Ireland U18 Schools 60-3 Italy U18s

The Irish Schools' U18 squad played their first International game of the season in front of a good crowd at Donnybrook in Dublin. There were seven Northern Bank Ulster Schools' players in the Irish Schools' squad.

From the outset, the dash of scrum half Luke McGrath mesmerised the Italian defence. A quick exchange in tight space gave winger Sam Coghlan-Murray the chance to stretch to the line for the opening try in the second minute. Within minutes, openside flanker Aaron Conneely pounced on a ball that squirted out of an Italian scrum. This forced a penalty which was sent straight and true by out-half Paddy Jackson for an 8-0 lead.

Ireland full-back Charlie Simpson slipped the tackle of his opposite number Michele Corso for another five-pointer, following brisk continuity work from the forwards with team captain Niall Scannell making the vital thrust. Then, Charlie Simpson and Luke McGrath produced two delicious side-door passes to leave centre Peter Nelson in the clear to coast home. Paddy Jackson added the conversion.

The Italian front row players were playing to their traditional strengths in the scrum. It gave them a basis for slowing the game down to their pace. But Terry McMaster's Irish side made precious few mistakes until an indiscretion at a ruck gave Italy U18 out-half Keanu Apperley the opportunity to convert the three points from the resultant penalty.

It was a temporary respite as shortly afterwards Niall Scannell barged beyond the gain line for the back-line to smoothly manufacture a one-on-one for right winger Stephen MacAuley, who sped outside Corso, for the fourth touchdown in 20 minutes. Charlie Simpson's tremendous gliding outside break was too much for the Italian cover as the first half came to a close at 32-3.

The second-half got underway with Sam Coghlan-Murray showing the gas to latch onto a hacked kick to race over by the posts with Paddy Jackson, once again, posting the simple extras. Replacement Eoghan Cross was hauled down from behind by centre Giulio Bisegni only for Peter Nelson to pick and drive for the whitewash. Paddy Jackson made it 46-3 from the conversion.

From then, a host of changes on both sides meant Ireland had to withstand a barrage of drives and mauls from the Italian eight. Then, a sweet pass from replacement, Ritchie McMaster, sent Cross steaming through the middle. Irish openside, Aaron Conneely, was on his shoulder to provide the link to Number 8 Daniel Qualter for the eighth try of the game. Paddy Jackson converted the try to put Ireland Schools’ into a 53-3 lead.

Another replacement, Ross Jones rolled out of defence to set up a slick series of passes at close quarters for Daniel Qualter to become the fourth player to register a brace of tries. Paddy Jackson added the extras to end a pleasing day's work for the Irish Schools' outfit.

Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Charlie Simpson (2), Sam Coghlan-Murray (2), Peter Nelson (2), Daniel Qualter (2), Stephen MacAuley;

Cons: Paddy Jackson (6); Pen: Paddy Jackson
Italy: Pen: Keanu Apperley

Ireland U18 Schools: Charlie Simpson (Ballymena Academy); Stephen MacAuley (Clongowes Wood College), Peter Nelson (Royal School Dungannon), JJ Hanrahan (Rockwell College), Sam Coghlan-Murray (Newbridge College); Paddy Jackson (Methodist College Belfast), Luke McGrath (St. Michael's College); Des Merrey (King's Hospital), Niall Scannell (PBC Cork) (Capt.), Peter Reilly (Castleknock College), Shane Buckley (Rockwell College), Yasin Browne (CBC Cork), Adam Clarkin (Terenure College), Aaron Conneely (Colaiste Iognaid), Daniel Qualter (Sligo Grammar School).
Replacements used: Rory Harrison (Methodist College Belfast) for Des Merrey, Kyle McCall (Wallace High School) for Peter Reilly, Eoghan Cross (Crescent Community College) for Adam Clarkin (all 48 mins), James Rael (Castletroy Community College) for Niall Scannell, Harry Doyle (Royal School Armagh) for Luke McGrath, Ritchie McMaster (Coleraine Academical Institution) for JJ Hanrahan, Ross Jones (Castleknock College) for Charlie Simpson (all 57).

