It's that time of the schools' rugby year, when some of the competitions are reaching their climax, and all those months of hard work by players and coaches get their final examinations.
In the last week there have been some very important games, notably in the lead-up to the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Medallion Shield and Plate, while there have been finals in the Medallion Bowl and Trophy.
There were also decisive clashes in the 2nd and 3rd XV tournaments on Saturday, 27 February, and a number of intriguing First XV friendlies were also completed.
The last few months have been packed with incident and some wonderful rugby and the crowds have turned out in their numbers to demonstrate just how attractive the sport remains at the all-important schools’ level.
DANKSE BANK ULSTER SCHOOLS’ TROPHY FINAL
BELFAST HIGH SCHOOL 0 – 15 BANBRIDGE ACADEMY
On Wednesday of last week the first of the season’s finals was played at Roughfort when Banbridge Academy took the Schools’ Trophy home after a hard-fought 15-0 win over a spirited and gifted Belfast High School XV.
In bright but chilly conditions, and on a superb surface, Belfast HS started well, Simon White asking questions of the Banbridge Academy defence in the early exchanges. Banbridge Academy gradually earned some territory and possession and might have taken a 12th minute lead but a penalty went awry.
But four minutes Banbridge was rewarded for its attacking strategy when Ben Russell made a fine break in midfield before off-loading to Troy Pinion who gleefully finished the move off with a try which Ben Thompson converted for a 7-0 lead.
Belfast High responded positively and White was disappointed in the 20th minute when a well-struck penalty bounced back into play off the upright and Banbridge cleared the danger. The first half finished with Belfast High on the attack but, despite the best efforts of Tyler Arnold, White and Ryan Gibson, the Academy rearguard remained firm.
Banbridge Academy launched a series of all-out attacks on the restart and four minutes in, Michael McGaffin finished off a move with an unconverted try to increase the lead to 12-0.
And midway through the second half Ross Cartmill made a great break out of defence and looked certain to score but superb High School defence successfully protected its line.
But the coveted trophy was almost secured when a penalty was conceded and Thompson kicked another to put Banbridge into a 15-0 lead. Belfast High School spent long periods of the final quarter in the Academy ‘22’ but there was no way through a resolute and well-organised defence.
So after a well-contested Schools’ Trophy Final, Banbridge Academy’s squad was delighted to see skipper McGaffin receive the coveted silverware from Mr Stephen Hilditch, Senior Vice President of the IRFU, with Andy Robinson from Danske Bank presenting both sides with their well-merited medals.
INST RETAINS 3rd XV CUP
On the same Wednesday afternoon at Wellington College RBAI 4th XV retained the Danske Bank 3rd XV Cup with a 25-9 victory over old rivals Methodist College 3rd XV by a convincing 25-9 scoreline.
Post-match, John McKibbin, Senior Vice President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, complimented both teams on their performance in the decider and on their success in reaching the final and then presented the medals to all the players involved both teams and the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup to the celebrating victorious Belfast ‘Inst’ panel.
The first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate semi-finals took place on Wednesday of last week when Ballyclare High School 3rds used home advantage to beat Wallace by 26-13.
RAINEY’S SUBSIDIARY SHIELD REPLAY JOY
Rainey Endowed earned the right to a home semi-final against Down High School this Saturday (5th) with a 17-15 quarter-final replay win over Regent House.
Rainey got off to a great start and found themselves 7-0 ahead with just one minute on the clock when great work from Neal Hastings and Adam Thornton presented Lorcan Quinn with the opportunity to run in for a try, Quinn himself adding the conversion.
Regent responded with a midfield break from Robbie Johnston which brought a try, Johnston’s conversion drawing the sides level at 7-7.
But on the stroke of half-time a break from Matthew Smyth resulted in a penalty which Quinn converted for a 10-7 interval lead.
Rainey energetically began the second half, Matthew Mulholland and Andrew Brown causing problems for the Regent House defence. And the pressure eventually paid off when the prolific Anton Lupari stormed over for a try to which Quinn added a superb touchline conversion into the wind to increase the Rainey lead to 17-7.
Johnston replied with a Regent penalty to reduce the deficit to 17-10, and with a thrilling last ‘play’ of the game Ali Deering scored a try for Regent House to pull to within two points of the Magherafelt side. From a Regent point of view the conversion kick was unsuccessful and ensured Rainey Endowed recorded a 17-15 victory and the dream of a trophy is still alive.
