The weekend saw a number of attention-grabbing contests in the Medallion Shield, Bowl and Trophy, as well as one 2nd XV Cup, and one Trophy game, played on Saturday.
There was delight for some and disappointment for others in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield, the Schools’ 2nd XV Cup and Plate and in the 3rd XV Plate competitions. With the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round games looming this coming weekend there were only a couple of First XV, and one 2nd XV friendlies game played during the last week.
Before a swathe of important games for age-group schools on Saturday, there were several midweek matches which had an impact on various competitions...
MIDWEEK ACTION REVIEW
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield replay, played on Monday of last week, Limavady Grammar earned a trip in the next round to Omagh Academy after Larne GS went down by 33-5.
For Larne there’s the incentive of entertaining Dalriada in the Medallion Bowl. The following day, Tuesday, Banbridge Academy won its Shield replay with Portora Royal by an impressive 22-7 scoreline and that effort brings a trip to Coleraine Grammar in the next round, while Portora will be at home in the Bowl tournament to Dromore High School.
In the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate St Columb’s College defeated Coleraine Grammar School 22-0 and now travels to Ballyclare Secondary School in the quarter-finals.
Wednesday saw several Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup and Plate games played, and one 2nd XV friendly. In the 2nd XV Cup Royal Belfast Academical Institution defeated Dalriada 36-3, while in the same competition Royal School, Dungannon lost 26-3 to Ballyclare High School.
Down High School and Regent House played their 2nd XV Cup quarter-final game some weeks ago, Down HS recording a 30-5 victory.
In the 2nd XV Plate competition Royal School, Armagh, came out on top in a closely-contested game against Banbridge Academy by 18-13, and in a closely contested game the Royal School, Armagh team won by 18-13. Meanwhile, in the same competition, Omagh Academy defeated its host, Portadown College, by 34-0.
The 2nd XV Plate game involving Sullivan Upper and Belfast High School was postponed due to an unplayable pitch, and been re-scheduled for Monday of this week (1, February). On Friday last the one remaining Schools’ 2nd XV Plate quarter-final game was played, Methodist College defeating Dromore High School 20-10, and will now travel to play RS Armagh, the current holders of the Plate, in the semi-final.
Lurgan College beat Friends’ School, Lisburn, in a 2nd XV friendly by 12-7.
On Friday at the Meadowbank Sports Arena Rainey Endowed School played Ballymena Academy in a controlled First XV friendly, the game ending in a 6-6 draw, Lorcan Quinn converting two penalties for Rainey, and Bruce Houston replying in kind for Ballymena.
SATURDAY REVIEW
The weather caused some disruption to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield games scheduled.
Belfast Royal Academy’s game with RS Dungannon was postponed and will now be played on Tuesday (2, February), as will Coleraine Grammar’s tie with Banbridge Academy. Two other postponed matches are down for decision on Tuesday, Portadown College against Methody, and Omagh Academy’s tie with Limavady GS.
Several games did defy the weather on Saturday morning, and in the Medallion Shield Ballyclare HS defeated Rainey Endowed by 20-12, Royal Belfast Academical Institution beat Friends’ 54-3, and RS Armagh had a good 19-5 victory over Sullivan Upper.
Played in difficult conditions Peter Taylor scored a first half try for the ‘Royal’, converted by the reliable Benjamin Boyd for a 7-0 lead. Sullivan Upper played a full part in an exciting game and a positive approach was rewarded when Oliver Faith scored an unconverted try just before the break, reducing the deficit to just two points.
Second half tries from Ryan O’Neill and Nicholas Jennings, one of which was converted by Boyd, secured the win for Armagh.
Also in the Medallion Shield Wallace HS travelled to Campbell College and was rewarded with 13-0 win. Joel Dundas scored two tries for the visitors, and Connor Rankin added a penalty.
In the Medallion Bowl Regent House defeated Ballymena Academy 5-3, and Bangor GS beat Down HS 12-0. Portora Royal’s game with Dromore High School is scheduled for this Tuesday (2, February).
In the Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Grosvenor Grammar won 24-3 at Antrim Grammar, the Belfast side now awaits Carrickfergus College for a place in the semi-final. Foyle and Londonderry College has already taken its place in the semi-final after beating Wellington College earlier in the month.
The Cambridge House-Lurgan College, and Carrickfergus College versus Belfast HS games have been rescheduled for Tuesday (2, February).