Italy U18: M Corso; A Morsellino, G Bisegni, M Campagnaro, D Trotta; K Apperley, D Farolini; F Giuriatti, G Maistri, A Brandolini, L Mammana, G Grassotti, G Vian, F Conforti (Capt.), R Riccioli.
Replacements used: A Gemin for Corso (24 mins), G Scali for Giuriatti (39), A Tacoluca for Morsellino, M Maran for Mammana, R Masso al Talaal for Maistri (all 52), A Tacoluca for Farolini (55), A Lofrese for Riccioli (62).

Referee: Colin Stanley (IRFU)

Despite the difficulties caused by the onset of the Christmas holidays as well as the inclement weather conditions caused by frost and snow there were still a number of games involving schools from Ulster played on Saturday 19th December.

Bangor Grammar School lost out on their fixture with Coleraine AI last weekend due to the Coleraine AI team playing St Mary's College, Dublin. In place of this fixture the Bangor team played a very committed Ballynahinch RFC U19 team on Monday evening. The Bangor Grammar School team took a 10-0 half time lead with a try from their young centre, Michael Aspley. This try was converted by Stuart Mc Closkey who added a penalty to give his team the 10-0 half time lead.

In the 2nd half Bangor Grammar School displayed why they are currently undefeated this season with a well constructed display of attacking rugby. Andrew Pach and Phil Anderson scored one try each with Stuart Mc Closkey adding a conversion as well as a penalty. These scores left the Bangor Grammar School team with a well deserved 25-0 victory. The Ballynahinch U19 team was spirited throughout the game but in players such as Craig Harper and Karl Lamont it was the Bangor Grammar School team that had the cutting edge. Bangor coach, David Kennedy, was able to use all seven replacement players in the course of this game, giving his entire squad valuable experience prior to the forthcoming Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup games in January.

The Friends' School team showed no ill effects from not having been able to play the previous weekend against Wallace High School. They entertained a full-strength Portadown College team in an entertaining game in Lisburn. The Friends' team had to make a couple of last minute changes to their line up but this did not seem to impact on their game plan. Running the ball at every opportunity the Friends' boys were always in control of the game. Friends' centre, Michael Cochrane, opened the scoring with a fine individual effort when he out manoeuvred the Portadown defence to touchdown for the 1st try of the game. Paul Anderson, playing in the unaccustomed position of scrum half, converted the try to put his team 7-0 ahead.

Paul Anderson increased the Friends' lead to 10-0 when he converted a penalty opportunity following a Portadown College infringement after a scrum.

The Friends' team continued to dominate the exchanges for the remainder of the 1st half.  The team got due reward for their hard work with two further tries from Andrew Vance and a 2nd from Michael Cochrane. Paul Anderson added the conversions to see his team take a healthy 24-0 half time lead. The Portadown team rallied for a short time after the re start but the Friends' backrow of Patrick Ferguson, David Mc Guigan and James Vance ensured that the Portadown team had little in terms of quality ball to work with.  The Portadown College outhalf, Chris Goodland, tried hard to put his backline into strong positions but Michael Cochrane and Rory McIvor ensured that the Friends’ line was never seriously threatened by the Portadown College backline.

The Friends' pack, with their captain Alasdair Trimble playing well in his new hooker role, provided good ball for their backs and Desi Eastwood took full advantage to score a try following good attacking play from Patrick Pringle. Paul Anderson converted this try as well as the try scored by the youngest player on the pitch, James Vance. These scores ensured that it was the Friends' team that went into the Christmas holiday period with a well deserved 38-0 victory.

Carrickfergus Grammar School hosted their Leinster visitors, Dublin High School, in an entertaining game at the North Road venue. The Dublin High School team was a very physical team and dominated 1st half proceedings. They took an 8-3 lead at the interval with a try and a penalty. In response, the Carrickfergus team got some reward for their hard work with a Russell Stockman penalty.

In the 2nd half the Dublin visitors continued where they had left off at the end of the 1st half. They scored two 2nd half tries, one of which was converted. Russell Stockman kicked his 2nd penalty of the morning for the Carrickfergus Grammar School team to leave the final score at 20-6 in favour of the Dublin High School visitors.

Larne Grammar School hosted Dalriada School at a dry, sunny but cold Lower Cairncastle Road venue. The Larne team had a good 1st half display but had only three points to show for their hard work, these points coming from a well struck Jonny Henry penalty early in the game.

