RS Armagh 27 Banbridge Academy 18
Royal School Armagh hosted Banbridge Academy in a midweek game and had to rely on the strength of their pack before they eventually emerged as 27-18 winners.
Banbridge took an early 3-0 lead when Daniel McElderry kicked a penalty with just three minutes on the clock. Seven minutes later Kyle Faloon levelled the score when he was successful with a penalty attempt.
Five minutes after this, Ben Carson, the Bann outhalf, scored a try which was converted by ...
RS Armagh 27 Banbridge Academy 18 Royal School Armagh hosted Banbridge Academy in a midweek game and had to rely on the strength of their pack before they eventually emerged as 27-18 winners. Banbridge took an early 3-0 lead when Daniel McElderry kicked a penalty with just three minutes on the clock. Seven minutes later Kyle Faloon levelled the score when he was successful with a penalty attempt. Five minutes after this, Ben Carson, the Bann outhalf, scored a try which was converted by McElderry to give the visitors a 3-10 lead. From the restart the RS Armagh team scored a converted try to level the game at 10-10. McElderry regained the lead with another three pointer but Armagh scored an unconverted try to leave them as 15-13 leaders at halftime. This increased to 22-13 when the RS Armagh team scored another converted try ten minutes after the restart. Both teams were looking for further tries but for a large part of the second half a lot of play was in the middle third of the pitch. That was until five minutes from time when the hosts scored their fourth try of the game. The try was not converted but they now had a 27-13 lead. Two minutes from time, the impressive Banbridge Academy flanker, Ethan Harbinson, took advantage of good work from his backrow colleague, Rory Carson, to run in for a consolation try to leave the final score reading 27-18 in favour of RS Armagh.
Methody 36 Down HS 5 Methodist College, minus quite a few regular players, hosted a spirited Down High School at Pirrie Park and continued their impressive start to season with a 36-5 win. Methody controlled both territory and possession for large parts of the game. They opened the scoring with an unconverted try from James McCreanor. Down High levelled when a free flowing backline attack resulted in a fine try. For the remainder of the game it was mostly Methody in control. They scored five further tries through Frazer Wallace, Daniel Coulter, Oliver Cairns, Zack Jordan and Ryan Cullen. Gareth Millar converted three of the six Methody tries.
Bangor GS 7 Ulster U18 Youth 26 The U18s had lost recent games against Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Royal School Armagh but they recorded an impressive 7-26 victory against Bangor Grammar School in a game that proved to be ideal in terms of preparation for their forthcoming inter-provincial series.
Sullivan Upper 40 Banbridge Academy 6 Sullivan Upper played Banbridge Academy in Holywood missing a large number of regular players due to representative fixtures. The Banbridge team played with great spirit and determination but found the Sullivan team to be more powerful in many aspects of the game and they eventually lost 40-6 to the hosts. The first half proved to be a dogged affair with the Sullivan team scoring tries through Chris Jordan and Fergus Jemphrey. Charlie McEwan added one conversion to give his team a 12-0 lead. The Banbridge team responded with a penalty from Dan McElderry to leave the half-time score 12-3. Early in the second half a second McElderry penalty reduced the arrears to 12-6 but from then on it was Sullivan in the driving seat. They scored four more tries with David McMaster touching down twice, Jemphrey scoring a second try and Chris Griffiths scoring once. McEwan converted the tries to bring his team's tally to 40.
Dalriada School 18 Rainey Endowed 15 Dalriada School hosted Rainey Endowed School in their annual Arthur Topping Trophy game. It was a hard fought game with Rainey opening the scoring with an early try from Eunan Shaw which was converted by Kieran Lynch. Later in the half Dalriada got a try with their impressive young flyhalf, Angus Johnston, giving the fake pass and going through the gap to touch down for an unconverted try which reduced the arrears to 5-7. Just before half-time the Magherafelt school notched another try, courtesy of Mark Rooney for a 5-12 lead at the interval. Lynch added another three points early in the second half but the introduction of Ulster U19 player Timmy Emerson sparked a comeback for Dalriada. Peter Dunlop made a break in midfield which ended up with Gavin McCaughern finishing with a try in the corner. The try was unconverted but the Ballymoney team was now just five points behind. Henry Loan, the Dalriada captain, then scored to draw the scores level at 15-15. With just minutes remaining Dalriada got a penalty which Emerson knocked over to give his team an 18-15 lead, a lead they held until the final whistle. At the end of the game the Dalriada team was presented with the Arthur Topping Trophy.
