RBAI 18 Ulster Youth 6
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team was missing a number of players who were on inter-provincial duty when they played the Ulster Youth U18 team on Friday 13th September. The game proved to be an excellent run out for both teams who adopted a physical approach to proceedings in the opening exchanges. Both teams attacked with the ball in hand at every opportunity and both defences had to be well-organised.
RBAI took a first half 5-0 lead when a great break ...
RBAI 18 Ulster Youth 6 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team was missing a number of players who were on inter-provincial duty when they played the Ulster Youth U18 team on Friday 13th September. The game proved to be an excellent run out for both teams who adopted a physical approach to proceedings in the opening exchanges. Both teams attacked with the ball in hand at every opportunity and both defences had to be well-organised. RBAI took a first half 5-0 lead when a great break by their hard running centre, Joe Fryers, was finished off by winger, Connor Field, who ran in for an unconverted try. Just before the interval, Frazer Wright, converted a penalty opportunity to give Inst an 8-0 lead at the interval. The Belfast school continued to control the game in the second half and scored two unconverted tries through Scott McNamara and Jack Scott. In response, The Ulster Youth team converted two penalty opportunities which left the final score reading 18-6 in favour of RBAI.
RBAI 22 Omagh Academy 3 On Saturday 14th, RBAI hosted an Omagh Academy team that was missing experienced players such as Lloyd Kane and Robert White. This presented young players such as Matthew Clyde and Luke Hanson with the opportunity of playing 1st XV rugby and both players adapted well to the demands of the game. The Belfast Inst team won the game by 22-3 with the Omagh Academy points coming from a Stuart Ballantine penalty in the second half after the home team had taken a 10-0 lead at the interval. The opening RBAI try came from Ryan Campbell with a conversion and penalty accounting for the first half points. The Belfast Inst team scored two further tries from Alistair Hill and Jake Chambers, one of which was converted, in the course of second half with their defence having to work hard to prevent the Omagh Academy team scoring a consolation try in the closing stages of the game.
Portadown College 5 Banbridge Academy 14 Portadown College and Banbridge Academy played out a training game over three sessions. The game proved to be an ideal season opener for both teams with the Banbridge Academy team scoring tries through Daniel McIlderry and Rhys Mackey. McIlderry converted both tries to give Bann a 14-0 lead after the first two sessions. Portadown finished the third session strongly and scored a fine try through James Hewitt. Both sets of coaches and players will have got a lot from the training game with Rory Carson, Nathan McKinley and Ethan Harbinson displaying good form for the Banbridge team. For the Portadown College team, Thomas Troughton, Niall Davidson and Jack Orr all impressed with their performances.
Friends' School Lisburn 5 RS Dungannon 22 Friends' School hosted a Royal School Dungannon team that had toured successfully in New Zealand and Australia during the summer period. The Royal School team had built up a 10-0 at half time lead, with Matthew Montgomery and Nathan McCammon each scoring one try. The Friends' consolation try was scored by Steven Kay midway through the second half following further RS Dungannon tries from Stuart Moore and John Buckley. Scott McLean was successful with one conversion attempt to leave the Tyrone team as 22-5 winners. The Friends' School 2nd XV defeated their RS Dungannon counterparts by 20-15.
Foyle College 12 Portora RS 0 Foyle College defeated Portora Royal School at Springtown in a game which the home team won by 12-0. Ten minutes into the first half the Foyle team scored a try through their full back, Robbie House. Alex McDonnell converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead, a lead they held until the interval. Midway through the second half, the Foyle lead was extended to 12-0 when their industrious hooker, Callum Watson, powered over the Portora RS line to touch down for an unconverted try. That score ensured a 12-0 victory for the Foyle College team.
Belfast HS 40 Limavady GS 3 Limavady Grammar School travelled to play Belfast High School and took a 3-0 lead early in the game. However, that was the last score for the Limavady team as the Belfast High School team went on to win the game by 40-3.
