Last weekend saw more School's return to action across the province after the summer break, and School's PRO, Barney McGonigle begins this week's round-up in Dungannon where the Royal School hosted a three-team blitz.
In a recent blitz tournament held at the Royal School, Dungannon pitches, teams from the Royal School, Dungannon were joined by teams from Dungannon RFC and Letterkenny RFC age grade squads.
All the teams involved used extended squads of players which enabled the coaches to give more players pitch time.
The competitive nature of the games provided early season game time with strong individual performances from the players and plenty of attacking intent from all three teams.
For the Dungannon RFC U18 team, Adam Nixon, Isaac Neill, James Shields, Hubert Banka, Joel Marmion and team captain, Alexander Courtney, all impressed with their performances.
The Letterkenny RFC U18 team performed very well in all their games with Emre Gercek, Ben Ramsey, Donnchadh Waters, Oscar Gallagher, Aiden Keeney and Matthew Farrell to the fore in all their games.
For the Royal School, Dungannon team, Matus Slajus, Cauan Robe, Alfie Cummings, Jake Ferguson and Harry Finlay impressed with their performances in the course of the games played.
Everyone involved would like to thank David Riddles and the staff at Royal School, Dungannon for hosting the blitz tournament which proved to be an excellent early season outing for all the players.
On Wednesday 9th September, Royal School, Armagh played Crescent Comprehensive, College, Limerick at Ashbourne RFC in a game the Crescent Comprehensive College team won by 28-7.
This was the fourth time the teams have met in recent seasons and it was the Royal School, Armagh team which started the game the stronger of the two sides.
The strength of the Royal School, Armagh pack, linked to a dominant maul, led to the Royal School, Armagh team taking a 7-0 lead midway through the first half when Harrison Wright touched down for a try which was converted by Ben Best.
Just before the interval, the Crescent Comprehensive College team drew level when Harry O’Halloran ran in for a try which was converted by Sean Maher.
The third quarter of the game saw the Limerick team dominate both territory and possession.
Two tries from Harry O’Connor and one from Christian Lillis, all converted by Sean Maher, saw the Crescent Comprehensive College team into a 28-7 lead.
Going into the final stages of the game, the Royal School, Armagh team had a number of opportunities to reduce the arrears but a strong, well organised Crescent Comprehensive College defence held firm to ensure the scoreboard read Royal School, Armagh 7 Crescent Comprehensive College, Limerick 28 at the end of this hard fought fixture.
Meanwhile, on the same afternoon at the Lough Road venue in Lurgan, a Lurgan College “Select” XV entertained the Friends’ School, Lisburn Wednesday 3rd XV in a game the Friends’ School, Lisburn team won by 17-14.
The Lurgan College team scored two tries through Josiah Ormerod and Thomas McKinstry.
Freddy McTernaghan added the extras to both the Lurgan College tries.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn team scored three tries through Isaac Nicholl, with a brace and Adam Hatwell.
Daniel Annett added one successful conversion kick.
On Friday 11th September, Down High School played Omagh Academy at the Friends’ School, Lisburn playing fields.
The Omagh Academy team won the game by 31-19 scoring five tries in the process.
The Down High School team points came through tries from Matthew Horner, Joe Bailie and Reuben Watson.
Barry Cooke added two successful conversion kicks.
The Omagh Academy tries were scored by Lewis McIvor, with two, Jacob Crosbie, Ryan Mitchell and Josh Duncan.
Sami Braden added two successful conversion kicks with Lewis McIvor adding a third.
Both teams, their coaches and supporters, would like to thank Ivor Monaghan and the staff at Friends’ School, Lisburn for the use of facilities and hosting the game.
On Saturday 12th September, quite a few 1st XV games were played.
Ballymena Academy played Wallace High School and won the game by 43-10.
George Gamble, Noah McClelland, Leo Smyth, Jamie Gregg, Zac Topping, with two and Matthew McKean were the Ballymena Academy try scorers.
Matthew capped a fine personal performance with four successful conversion kicks.
For the Wallace High School team, Oliver Mackey ran in for a try which was converted by Harry Walker who was also successful with one penalty goal.
Belfast High School played Limavady Grammar School in a game the Limavady Grammar School team won by 14-5.
Matty Hair ran in for an unconverted try for the Belfast High School team.
Matthew Laird and Jacob Kane touched down for the Limavady Grammar School tries to which Jack Howe added two successful conversion kicks.
Belfast Royal Academy played Ballyclare High School in a game the Belfast Royal Academy team won by 12-5.
Elijah Fitzpatrick scored two tries for the Belfast Royal Academy team with Blake McCloskey adding one successful conversion kick.
Daniel Montgomery touched down for an early Ballyclare High School unconverted try.
Cambridge House Grammar School hosted Coleraine Grammar School and Larne Grammar School in a three-team blitz.