Foyle College 3 Limavady GS 29 Foyle College hosted their near neighbours and close rivals, Limavady Grammar School, in the North West Derby game. The visitors got back to winning ways with an emphatic 3-29 victory; their pack laying the foundations. They dominated both the set piece and the breakdown and continually punched holes in the Foyle defence. First half tries came through hooker Stephen Kennedy, prop Michael Rice and second row Darren Corrigan on his debut. Outhalf, Scott McClean, added three conversions as well as a penalty to give his team a 0-24 lead. In response, Alex McDonnell converted a penalty opportunity for the home team just before the break. Limavady went further ahead when second row Brendan Ferguson touched down from a driving maul early in the second half. The try was not converted but the Limavady team now had a 3-29 lead, a lead they held until the final whistle. This was a good team performance from Limavady, with notable performances coming from Michael McMullan, scrumhalf Scott Patton and debutants Ethan Sherrard and Corrigan.
Cambridge House 5 Friends' School 3 Cambridge House hosted Friends' School buoyed by a large win in their previous outing. However, this game proved to be a much tighter affair with the Cambridge House team emerging as 5-3 winners courtesy of a Sam Nicholl try. Zach Finlat registered a penalty for Friends'.
RS Dungannon 12 Wellington College 10 RS Dungannon defeated Wellington College by 12-10 with Marcus Nelson and Matthew Montgomery scoring tries, one of which was converted by John Buckley.
RS Dungannon 5 Larne GS 0 John Buckley scored the only try of the game against to secure a 5-0 win for the RS Dungannon team against Larne Grammar.
Ballymena Academy 17 RBAI 22 Both Ballymena Academy and Royal Belfast Academical Institution were short of first choice players when the teams met at the Galgorm Road venue. The Belfast Inst. team started strongly and had taken a 3-17 lead at the interval before emerging as 17-22 winners of the game. RBAI dominated both territory and possession in the first half with Connor Field and Lewis McNamara scoring tries. Joe Fryers converted both and added a first half penalty. Marcus Rea kicked a penalty for Ballymena. The second half saw the home team mount something of a revival after Field had scored his second try to put Inst. into a 3-22 lead. The hosts scored tries through Craig Hanna and Jonny Rossborough. Rea was successful with both conversions but in was a case of 'too little, too late' as RBAI held on to win by 17-22.
Omagh Academy 3 Coleraine AI 12 Coleraine Academical Institution travelled to play an Omagh Academy team still missing a number of regular players due to injury. However, the return of experienced players such as Lloyd Kane and Jack Mitchell did bring some structure to the Omagh team in terms of their performance. Coleraine were 3-12 victors in a game which both teams will rue missed opportunities. Both defences worked hard to stop the opposition but twenty minutes into the game Coleraine gained possession from a quick line out. Alross Alejo fed fullback Johnny Crowe who made a great break and offloaded to Jake Scott for the centre to score a well-deserved try. Callum Smith converted to give the visitors a 0-7 lead. Coleraine AI continued to dominate but gave away numerous penalties when close to the Omagh line. On the 32 minute mark Coleraine AI's dominance was rewarded when Smith put Mark Gordon away for the try in the corner. The try was not converted but Coleraine AI now had a 0-12 lead. The second half started with a spirited response from Omagh. A well worked move put Luke Hanson away with the Coleraine line in sight only for him to be halted by an excellent tackle from the fullback. Play continued and, from an ensuing ruck, Omagh gained a penalty. Stuart Ballantine converted to reduce the arrears to 3-12. Both teams battled the remainder of the game out with Smith impressing for the visitors and Ross Nelson and James Catterson working hard for the home team. There were no further scores leaving the Coleraine AI team as 3-12 winners.
Down HS 26 Grosvenor GS 13 Following the disappointment of their midweek loss at Pirrie Park, Down High School got back to winning ways when they defeated Grosvenor Grammar School by 26-13. The performances in the Down HS pack of players such as David Cheung and Nathan Gibson laid the foundations for their win. They scored three first half tries, two of which were converted. Grosvenor responded with a touch down from Gareth Lammey who took full advantage of a charged down kick. That left the score at 19-5 in favour of the Down HS team at the interval. This was reduced to 19-10 early in the second half when Karl McLean caught and drove the ball from a lineout to cross the whitewash. The Down High School team came back with a converted try, following good work from their centre partnership, to extend the lead to 26-10. The game finished with a well struck penalty from Shane Johnston to leave the final score reading 26-13.