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup quarter-final Ballymena Academy defeated Bangor Grammar School by 32-0. Ballymena built up a 10-0 lead at the interval with a try from Tiarnan Martin, converted by David McCluggage, and a McCluggage penalty.
The second half saw Ballymena Academy control all aspects of the game, Scott Agnew, Conor Agnew, James McClean and Lukas Morrison each scoring tries, McCluggage adding one conversion. Ballymena Academy team will now be at home to RBAI in the semi-final.
In the Ulster Schools’ Trophy a postponed game, featuring Cambridge House and Strabane Academy, finally was played at Methody’s Pirrie Park grounds, Cambridge House winning a very close contest 11-9.
In a match which warmed the supporters who braved the elements Cambridge House team held a 6-0 lead at half-time with two James Bovill penalties. Strabane Academy came storming back in the second period, coming close to winning the game.
Reuben Russell scored an unconverted try for Cambridge House, but Strabane Academy captain Thomas O’Flaherty landed a drop goal and kicked two penalties, and with the last ‘play’ of the game another drop goal attempt skimmed just wide of the upright, much to the relief of Cambridge House.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup Down High School defeated the Methodist College 4th XV by 19-0. The Down High School 3rd XV will now travel to play the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4th XV in the semi-final of the competition.
In the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate the first round tie involving Rainey Endowed School and Wallace High School was postponed because of snow and will be re-scheduled as soon as possible.
It is hoped that the remaining 3rd XV Plate first round games involving Dalriada 3rds and Banbridge Academy 3rds, Campbell College 4th XV and St Columba’s, Stranorlar, and Ballymena Academy 3rds and RS Armagh 3rd XV will be completed as soon as possible to allow all the remaining quarter-final games in this competition can be played.
SCHOOLS ‘BIT’ FOR CHARITABLE TRUST
This week, beginning Monday, 1 February, has been designated as the week in which schools will seek to support the work of the IRFU Charitable Trust.
The very significant contribution of schools in Ulster to the invaluable work of IRFU Charitable Trust over many years has been widely acknowledged, and it is hoped that there will be a similar positive response from all Ulster schools this year.
There was delight for some and disappointment for others in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield, the Schools’ 2nd XV Cup and Plate and in the 3rd XV Plate competitions. With the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup 3rd Round games looming this coming weekend there were only a couple of First XV, and one 2nd XV friendlies game played during the last week.
Before a swathe of important games for age-group schools on Saturday, there were several midweek matches which had an impact on various competitions...
MIDWEEK ACTION REVIEW
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield replay, played on Monday of last week, Limavady Grammar earned a trip in the next round to Omagh Academy after Larne GS went down by 33-5.
For Larne there’s the incentive of entertaining Dalriada in the Medallion Bowl. The following day, Tuesday, Banbridge Academy won its Shield replay with Portora Royal by an impressive 22-7 scoreline and that effort brings a trip to Coleraine Grammar in the next round, while Portora will be at home in the Bowl tournament to Dromore High School.
In the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate St Columb’s College defeated Coleraine Grammar School 22-0 and now travels to Ballyclare Secondary School in the quarter-finals.
Wednesday saw several Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup and Plate games played, and one 2nd XV friendly. In the 2nd XV Cup Royal Belfast Academical Institution defeated Dalriada 36-3, while in the same competition Royal School, Dungannon lost 26-3 to Ballyclare High School.
Down High School and Regent House played their 2nd XV Cup quarter-final game some weeks ago, Down HS recording a 30-5 victory.
In the 2nd XV Plate competition Royal School, Armagh, came out on top in a closely-contested game against Banbridge Academy by 18-13, and in a closely contested game the Royal School, Armagh team won by 18-13. Meanwhile, in the same competition, Omagh Academy defeated its host, Portadown College, by 34-0.
The 2nd XV Plate game involving Sullivan Upper and Belfast High School was postponed due to an unplayable pitch, and been re-scheduled for Monday of this week (1, February). On Friday last the one remaining Schools’ 2nd XV Plate quarter-final game was played, Methodist College defeating Dromore High School 20-10, and will now travel to play RS Armagh, the current holders of the Plate, in the semi-final.
Lurgan College beat Friends’ School, Lisburn, in a 2nd XV friendly by 12-7.