Rainey Endowed 26 Regent House 12 Rainey Endowed followed up on their midweek 19-12 'A' team win against St John's School, Chile, with a 26-12 victory against Regent House. The Rainey tries against St John's came from Kieran Lynch, Eunan Shaw and Rigan Shaw with Kieran successful with two conversions. In the game against Regent House both teams were missing players on inter-provincial duty but this did not inhibit both teams playing a game that was free flowing from start to finish. The Rainey team took a 7-0 lead in the first half when the impressive Kieran Lynch ran in for a try which he converted. Another Lynch try in the second half, alongside tries from Rory Nicholl and Eunan Shaw, with two Lynch conversions, accounted for the Rainey Endowed points. Regent scored two second half tries, one of which was converted, to account for their points.
Grosvenor GS 7 Dalriada School 24 Grosvenor Grammar School and Dalriada School played out a game which saw the Ballymoney boys record a hard earned 24-7 win. Dalriada started brightly with their winger, Gavin McCaughern, taking advantage of good work from his lineout forwards to run in for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. On fifteen minutes the Grosvenor Grammar School team had their first opportunity for points but a penalty attempt was pulled wide. However, a mistake from Dalriada at a scrum saw Sam Purdon crash over for a try, which Shane Johnston converted, to take the score to 7-5. Shortly after this a well organised driven maul by the Dalriada pack resulted in a Robert Hunter try. Peter Dunlop was successful with the conversion to give the Dalriada team a 12-7 lead. This increased to 17-7 at the interval when Dalriada scored a second Gavin McCaughern try following good work from his forwards. Grosvenor played much better in the second half but the Dalriada defence was in no mood to give anything away. A defensive mistake from Grosvenor allowed another Dalriada try with Michael Finnerty getting the touchdown. Dunlop converted the try to leave the Ballymoney boys as deserved 24-7 winners.
Sullivan Upper 0 Methodist College 38 Sullivan Upper and Methodist College were both missing a large number of 1st team regulars due to inter-provincial commitments when the two teams met in an interesting game in Holywood. The Methodist College team had recorded an impressive 85-0 midweek victory against St John's School, Chile, and seemed to be well up for their visit to Holywood. This proved to be the case with the Methodist College team taking a 19-0 lead at the interval. Their first half performance was replicated in the second when they scored a further nineteen points to leave them as deserved 38-0 winners.
Cambridge House 40 Strabane Academy 0 Cambridge House hosted a very spirited Strabane Academy team but the more experienced and bigger Cambridge House side proved too strong for the emerging Strabane team. The Ballymena boys ran in tries through Thomas Wilson, Andrew Whann, Stuart Gillan, Ben McIlroy, Chris Da Mata, Kane McBride, Sam Nicholl and Sam Junk. Stuart Gillan converted eight of the tries to leave his Cambridge House team as more than comfortable winners of this game.
Bangor GS 17 RS Armagh 12 Royal School Armagh travelled to play Bangor Grammar School in a game that saw the home team emerge as 17-12 winners. Bangor scored two first half tries, both of which were converted, as well as a penalty kick. In response, the Armagh team kicked three first half penalties through Kyle Faloon. Bangor team took their 17-9 lead at the interval, into the second half hoping for more points. However, the only second half points came from the boot of Faloon who was successful with his fourth penalty of the game to leave the Bangor team victorious by 17-12.