St. Gerard's College v RS Armagh Royal School Armagh travelled to Dublin to play the Tony Ward coached St Gerard's College team. The St Gerard's team emerged from the game as narrow but deserved winners.
RS Armagh 27 Banbridge Academy 18 Royal School Armagh hosted Banbridge Academy in a midweek game and had to rely on the strength of their pack before they eventually emerged as 27-18 winners. Banbridge took an early 3-0 lead when Daniel McElderry kicked a penalty with just three minutes on the clock. Seven minutes later Kyle Faloon levelled the score when he was successful with a penalty attempt. Five minutes after this, Ben Carson, the Bann outhalf, scored a try which was converted by McElderry to give the visitors a 3-10 lead. From the restart the RS Armagh team scored a converted try to level the game at 10-10. McElderry regained the lead with another three pointer but Armagh scored an unconverted try to leave them as 15-13 leaders at halftime. This increased to 22-13 when the RS Armagh team scored another converted try ten minutes after the restart. Both teams were looking for further tries but for a large part of the second half a lot of play was in the middle third of the pitch. That was until five minutes from time when the hosts scored their fourth try of the game. The try was not converted but they now had a 27-13 lead. Two minutes from time, the impressive Banbridge Academy flanker, Ethan Harbinson, took advantage of good work from his backrow colleague, Rory Carson, to run in for a consolation try to leave the final score reading 27-18 in favour of RS Armagh.
Methody 36 Down HS 5 Methodist College, minus quite a few regular players, hosted a spirited Down High School at Pirrie Park and continued their impressive start to season with a 36-5 win. Methody controlled both territory and possession for large parts of the game. They opened the scoring with an unconverted try from James McCreanor. Down High levelled when a free flowing backline attack resulted in a fine try. For the remainder of the game it was mostly Methody in control. They scored five further tries through Frazer Wallace, Daniel Coulter, Oliver Cairns, Zack Jordan and Ryan Cullen. Gareth Millar converted three of the six Methody tries.
Bangor GS 7 Ulster U18 Youth 26 The U18s had lost recent games against Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Royal School Armagh but they recorded an impressive 7-26 victory against Bangor Grammar School in a game that proved to be ideal in terms of preparation for their forthcoming inter-provincial series.
Sullivan Upper 40 Banbridge Academy 6 Sullivan Upper played Banbridge Academy in Holywood missing a large number of regular players due to representative fixtures. The Banbridge team played with great spirit and determination but found the Sullivan team to be more powerful in many aspects of the game and they eventually lost 40-6 to the hosts. The first half proved to be a dogged affair with the Sullivan team scoring tries through Chris Jordan and Fergus Jemphrey. Charlie McEwan added one conversion to give his team a 12-0 lead. The Banbridge team responded with a penalty from Dan McElderry to leave the half-time score 12-3. Early in the second half a second McElderry penalty reduced the arrears to 12-6 but from then on it was Sullivan in the driving seat. They scored four more tries with David McMaster touching down twice, Jemphrey scoring a second try and Chris Griffiths scoring once. McEwan converted the tries to bring his team's tally to 40.
Dalriada School 18 Rainey Endowed 15 Dalriada School hosted Rainey Endowed School in their annual Arthur Topping Trophy game. It was a hard fought game with Rainey opening the scoring with an early try from Eunan Shaw which was converted by Kieran Lynch. Later in the half Dalriada got a try with their impressive young flyhalf, Angus Johnston, giving the fake pass and going through the gap to touch down for an unconverted try which reduced the arrears to 5-7. Just before half-time the Magherafelt school notched another try, courtesy of Mark Rooney for a 5-12 lead at the interval. Lynch added another three points early in the second half but the introduction of Ulster U19 player Timmy Emerson sparked a comeback for Dalriada. Peter Dunlop made a break in midfield which ended up with Gavin McCaughern finishing with a try in the corner. The try was unconverted but the Ballymoney team was now just five points behind. Henry Loan, the Dalriada captain, then scored to draw the scores level at 15-15. With just minutes remaining Dalriada got a penalty which Emerson knocked over to give his team an 18-15 lead, a lead they held until the final whistle. At the end of the game the Dalriada team was presented with the Arthur Topping Trophy.