The Cambridge House Grammar School team defeated Larne Grammar School by 7-0 with a try from David Teodorescu which was converted by James Johnston.
Coleraine Grammar School defeated Larne Grammar School by 21-0 and ended the morning with a 17-0 win against Cambridge House Grammar School.
For the Coleraine Grammar School team, Austin Henry starred with his performances and he received great back up from players such as Josh Chambers, Joe Coates, Adam Moore, George McLean, Luke McMillan and Reuben Nicholl.
All the players and coaches involved would like to thank Jordan McKinstry, and his colleagues at Cambridge House Grammar School, for organising a very enjoyable blitz tournament.
Campbell College, Belfast played St Gerard’s School, Bray and recorded a 57-14 win at the no side whistle.
Ollie Larkin, James Cairns, Jack Thompson, Dylan, Armstrong, Zach Thompson, with a hat trick, Sam Bowen and Freddie Harris were the Campbell College, Belfast try scorers.
The trusty boot of Jack Best added six successful conversion kicks.
Ben Willis and Evan Kenny ran in for the St Gerard’s School tries with Aubrey Desmond adding the extras to both tries.
Dromore High School played Sullivan Upper School 2nd XV and won the game by 31-7.
Jack McConnell, with a hat trick and Harry Cantley, with a brace, were the Dromore High School try scorers,
Alfie Clarke added three successful conversion kicks.
The Sullivan Upper School 2nd XV points came through a try from Carter McCombe which was converted by Josh Laughlin.
Friends’ School, Lisburn hosted Royal School, Dungannon in a game the Friends’ School, Lisburn team won by 29-12.
The Friends; School, Lisburn points came through tries from Will Smyth, Harry Brady, Eddie Hall, Luke Stevens and Joel Irwin.
John Hall added the extras to two of the Friends’ School, Lisburn tries.
The Royal School, Dungannon points came through tries from Alex Tomaszewski and Jake Ferguson.
Cuan Robe added one successful conversion kick.
Grosvenor Grammar School entertained Dalriada School in a game the Dalriada School team won by 36-0.
Matthew McCamphill, with a brace, Matthew Rea, Luke Blair, Max Elder and Matthew Nicholl were the Dalriada School try scorers.
Chris Finney was successful with three of his conversion kicks.
Lurgan College played Friends’ School, Lisburn 2ndxv in a game the Lurgan College team won by 24-12.
The Lurgan College tries came from Charlie Boyce, with two, Noah Broderick, Max Blair and Daniel Emerson.
Max Blair and James Cockcroft each added one successful conversion kick.
The Friends’ School, Lisburn 2ndxv points came through a goal from Matthew Hare alongside an unconverted try from Seth Crawford.
Methodist College, Belfast played Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and recorded a 47-7 victory.
Points scorers for the Methodist College, Belfast team included Henry Wylie, James Reid, Jack Largey, Liam Shek, Alex Turkington, Ramzi Qutteineh, Peter Lindsay, Alex O’Hagan and Brody Magowan-Gould.
The Enniskillen Royal Grammar School points came through a try from Jason Little which was converted by Kristen Fee.
Portadown College played Antrim Grammar School and won the game by 40-0.
The Portadown College points came through tries from Jacob Best, Ben McBurney, with two, Thomas Kenny, Samuel Walsh and Harvey Creaney.
Charlie Rodgers was successful with five conversion kicks.
Rainey Endowed School played Regent House School and won the game by 35-0.
The Rainey Endowed School points came through tries from Senan McNulty, Harry Burns, Rory McCrea, James Fullerton and Adrian Martin.
Adrian Martin capped a fine personal performance and was accurate off the tee with all five of his conversion kicks.
Royal Belfast Academical Institution played Wesley College, Dublin and ran out as 26-14 winners at the end of this competitive encounter.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team ran in four tries through James Wooten, Johnny Kennedy, Ollie Stewart and Reuben McCullough.
Johnny Kennedy added the extras to three of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution tries.
Ross Collins and Charlie Byrne touched down for the Wesley College, Dublin tries to which Johnny Woods added the extras.
Royal School, Armagh hosted Bangor Grammar School in a game the Royal School, Armagh team won by 40-7.
Ben Mulligan, Jack Beggs, James Hamilton, with a brace, Matthew Kerr and Conchuir Slevin were the Royal School, Armagh try scorers.
The trusty boot of Ben Best was successful with four conversion kicks with Joel Clarke adding a fifth.
The Bangor Grammar School team points came through a try from David McCartan which was converted by Bruce McClure.
Sullivan Upper School played Banbridge Academy and recorded a 50-10 victory.
Ross Alderdice, Benjamin Crowe, Noah Cassidy, Lucas McKeown, Scott Henderson, Oliver Long, Ben Borland and Henry Calvert were all among the points scorers for the Sullivan Upper School team.
Conor Patton and Seth Martin each touched down for an unconverted try for the Banbridge Academy team.