Coleraine AI 57 Carrickfergus GS 5 Coleraine Academical Institution welcomed back some seven players unavailable for their previous game when they hosted Carrickfergus Grammar School. These players made a very positive impact in the course of the game as they registered a 57-5 win. Joel Stanbridge started the scoreboard ticking over when he scored a try after only three minutes of the game. The try was converted by Callum Smith to put the Coleraine AI team into a 7-0 lead. This became 12-0 six minutes later when Mark Gordon ran in for an unconverted try. Two minutes later Smith kicked a penalty to increase the Coleraine lead to 15-0. Midway through the half a strong run from Joel Stanbridge resulted in a defensive lineout for Carrick. The Coleraine AI lock forward, Thomas Pethick, stole the ball and Brad Dempster went round the fringes to score a try. Smith converted to increase the Coleraine AI lead to 22-0. Just before the interval, Pethick, Luke Scott and Stanbridge combined to send Alross Alejo in under the posts for a try. Smith converted to put the Coleraine AI team into an unassailable 29-0 halftime lead. Five minutes after the restart Jonny Crowe and Smith combined to send Mark Gordon in for another try. Smith converted the try to increase the Coleraine AI lead to 36-0. The Carrickfergus GS players displayed great commitment to their cause and got some reward for their endeavours when they scored an unconverted try after forty minutes. The Coleraine team finished with two further tries from Matthew Norris and Ollie McDowell, both of which were converted by Smith, to see them through this game as 57-5 winners. Ballymena Academy 31 Wallace HS 0 Ballymena Academy hosted Wallace High School in almost perfect conditions in a game which saw both teams missing first choice regulars due to inter-provincial commitments. From the kick off it was the Ballymena Academy team that took control of the game. Dean Reynolds and Gary Small combined to send Marcus Rea in for the first try of the game. Reaconverted his try to put the home team into a 7-0 lead. Shortly afterwards the score became 10-0 when Rea was successful with a penalty opportunity. The remainder of the first half was a tightly contested affair with neither team really able to achieve much in terms of territory although the Ballymena team had a lot of possession. An early second half try from Jonny Rossborough, following a clever kick from scrumhalf Craig Hanna, was converted by Rea to put the Ballymena Academy team into a 17-0 lead. Ten minutes later Jonny Rossborough left a trail of despairing Wallace High School defenders in his wake when he weaved through from sixty metres to score a fine individual try. Rea converted to increase the Ballymena Academy lead to 24-0. The Wallace High School team had opportunities to score points late in the game but the Ballymena Academy defence was in no mood to give anything away. The home team had the final say in the game when Hanna sniped through a gap to score under the posts for a converted try that sealed a 31-0 win.
RBAI 18 Ulster Youth 6 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team was missing a number of players who were on inter-provincial duty when they played the Ulster Youth U18 team on Friday 13th September. The game proved to be an excellent run out for both teams who adopted a physical approach to proceedings in the opening exchanges. Both teams attacked with the ball in hand at every opportunity and both defences had to be well-organised. RBAI took a first half 5-0 lead when a great break by their hard running centre, Joe Fryers, was finished off by winger, Connor Field, who ran in for an unconverted try. Just before the interval, Frazer Wright, converted a penalty opportunity to give Inst an 8-0 lead at the interval. The Belfast school continued to control the game in the second half and scored two unconverted tries through Scott McNamara and Jack Scott. In response, The Ulster Youth team converted two penalty opportunities which left the final score reading 18-6 in favour of RBAI.
RBAI 22 Omagh Academy 3 On Saturday 14th, RBAI hosted an Omagh Academy team that was missing experienced players such as Lloyd Kane and Robert White. This presented young players such as Matthew Clyde and Luke Hanson with the opportunity of playing 1st XV rugby and both players adapted well to the demands of the game. The Belfast Inst team won the game by 22-3 with the Omagh Academy points coming from a Stuart Ballantine penalty in the second half after the home team had taken a 10-0 lead at the interval. The opening RBAI try came from Ryan Campbell with a conversion and penalty accounting for the first half points. The Belfast Inst team scored two further tries from Alistair Hill and Jake Chambers, one of which was converted, in the course of second half with their defence having to work hard to prevent the Omagh Academy team scoring a consolation try in the closing stages of the game.
