successful conversions as well as two successful penalty kicks for Belfast High.
Once the results of all the games were known, the draws for the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Shield, Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy took place in Royal School Dungannon.
The draws were organised by Richard Clingan, Chairman of the Ulster Schools’ Committee, and Chris Webster, Ulster Rugby Domestic Manager.
Mrs Ruth Maxwell, Principal of Omagh Academy, Dr David Burnett, Principal of Royal School Dungannon and Chris Webster made the draws.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Semi-Finals
Royal School Armagh v Rainey Endowed School.
Wallace High School v Belfast Royal Academy.
These semi-finals will be played at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 February at 2.30pm.
The first team listed for each game will have the use of the Ulster Home changing rooms on matchday with the winners of the first game listed having use of the Ulster Home changing rooms on March 17.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Shield Semi-Finals
Dalriada School v Campbell College
Banbridge Academy v Methodist College
These games are played at the home grounds of the first teams listed with the winners of the first game having use of the Ulster home changing rooms at Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday 12 March.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Semi-Finals
Royal School Dungannon v Ballyclare High School
Limavady Grammar School v Friends’ School Lisburn
These semi-final games are played at the home grounds of the first teams listed with the winners of the first game having use of the Ulster home changing rooms at Kingspan Stadium on Wednesday 5 March.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Semi-Finals
Dromore High School v Antrim Grammar School
Foyle College v Larne Grammar School.
These semi-final games are played at the home grounds of the first teams listed and MUST be played on/before Saturday 22 February.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' 2XV Competitions
On Wednesday 5 February, the two 2XV Plate semi-final games took place when Royal School Armagh 2XV played Friends’ School Lisburn 2XV at College Hill.
RS Armagh won the game by 47-7 and will now play Ballyclare High School 2XV in the final.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools' 3XV Competitions
On Wednesday, Portadown College 3XV played Wallace High School 3XV in the semi-final of the 3XV Cup.
Wallace High School won this game by 36-5.
The second semi-final took place when Campbell College 3XV played Campbell College 4XV.
Campbell College 3XV won this game by 50-10 and will now meet Wallace in the final.
In the 3XV Trophy semi-final, Belfast Royal Academy hosted Carndonagh Community College at Roughfort.
BRA won this semi-final game by 38-12.
Later that afternoon, Ballymena Academy 3XV played Royal Belfast Academical Institution 3XV in the second semi-final of the 3XV Trophy.
It was only in the final stages of this game that RBAI pulled away to win the game by 22-3.
Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Competitions
On Tuesday 4 February, at Ards RFC, Regent House School and Royal School Armagh replayed their previously drawn Medallion Bowl semi-final game.
Royal School Armagh won the game by 8-3 and will now meet Enniskillen Royal Grammar School in the final of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Bowl.