WALLACE AND ‘INST’ REACH SHIELD FINAL
Wallace High School and RBAI will meet in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Final at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, 8th March.
At Osborne Park at the weekend, Lisburn’s Wallace side emerged as narrow 20-15 winners in a compelling semi-final.
Also on Saturday morning those perennial rivals Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College met at Roughfort in the other Medallion Shield semi-final, ‘Inst’ emphatically booking its place in the Final next week with a 24-5 win. So it’s a busy week of preparation ahead for the players of Wallace and RBAI as they anticipate what will be a big occasion in a competition which has traditionally nurtured some of the finest talent in the Province.
Portadown College and Campbell College must meet again in a replay of the Medallion Plate competition after the teams drew 12-12 in Saturday’s clash in Portadown.
The teams have a short time to regroup as the replay will be played at Campbell this Wednesday (2 February).
Sullivan Upper School reached the final of the Medallion Plate on Saturday after a thrilling, nailbiting 16-15 semi-final win over Royal School, Dungannon.
That Plate final is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 9th March.
BOWL AND TROPHY SUCCESS FOR DALRIADA AND FOYLE
Dalriada gave its 1st XV a Schools’ Cup boost when it lifted the Medallion Bowl with a 13-10 victory over Bangor Grammar at Antrim GS.
Chris Shields, the highly-regarded Ulster Rugby Strength and Conditioning Education Officer, presented the Bowl to the winning captain.
In Magherafelt, Foyle and Londonderry College was involved in another very close encounter in lifting the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy with a 16-12 win over a very competitive Cambridge House side.
The post-match presentations were appropriately conducted by Chris Campbell, Master-in-Charge of Rugby at Final hosts Rainey Endowed School.
METHODY AND SULLIVAN HAVE FINAL DATE
Methodist College will meet Sullivan Upper in the final of the Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Plate this Saturday (5 March) at a venue to be confirmed early this week.
Methody confirmed its place in the decider with a 36-0 home defeat of Royal School, Armagh.
In the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate competition Campbell College’s 4th XV made home advantage pay in a high-scoring 27-20 win over Ballymena Academy
Campbell now faces a trip to Ballyclare Secondary School in the semi-final.
In the last week there have been some very important games, notably in the lead-up to the semi-finals of the Danske Bank Medallion Shield and Plate, while there have been finals in the Medallion Bowl and Trophy.
There were also decisive clashes in the 2nd and 3rd XV tournaments on Saturday, 27 February, and a number of intriguing First XV friendlies were also completed.
The last few months have been packed with incident and some wonderful rugby and the crowds have turned out in their numbers to demonstrate just how attractive the sport remains at the all-important schools’ level.
DANKSE BANK ULSTER SCHOOLS’ TROPHY FINAL
BELFAST HIGH SCHOOL 0 – 15 BANBRIDGE ACADEMY
On Wednesday of last week the first of the season’s finals was played at Roughfort when Banbridge Academy took the Schools’ Trophy home after a hard-fought 15-0 win over a spirited and gifted Belfast High School XV.
In bright but chilly conditions, and on a superb surface, Belfast HS started well, Simon White asking questions of the Banbridge Academy defence in the early exchanges. Banbridge Academy gradually earned some territory and possession and might have taken a 12th minute lead but a penalty went awry.
But four minutes Banbridge was rewarded for its attacking strategy when Ben Russell made a fine break in midfield before off-loading to Troy Pinion who gleefully finished the move off with a try which Ben Thompson converted for a 7-0 lead.
Belfast High responded positively and White was disappointed in the 20th minute when a well-struck penalty bounced back into play off the upright and Banbridge cleared the danger. The first half finished with Belfast High on the attack but, despite the best efforts of Tyler Arnold, White and Ryan Gibson, the Academy rearguard remained firm.
Banbridge Academy launched a series of all-out attacks on the restart and four minutes in, Michael McGaffin finished off a move with an unconverted try to increase the lead to 12-0.
And midway through the second half Ross Cartmill made a great break out of defence and looked certain to score but superb High School defence successfully protected its line.
But the coveted trophy was almost secured when a penalty was conceded and Thompson kicked another to put Banbridge into a 15-0 lead. Belfast High School spent long periods of the final quarter in the Academy ‘22’ but there was no way through a resolute and well-organised defence.