Portadown College 5 Banbridge Academy 14 Portadown College and Banbridge Academy played out a training game over three sessions. The game proved to be an ideal season opener for both teams with the Banbridge Academy team scoring tries through Daniel McIlderry and Rhys Mackey. McIlderry converted both tries to give Bann a 14-0 lead after the first two sessions. Portadown finished the third session strongly and scored a fine try through James Hewitt. Both sets of coaches and players will have got a lot from the training game with Rory Carson, Nathan McKinley and Ethan Harbinson displaying good form for the Banbridge team. For the Portadown College team, Thomas Troughton, Niall Davidson and Jack Orr all impressed with their performances.
Friends' School Lisburn 5 RS Dungannon 22 Friends' School hosted a Royal School Dungannon team that had toured successfully in New Zealand and Australia during the summer period. The Royal School team had built up a 10-0 at half time lead, with Matthew Montgomery and Nathan McCammon each scoring one try. The Friends' consolation try was scored by Steven Kay midway through the second half following further RS Dungannon tries from Stuart Moore and John Buckley. Scott McLean was successful with one conversion attempt to leave the Tyrone team as 22-5 winners. The Friends' School 2nd XV defeated their RS Dungannon counterparts by 20-15.
Foyle College 12 Portora RS 0 Foyle College defeated Portora Royal School at Springtown in a game which the home team won by 12-0. Ten minutes into the first half the Foyle team scored a try through their full back, Robbie House. Alex McDonnell converted the try to give his team a 7-0 lead, a lead they held until the interval. Midway through the second half, the Foyle lead was extended to 12-0 when their industrious hooker, Callum Watson, powered over the Portora RS line to touch down for an unconverted try. That score ensured a 12-0 victory for the Foyle College team.
Belfast HS 40 Limavady GS 3 Limavady Grammar School travelled to play Belfast High School and took a 3-0 lead early in the game. However, that was the last score for the Limavady team as the Belfast High School team went on to win the game by 40-3.
Rainey Endowed 26 Regent House 12 Rainey Endowed followed up on their midweek 19-12 'A' team win against St John's School, Chile, with a 26-12 victory against Regent House. The Rainey tries against St John's came from Kieran Lynch, Eunan Shaw and Rigan Shaw with Kieran successful with two conversions. In the game against Regent House both teams were missing players on inter-provincial duty but this did not inhibit both teams playing a game that was free flowing from start to finish. The Rainey team took a 7-0 lead in the first half when the impressive Kieran Lynch ran in for a try which he converted. Another Lynch try in the second half, alongside tries from Rory Nicholl and Eunan Shaw, with two Lynch conversions, accounted for the Rainey Endowed points. Regent scored two second half tries, one of which was converted, to account for their points.
Grosvenor GS 7 Dalriada School 24 Grosvenor Grammar School and Dalriada School played out a game which saw the Ballymoney boys record a hard earned 24-7 win. Dalriada started brightly with their winger, Gavin McCaughern, taking advantage of good work from his lineout forwards to run in for an unconverted try to give his team a 5-0 lead. On fifteen minutes the Grosvenor Grammar School team had their first opportunity for points but a penalty attempt was pulled wide. However, a mistake from Dalriada at a scrum saw Sam Purdon crash over for a try, which Shane Johnston converted, to take the score to 7-5. Shortly after this a well organised driven maul by the Dalriada pack resulted in a Robert Hunter try. Peter Dunlop was successful with the conversion to give the Dalriada team a 12-7 lead. This increased to 17-7 at the interval when Dalriada scored a second Gavin McCaughern try following good work from his forwards. Grosvenor played much better in the second half but the Dalriada defence was in no mood to give anything away. A defensive mistake from Grosvenor allowed another Dalriada try with Michael Finnerty getting the touchdown. Dunlop converted the try to leave the Ballymoney boys as deserved 24-7 winners.
Sullivan Upper 0 Methodist College 38 Sullivan Upper and Methodist College were both missing a large number of 1st team regulars due to inter-provincial commitments when the two teams met in an interesting game in Holywood. The Methodist College team had recorded an impressive 85-0 midweek victory against St John's School, Chile, and seemed to be well up for their visit to Holywood. This proved to be the case with the Methodist College team taking a 19-0 lead at the interval. Their first half performance was replicated in the second when they scored a further nineteen points to leave them as deserved 38-0 winners.
