Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Round Up : Saturday 25th September 2021
A round-up of the latest schools’ rugby action, by Ulster Schools’ PRO, Barney McGonigle…
On Wednesday 22nd September games involving teams from Antrim Grammar School, Ballyclare High School, Coleraine Grammar School and Limavady Grammar School played games at 1stxv and “Development/Select” xv level.
A lot of hard work has been going on at Antrim Grammar School in terms of developing the game and a young Antrim Grammar School senior team took part in a game against a Ballyclare High School “Select” squad on Wednesday 22nd September. The game was played over 3×25 minute sessions which provided the opportunity for both teams to give a lot of players pitch time.
For quite a few of the Antrim Grammar School team it was their first run out for almost two years and all the players really enjoyed getting back to playing once again. Matthew Adair impressed with his leadership as captain, Joshua Harvey, Ben Mawhinney, Joel Lucas and Ethan Ashe were all effective members of a hard-working Antrim Grammar School pack while Boris Lestiansky and Peter Kane were central to some fine attacks from the Antrim Grammar School back division.
The Ballyclare High School squad saw good performances from Charlie Lloyd, Matthew McCourt, Reece Kennedy, Steve Hutchinson, Max Scott, Joel Flynn and Harry Creighton throughout the game.
Coleraine Grammar School played against Limavady Grammar School and took the opportunity to play a development team during the game. All the players, on both teams, excelled throughout the game which was played in very wet conditions. The Coleraine team, in which Joshua Stewart played a leading role, won the game by 18-12. Toby McClarty and Benji Logan each scored one try while Jordan McAuley kicked two penalties as well as one conversion.
The Limavady Grammar School points came through a try from Dylan McAuley with Eunan McLaughlin adding the conversion as well as one penalty. Robert McFarland, Ben Nutt and Benjamin Howe were among the Limavady Grammar School played who impressed during the game.
On Saturday 25th September quite a few Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ friendly fixtures took place.
Ballyclare High School played a “Select” xv against Carrickfergus Grammar School in a game the Carrickfergus Grammar School team won by 24-0. Ellis Branagh scored two tries for the Carrickfergus GS team with Tom Kennedy and Robbie McMinn each scoring one try. Ellis completed a “Man of the Match” performance when he added two conversions.
At the same time a Ballyclare High School “Development” team played Larne Grammar School in a game the Ballyclare team won by 32-5.
Joel Flynn and Neil McCrea each scored an unconverted try for the Ballyclare High School team in the first half. Larne Grammar School responded with an unconverted try from Cian Ferguson to leave the Ballyclare HS team with a 10-5 lead at the break.
The Ballyclare High School team then went on to score four second half tries through Rory Nugent, Callum Lockhart, Daniel Graham and Ian O’Hara. Joel Flynn added one conversion to secure the 32-5 victory for the Ballyclare High School Development xv.
The Larne Grammar School team displayed great commitment throughout the game and it was their impressive tight head prop, Cian Ferguson, who scored their only try of the game.
Ballymena Academy hosted Bangor Grammar School in a game which saw both teams keen to get back to winning ways following recent defeats.
This game saw the Ballymena Academy team get back to winning ways with a convincing 42-0 victory.
This victory was built on the back of outstanding performances from Andrew Chesney and Andrew Donald on the Ballymena Academy team. Andrew Donald scored four tries with Connor Drain, Ryan McKenna and Ben King each touching down for one. Alex McBurney was successful with all seven conversions.
At the same time a Ballymena Academy U16 team played a Campbell College U16 team in a game the Ballymena Academy team won by 15-0.
Reece Williamson and Sean McKay scored the Ballymena tries to which Daniel Vercoe-Rodgers added one conversion as well as a penalty.
Belfast High School played the Portadown College team which was taking part in their first game of the new season.
The Belfast High School team won the nine try game by 40-15. The Belfast High School tries came from Adam Bennett, who ran in for two, Lucas Thompson, Jamie Scott, Alex Montgomery and Daniel Bennett. Cameron Banford was successful with five out of six of his conversion kicks.
The Portadown College points came through three unconverted tries from Victor Lawniczek, Scott Craig and Sam Herbert.
Campbell College, Belfast and Wallace High School played out a high scoring game which the Campbell College team won by 38-12.
Zac Solomon scored an early try for the Campbell College team which was closely followed by a try from Oli McCauley. Close to the interval tries from Henry Johnston and Darragh Hanlon, with Peter Caves adding the four conversions, saw the Campbell College team into a 28-0 lead at the half time break.
The second half was more evenly contested with Wallace High School running in for two tries, one of which was converted.
However, unconverted tries from Lucas Perez de Leza and Jay Davis secured the 38-12 victory for the Campbell College, Belfast team.
Dalriada School played against Lurgan College and it was the Dalriada team that emerged as 12-10 winners after a very closely contested encounter.