Dalriada had their chances to score in the 1st half but unusually for him, Lee Ballentine missed a number of penalty chances. The Dalriada team had opportunities to score tries on a number of occasions as well but a mixture of poor decision making from the Dalriada players and well organised defence from the Larne Grammar School team ensured that the home team held a 3-0 half time lead.

In the 2nd half the Dalriada team really took the game to Larne Grammar School. They were rewarded for their positive play with three 2nd half tries from Cormac McCartney, Ewan Strang and Lee Ballentine. Lee found his kicking boots once more and converted two of the tries to give the Ballymoney boys a healthy 19-3 lead. Jonny Henry kicked a consolation 2nd half penalty for the Larne team to take the final score to 19-6 in favour of Dalriada, for whom Thomas Malcolmson put on a 'Man of the Match' performance.

The Larne team was delighted that their Northern Bank Ulster Schools' U19 player, Stuart McIlwaine, came through safely after a twenty minute cameo appearance in this game. This is the first time Stuart has been able to play for a number of weeks. His team mates will be hoping to have Stuart fully available for their forthcoming Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ game against Strabane Grammar School in January.

Wallace High School did not have the services of their captain, Kyle Mc Call, to call upon when they hosted Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Kyle was with the successful Irish Schools' team playing Italy U18s in Dublin. The Belfast Inst team was at full strength and determined to get back to winning ways following their recent heavy defeat by St Michael's College, Dublin. The Belfast team held the upper hand for most of this game but had only a Matthew McGuigan penalty to show for their first half performance. Would a 3-0 half time lead be enough?

As it turned out, yes! The Belfast Inst pack displayed impressive commitment in the course of the 2nd half restricting the Wallace High School team to just one scoring attempt. This came through an Andrew Gilmore penalty which brought the score to 3-3 early in the 2nd half. The Belfast Inst team scored tries through Northern Bank Ulster Schools' players Michael McAuley and Alistair Andress. Matthew McGuigan converted both these tries to secure a well deserved 17-3 victory for the Royal Belfast Academical Institution team.

Portora RS played their fixture with Enniskillen RFC U19s and used the game as an opportunity to play an extended squad as they prepare for the forthcoming Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup campaign. The Portora RS team scored four 1st half tries. Their tries came from loose head prop, Charlie Sargaison, No 8 Matthew Tanswell, centre John McKenzie and full back, Scott Burrell. Scott, the Portora RS Vice Captain, was impressive with his contribution to the Portora victory.
Unusually, Portora RS kicker, James Gormley was unsuccessful with his conversion attempts.

In the 2nd half, the Portora team made multiple changes to their line up. The Enniskillen U19 team took full advantage of this and went on to score two 2nd half tries, one of which was converted. The Club team kicked a penalty in the course of the 2nd half to leave the Portora RS team as deserved 20-15 winners of this entertaining game.

Sullivan Upper got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 33-0 victory against Rainey Endowed School. The Rainey team started off brightly but when Sullivan Upper scored an intercept try midway through the 1st half the scene was set for Sullivan Upper domination. A 2nd try followed soon afterwards enabling Sullivan Upper to open up a healthy half time lead.
Despite the best efforts of Rainey ES players such as Thomas Booth, Owen Devlin, James Kelso and Stephen Dawson it was Sullivan Upper who dominated the 2nd half enabling them to secure the 33-0 victory.

Regent House finished off their tour to Southern Spain with a quickly re-arranged fixture against Bayside High School in sunny Gibraltar. This game replaced the original fixture with a local University team which had to be called off shortly before it was due to be played.

The Regent team had a comfortable victory in this re-arranged fixture. Jordan Ellingham, Gareth Deering, Ryan Irvine, Nathan Burns, Jonny Carmichael and captain for this game, Nicholas Mawhinney, all enjoyed playing on the 3G pitch in a pleasant 20 degrees. However, it was the Regent winger, Thomas Slane, who had the stand out performance and with it the 'Player of the Tour' award as selected by his team mates.

The games involving Ballyclare High School and Coleraine AI, Grosvenor Grammar School and Regent House, Belfast Royal Academy and Royal School Armagh, Limavady Grammar School and Belfast High School as well as Down High School and Royal School Dungannon all fell victim to the prevailing weather conditions. It is hoped that most of these games can be re-arranged during the Christmas holiday period.