On Friday at the Meadowbank Sports Arena Rainey Endowed School played Ballymena Academy in a controlled First XV friendly, the game ending in a 6-6 draw, Lorcan Quinn converting two penalties for Rainey, and Bruce Houston replying in kind for Ballymena.
SATURDAY REVIEW
The weather caused some disruption to the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Medallion Shield games scheduled.
Belfast Royal Academy’s game with RS Dungannon was postponed and will now be played on Tuesday (2, February), as will Coleraine Grammar’s tie with Banbridge Academy. Two other postponed matches are down for decision on Tuesday, Portadown College against Methody, and Omagh Academy’s tie with Limavady GS.
Several games did defy the weather on Saturday morning, and in the Medallion Shield Ballyclare HS defeated Rainey Endowed by 20-12, Royal Belfast Academical Institution beat Friends’ 54-3, and RS Armagh had a good 19-5 victory over Sullivan Upper.
Played in difficult conditions Peter Taylor scored a first half try for the ‘Royal’, converted by the reliable Benjamin Boyd for a 7-0 lead. Sullivan Upper played a full part in an exciting game and a positive approach was rewarded when Oliver Faith scored an unconverted try just before the break, reducing the deficit to just two points.
Second half tries from Ryan O’Neill and Nicholas Jennings, one of which was converted by Boyd, secured the win for Armagh.
Also in the Medallion Shield Wallace HS travelled to Campbell College and was rewarded with 13-0 win. Joel Dundas scored two tries for the visitors, and Connor Rankin added a penalty.
In the Medallion Bowl Regent House defeated Ballymena Academy 5-3, and Bangor GS beat Down HS 12-0. Portora Royal’s game with Dromore High School is scheduled for this Tuesday (2, February).
In the Ulster Schools’ Medallion Trophy Grosvenor Grammar won 24-3 at Antrim Grammar, the Belfast side now awaits Carrickfergus College for a place in the semi-final. Foyle and Londonderry College has already taken its place in the semi-final after beating Wellington College earlier in the month.
The Cambridge House-Lurgan College, and Carrickfergus College versus Belfast HS games have been rescheduled for Tuesday (2, February).
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 2nd XV Cup quarter-final Ballymena Academy defeated Bangor Grammar School by 32-0. Ballymena built up a 10-0 lead at the interval with a try from Tiarnan Martin, converted by David McCluggage, and a McCluggage penalty.
The second half saw Ballymena Academy control all aspects of the game, Scott Agnew, Conor Agnew, James McClean and Lukas Morrison each scoring tries, McCluggage adding one conversion. Ballymena Academy team will now be at home to RBAI in the semi-final.
In the Ulster Schools’ Trophy a postponed game, featuring Cambridge House and Strabane Academy, finally was played at Methody’s Pirrie Park grounds, Cambridge House winning a very close contest 11-9.
In a match which warmed the supporters who braved the elements Cambridge House team held a 6-0 lead at half-time with two James Bovill penalties. Strabane Academy came storming back in the second period, coming close to winning the game.
Reuben Russell scored an unconverted try for Cambridge House, but Strabane Academy captain Thomas O’Flaherty landed a drop goal and kicked two penalties, and with the last ‘play’ of the game another drop goal attempt skimmed just wide of the upright, much to the relief of Cambridge House.
In the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Cup Down High School defeated the Methodist College 4th XV by 19-0. The Down High School 3rd XV will now travel to play the Royal Belfast Academical Institution 4th XV in the semi-final of the competition.
In the Ulster Schools’ 3rd XV Plate the first round tie involving Rainey Endowed School and Wallace High School was postponed because of snow and will be re-scheduled as soon as possible.
It is hoped that the remaining 3rd XV Plate first round games involving Dalriada 3rds and Banbridge Academy 3rds, Campbell College 4th XV and St Columba’s, Stranorlar, and Ballymena Academy 3rds and RS Armagh 3rd XV will be completed as soon as possible to allow all the remaining quarter-final games in this competition can be played.
SCHOOLS ‘BIT’ FOR CHARITABLE TRUST
This week, beginning Monday, 1 February, has been designated as the week in which schools will seek to support the work of the IRFU Charitable Trust.
The very significant contribution of schools in Ulster to the invaluable work of IRFU Charitable Trust over many years has been widely acknowledged, and it is hoped that there will be a similar positive response from all Ulster schools this year.