Foyle College 3 Limavady GS 29 Foyle College hosted their near neighbours and close rivals, Limavady Grammar School, in the North West Derby game. The visitors got back to winning ways with an emphatic 3-29 victory; their pack laying the foundations. They dominated both the set piece and the breakdown and continually punched holes in the Foyle defence. First half tries came through hooker Stephen Kennedy, prop Michael Rice and second row Darren Corrigan on his debut. Outhalf, Scott McClean, added three conversions as well as a penalty to give his team a 0-24 lead. In response, Alex McDonnell converted a penalty opportunity for the home team just before the break. Limavady went further ahead when second row Brendan Ferguson touched down from a driving maul early in the second half. The try was not converted but the Limavady team now had a 3-29 lead, a lead they held until the final whistle. This was a good team performance from Limavady, with notable performances coming from Michael McMullan, scrumhalf Scott Patton and debutants Ethan Sherrard and Corrigan.
Cambridge House 5 Friends' School 3 Cambridge House hosted Friends' School buoyed by a large win in their previous outing. However, this game proved to be a much tighter affair with the Cambridge House team emerging as 5-3 winners courtesy of a Sam Nicholl try. Zach Finlat registered a penalty for Friends'.
RS Dungannon 12 Wellington College 10 RS Dungannon defeated Wellington College by 12-10 with Marcus Nelson and Matthew Montgomery scoring tries, one of which was converted by John Buckley.
RS Dungannon 5 Larne GS 0 John Buckley scored the only try of the game against to secure a 5-0 win for the RS Dungannon team against Larne Grammar.
Ballymena Academy 17 RBAI 22 Both Ballymena Academy and Royal Belfast Academical Institution were short of first choice players when the teams met at the Galgorm Road venue. The Belfast Inst. team started strongly and had taken a 3-17 lead at the interval before emerging as 17-22 winners of the game. RBAI dominated both territory and possession in the first half with Connor Field and Lewis McNamara scoring tries. Joe Fryers converted both and added a first half penalty. Marcus Rea kicked a penalty for Ballymena. The second half saw the home team mount something of a revival after Field had scored his second try to put Inst. into a 3-22 lead. The hosts scored tries through Craig Hanna and Jonny Rossborough. Rea was successful with both conversions but in was a case of 'too little, too late' as RBAI held on to win by 17-22.
Omagh Academy 3 Coleraine AI 12 Coleraine Academical Institution travelled to play an Omagh Academy team still missing a number of regular players due to injury. However, the return of experienced players such as Lloyd Kane and Jack Mitchell did bring some structure to the Omagh team in terms of their performance. Coleraine were 3-12 victors in a game which both teams will rue missed opportunities. Both defences worked hard to stop the opposition but twenty minutes into the game Coleraine gained possession from a quick line out. Alross Alejo fed fullback Johnny Crowe who made a great break and offloaded to Jake Scott for the centre to score a well-deserved try. Callum Smith converted to give the visitors a 0-7 lead. Coleraine AI continued to dominate but gave away numerous penalties when close to the Omagh line. On the 32 minute mark Coleraine AI's dominance was rewarded when Smith put Mark Gordon away for the try in the corner. The try was not converted but Coleraine AI now had a 0-12 lead. The second half started with a spirited response from Omagh. A well worked move put Luke Hanson away with the Coleraine line in sight only for him to be halted by an excellent tackle from the fullback. Play continued and, from an ensuing ruck, Omagh gained a penalty. Stuart Ballantine converted to reduce the arrears to 3-12. Both teams battled the remainder of the game out with Smith impressing for the visitors and Ross Nelson and James Catterson working hard for the home team. There were no further scores leaving the Coleraine AI team as 3-12 winners.
Down HS 26 Grosvenor GS 13 Following the disappointment of their midweek loss at Pirrie Park, Down High School got back to winning ways when they defeated Grosvenor Grammar School by 26-13. The performances in the Down HS pack of players such as David Cheung and Nathan Gibson laid the foundations for their win. They scored three first half tries, two of which were converted. Grosvenor responded with a touch down from Gareth Lammey who took full advantage of a charged down kick. That left the score at 19-5 in favour of the Down HS team at the interval. This was reduced to 19-10 early in the second half when Karl McLean caught and drove the ball from a lineout to cross the whitewash. The Down High School team came back with a converted try, following good work from their centre partnership, to extend the lead to 26-10. The game finished with a well struck penalty from Shane Johnston to leave the final score reading 26-13.
St. Gerard's College v RS Armagh Royal School Armagh travelled to Dublin to play the Tony Ward coached St Gerard's College team. The St Gerard's team emerged from the game as narrow but deserved winners.