So after a well-contested Schools’ Trophy Final, Banbridge Academy’s squad was delighted to see skipper McGaffin receive the coveted silverware from Mr Stephen Hilditch, Senior Vice President of the IRFU, with Andy Robinson from Danske Bank presenting both sides with their well-merited medals.
INST RETAINS 3rd XV CUP
On the same Wednesday afternoon at Wellington College RBAI 4th XV retained the Danske Bank 3rd XV Cup with a 25-9 victory over old rivals Methodist College 3rd XV by a convincing 25-9 scoreline.
Post-match, John McKibbin, Senior Vice President of the Ulster Branch, IRFU, complimented both teams on their performance in the decider and on their success in reaching the final and then presented the medals to all the players involved both teams and the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup to the celebrating victorious Belfast ‘Inst’ panel.
The first of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate semi-finals took place on Wednesday of last week when Ballyclare High School 3rds used home advantage to beat Wallace by 26-13.
RAINEY’S SUBSIDIARY SHIELD REPLAY JOY
Rainey Endowed earned the right to a home semi-final against Down High School this Saturday (5th) with a 17-15 quarter-final replay win over Regent House.
Rainey got off to a great start and found themselves 7-0 ahead with just one minute on the clock when great work from Neal Hastings and Adam Thornton presented Lorcan Quinn with the opportunity to run in for a try, Quinn himself adding the conversion.
Regent responded with a midfield break from Robbie Johnston which brought a try, Johnston’s conversion drawing the sides level at 7-7.
But on the stroke of half-time a break from Matthew Smyth resulted in a penalty which Quinn converted for a 10-7 interval lead.
Rainey energetically began the second half, Matthew Mulholland and Andrew Brown causing problems for the Regent House defence. And the pressure eventually paid off when the prolific Anton Lupari stormed over for a try to which Quinn added a superb touchline conversion into the wind to increase the Rainey lead to 17-7.
Johnston replied with a Regent penalty to reduce the deficit to 17-10, and with a thrilling last ‘play’ of the game Ali Deering scored a try for Regent House to pull to within two points of the Magherafelt side. From a Regent point of view the conversion kick was unsuccessful and ensured Rainey Endowed recorded a 17-15 victory and the dream of a trophy is still alive.
WALLACE AND ‘INST’ REACH SHIELD FINAL
Wallace High School and RBAI will meet in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield Final at the Kingspan Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, 8th March.
At Osborne Park at the weekend, Lisburn’s Wallace side emerged as narrow 20-15 winners in a compelling semi-final.
Also on Saturday morning those perennial rivals Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Methodist College met at Roughfort in the other Medallion Shield semi-final, ‘Inst’ emphatically booking its place in the Final next week with a 24-5 win. So it’s a busy week of preparation ahead for the players of Wallace and RBAI as they anticipate what will be a big occasion in a competition which has traditionally nurtured some of the finest talent in the Province.
Portadown College and Campbell College must meet again in a replay of the Medallion Plate competition after the teams drew 12-12 in Saturday’s clash in Portadown.
The teams have a short time to regroup as the replay will be played at Campbell this Wednesday (2 February).
Sullivan Upper School reached the final of the Medallion Plate on Saturday after a thrilling, nailbiting 16-15 semi-final win over Royal School, Dungannon.
That Plate final is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 9th March.
BOWL AND TROPHY SUCCESS FOR DALRIADA AND FOYLE
Dalriada gave its 1st XV a Schools’ Cup boost when it lifted the Medallion Bowl with a 13-10 victory over Bangor Grammar at Antrim GS.
Chris Shields, the highly-regarded Ulster Rugby Strength and Conditioning Education Officer, presented the Bowl to the winning captain.
In Magherafelt, Foyle and Londonderry College was involved in another very close encounter in lifting the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy with a 16-12 win over a very competitive Cambridge House side.
The post-match presentations were appropriately conducted by Chris Campbell, Master-in-Charge of Rugby at Final hosts Rainey Endowed School.
METHODY AND SULLIVAN HAVE FINAL DATE
Methodist College will meet Sullivan Upper in the final of the Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Plate this Saturday (5 March) at a venue to be confirmed early this week.
Methody confirmed its place in the decider with a 36-0 home defeat of Royal School, Armagh.
In the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate competition Campbell College’s 4th XV made home advantage pay in a high-scoring 27-20 win over Ballymena Academy
Campbell now faces a trip to Ballyclare Secondary School in the semi-final.