Cambridge House 40 Strabane Academy 0 Cambridge House hosted a very spirited Strabane Academy team but the more experienced and bigger Cambridge House side proved too strong for the emerging Strabane team. The Ballymena boys ran in tries through Thomas Wilson, Andrew Whann, Stuart Gillan, Ben McIlroy, Chris Da Mata, Kane McBride, Sam Nicholl and Sam Junk. Stuart Gillan converted eight of the tries to leave his Cambridge House team as more than comfortable winners of this game.
Bangor GS 17 RS Armagh 12 Royal School Armagh travelled to play Bangor Grammar School in a game that saw the home team emerge as 17-12 winners. Bangor scored two first half tries, both of which were converted, as well as a penalty kick. In response, the Armagh team kicked three first half penalties through Kyle Faloon. Bangor team took their 17-9 lead at the interval, into the second half hoping for more points. However, the only second half points came from the boot of Faloon who was successful with his fourth penalty of the game to leave the Bangor team victorious by 17-12.
Coleraine AI 57 Carrickfergus GS 5 Coleraine Academical Institution welcomed back some seven players unavailable for their previous game when they hosted Carrickfergus Grammar School. These players made a very positive impact in the course of the game as they registered a 57-5 win. Joel Stanbridge started the scoreboard ticking over when he scored a try after only three minutes of the game. The try was converted by Callum Smith to put the Coleraine AI team into a 7-0 lead. This became 12-0 six minutes later when Mark Gordon ran in for an unconverted try. Two minutes later Smith kicked a penalty to increase the Coleraine lead to 15-0. Midway through the half a strong run from Joel Stanbridge resulted in a defensive lineout for Carrick. The Coleraine AI lock forward, Thomas Pethick, stole the ball and Brad Dempster went round the fringes to score a try. Smith converted to increase the Coleraine AI lead to 22-0. Just before the interval, Pethick, Luke Scott and Stanbridge combined to send Alross Alejo in under the posts for a try. Smith converted to put the Coleraine AI team into an unassailable 29-0 halftime lead. Five minutes after the restart Jonny Crowe and Smith combined to send Mark Gordon in for another try. Smith converted the try to increase the Coleraine AI lead to 36-0. The Carrickfergus GS players displayed great commitment to their cause and got some reward for their endeavours when they scored an unconverted try after forty minutes. The Coleraine team finished with two further tries from Matthew Norris and Ollie McDowell, both of which were converted by Smith, to see them through this game as 57-5 winners. Ballymena Academy 31 Wallace HS 0 Ballymena Academy hosted Wallace High School in almost perfect conditions in a game which saw both teams missing first choice regulars due to inter-provincial commitments. From the kick off it was the Ballymena Academy team that took control of the game. Dean Reynolds and Gary Small combined to send Marcus Rea in for the first try of the game. Reaconverted his try to put the home team into a 7-0 lead. Shortly afterwards the score became 10-0 when Rea was successful with a penalty opportunity. The remainder of the first half was a tightly contested affair with neither team really able to achieve much in terms of territory although the Ballymena team had a lot of possession. An early second half try from Jonny Rossborough, following a clever kick from scrumhalf Craig Hanna, was converted by Rea to put the Ballymena Academy team into a 17-0 lead. Ten minutes later Jonny Rossborough left a trail of despairing Wallace High School defenders in his wake when he weaved through from sixty metres to score a fine individual try. Rea converted to increase the Ballymena Academy lead to 24-0. The Wallace High School team had opportunities to score points late in the game but the Ballymena Academy defence was in no mood to give anything away. The home team had the final say in the game when Hanna sniped through a gap to score under the posts for a converted try that sealed a 31-0 win.