The Lurgan College team was playing their first fixture of the season and everyone involved was very pleased to have been playing in such a closely contested game after their long lay- off.
The Dalriada School points came through tries from their impressive centre, Owen Boyd, and hard-working flanker, Ben Stewart. Peter Donaldson was successful with one conversion.
The Lurgan College points came through an unconverted try from Luke Harrison who took advantage of good work from Angus Cunningham and Peter Bird before finishing things off in the corner. Following a 5m lineout Angus Cunningham was awarded his touchdown for an unconverted try following good work from the Lurgan College pack.
Despite the best intentions and hard work from Friends’ School, Lisburn players such as Ruairi Doyle, Joel Barron, Angus Crawford, Alexander Kilpatrick and Peter Brown, Dromore High School dominated proceedings when the teams met at the Barban Hill venue.
The Dromore High School team had built up a 26-0 lead by the interval through two tries from Jonny Scott and one try each from Ryan Rodgers and Curtis Forbes. Ethan Mount was successful with three of his conversions.
The Dromore High School team scored four more tries in the second half. Thomas Beacom-Hurle ran in for a brace while Ryan Rodgers touched down for his second of the game and Matthew Heasley scored one. Ethan Mount added two more conversions to secure the 50-0 win for the Dromore High School team.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School played the Royal School, Armagh team and won a closely contested game by 22-17.
Noah Quigley, Paul McConkey, Tim Harte and Luke Smyton each scored one try for the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School team to which Tadhg Hambly added one conversion.
The Royal School, Armagh tries were scored by Freddie Starrett, Joe Hughes and Finn Fehnert with Matthew Monaghan adding one conversion.
Foyle and Londonderry College entertained the Rainey Endowed School team in a game the Foyle College team won by 20-5.
James McKillopp capped a fine personal display with a brace of tries to which Adam Killeen added two conversions as well as two penalties.
The Rainey Endowed School team played with great commitment throughout the game and got some reward for their endeavours when Billy Allen touched down for an unconverted try.
Methodist College, Belfast played a “Select” xv against Belfast Royal Academy in a game the Methody team won by 26-8.
The Methody team scored four tries through Lewis Doherty, Benji Sloan, Ryan Kidd and Jacob Kelly. Jack Tindal was successful with three of his four conversion attempts.
The Belfast Royal Academy team scored an unconverted try through Josh McKee with Henry George adding one penalty.
Omagh Academy hosted Banbridge Academy at the Campsie Playing Fields and won the game by 38-7.
The Omagh Academy team scored tries through Harvey King, Jamie Matthews and Conrad Hill in the first half of the game. Two Andrew Johnston conversions sent the Omagh team into the break with a 19-0 lead.
The second half of the game saw the Omagh Academy team continue with their attacking style of play. Reece Braden scored two tries and Harvey King secured his brace with a second try of the game. Two further Andrew Johnston conversions secured the 38 points for the Omagh Academy team.
The Banbridge Academy team had opportunities in the course of the game and took full advantage of one of these chances when Ronan Quinn touched down for a try following good work from Will Russell and Marcus McNeill. Ryan Matthews added the extras to the try to secure the seven points for the Banbridge Academy team.
Regent House School played Coleraine Grammar School in a game the Coleraine Grammar School team won by 38-0.
The Coleraine Grammar School had built up a 17-0 lead by the interval and their points came through tries from Benji Logan, Thomas Frew and Toby McClarty. Jordan McCauley added one conversion.
The Coleraine team continued to dominate proceedings in the second half. Another try each from Benji Logan and Thomas McClarty, alongside one from Noah Gordon, all of which were converted by Jordan McCauley, secured the 38-0 win for the Coleraine Grammar School team.
For the committed Regent House School team Zach Campbell, Liam Lewis, Glen Smyth and Matthew McBride impressed with their performances throughout the game.
Royal School, Dungannon played Grosvenor Grammar School in their annual Chico Cup game. The Royal School, Dungannon team continued with their recent run of good form and came away with a 53-7 win.
The Royal School, Dungannon team put in another workmanlike performance and scored nine tries in the process. Alex Kennedy scored two tries with Alfie Lewis, James McCammon, Ryan Evans, Jacob Clarke, James Girvan, John Carroll and Dylan Mooney each scoring one try. James Girvan added 3 conversions with Jacob Clarke nailing one.
The Grosvenor Grammar School points came through a converted try from Daniel Corbett.
Sullivan Upper School played Royal Belfast Academical Institution in a game the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team won by 29-10.
The Sullivan Upper School team scored two unconverted tries in the course of the game through Matthew Latimer and Rory Fulton.
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution team scored their points through tries from Oliver Clarke, who touched down for two, as well as Bryn Ward, Jacob Evans and Jacob Boyd, each of whom scored one. Two Josh Eagleson conversions secured the 29-10 victory for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.
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