Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Review: Saturday 27th March 2010

Schools finishing for the Easter break heralds the end of the Schools' Rugby season in Ulster. It has been another busy year which has seen numerous games taking place involving schoolboy players from the Under 12 group through to the players at 1st xv level taking part in the various Northern Bank Ulster Schools' competitions. Games have been played since September and, in fact, there are still a number of games to be played.

The Northern Bank Ulster Schools' U18 Management team has produced a workplan which will see many U18 players get the opportunity to put themselves in the frame for the Schools' Inter Provincial series which has been planned for September.

Medallion Shield Final:
The Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Medallion Shield final took place at a blustery Ravenhill on Monday 22nd March. The game featured two teams that have been noted for their attacking style of play during the season. Their displays did not disappoint the large crowd of supporters that had gathered to witness the spectacle.

The Wallace defence was well organised throughout the game and had to be as the Campbell College team was intent on attacking at every opportunity. The Wallace pack played their role fully by denying the Campbell College team the quality ball they have thrived on during the season. In fact, it was the Wallace High School team that took the lead when their inspirational captain, Zack Mc Call, broke from the back of a driven maul to touch down for the first try of the game. The try went unconverted but the Lisburn team had a 5-0 lead after only five minutes play.

The Campbell College team responded almost immediately by launching an attack from the restart. They moved the ball effectively creating the space for their centre, Jordan Boyd, to outpace the Wallace defence and score a well taken try.

The Wallace team was undeterred and took play immediately back into Campbell College territory. Good work from the Wallace pack paved the way for their hooker, Chris Knowles, to get the touch down. Once again, this try was not converted but the Wallace team had regained a 10-5 lead.

Campbell responded exactly as they had before with their centre, Jack Owens, causing havoc in the Wallace defence. He was responsible for creating space for his winger, Ross Campbell, who finished off a free flowing move with a try. Rob Haldane was just short with his conversion attempt but the score was now 10-10 after only twenty minutes play.

The second half turned out to be a battle involving the Wallace pack and the Campbell College backs. The Wallace boys continued to deny the Campbell team the ball they wanted. The Campbell backs lived off scraps of possession but the looked dangerous with any ball they did get. In Call Mc Ilwaine and Zack Mc Call Wallace High School had two hard working forwards while Year 10 pupil, Ross Campbell caused problems for Wallace with any possession he did get.

At the final whistle both teams were disappointed that they had not won the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Medallion Shield out right but both teams realised they had played their part in a very entertaining game of schoolboy rugby which neither team deserved to lose.

Ulster Branch President, Cecil Watson, and Nick Craig of Northern Bank presented the Ulster Schools' Medallion Shield to the respective captains, Rob Haldane from Campbell College and Zack Mc Call from Wallace High School.

3rd XV Plate Final
Following the Medallion Shield Final the 3rd xv Plate Final took place at Pirrie Park on Monday 22nd. Regent House played a very determined Down High School team in an exciting game. Playing into the wind in the first half, the Regent team asked questions of the Down High School defence on regular occasions.

The Down High team, in the main, answered the questions but could do little to stop the bigger Regent team taking a 17-0 half time lead. Andy Hill, Jonny Cardwell and John Vincent scored first half tries for the Newtownards team with Adam Warnock adding one conversion.

In the second half the Regent pack denied Down High School any worthwhile possession which limited the ability of the Down team to launch any worthwhile attacks.

It was the Regent team that added to their scores with two second half tries from Kyle Mc Gifford as well as a try from their live wire scrumhalf, Alan Sinnamon. After the game it was a delighted Regent House team that received the Northern Bank 3rdxv Plate with Alan Sinnamon picking up the Coaches Man of the Match Award.

2nd XV Plate Final
In the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' 2ndxv Plate Semi-Final Wallace High School had a very positive 39-0 victory against near neighbours, Friends' School.

Wallace High School 2nd xv scored seven tries in what was a comprehensive display. From the kick off Wallace attacked from deep and following multiple phases Jordan McMullan powered over for the try. At this stage the Wallace line out and maul was proving effective and it was not surprising when Ross Irwin powered over for a second try following a driven maul. Irwin added a further try which Chris Nimmon converted to leave the half time score 17-0 in favour of Wallace High School.

Following the restart Wallace continued their dominance as Ross Irwin again showed excellent power to break through tackles and go over for his third try. Chris Nimmon again converted to put his team 24-0 ahead. Mark Uprichard got in on the act with a try and there was also a try for Wallace High School skipper Ben Mewha. Nathan McClatchey finished the scoring with a well taken try after he had outpaced a very flat footed Friends' defence.

This was a very good performance from the Wallace High School 2nd xv. They will see themselves as favourites as they prepare to face Ballyclare High School in the final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' 2ndxv Plate competition.

The Friends' team was unable to reproduce the form that had seen them emphatically defeat Limavady Grammar School in the quarter-final replay. They had no answer to the power and strength of Ross Irwin who produced a 'Man of the Match' display in this game. Ross will hope for a repeat performance in the Final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' 2nd xv Plate competition.

Under 16 HS Trophy Final
Dromore High School U16 xv played Slemish College in the final of the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' High Schools' Cup at Ravenhill on Wednesday afternoon. The Dromore team maintained the tradition that previous Dromore High School U16 teams have established in this competition by defeating a very committed Slemish College team 34-7. The Dromore team recorded another win in this competition by playing a free flowing game which was a pleasure to watch as well as to play in.

With the Dromore High School Medallion squad sharing the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Medallion Plate with Limavady Grammar School on Saturday it has been quite a time for the rugby players in the school. Dromore High School coaches, Alan Kirk and Jacques Benade, are justifiably proud of what their players have achieved this season.

Prior to the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' High Schools' Cup Final, Enniskillen Collegiate played Grosvenor Grammar School in the Final of the Ulster Schools' Girls' Cup. The Enniskillen girls repeated the success which they enjoyed last season by winning this final by 10-7 in what was a very closely contested game.

The Northern Bank Ulster Schools' U18 Management team took an Ulster Schools' U17 Development team to play Coleraine Academical Institution as part of the Coleraine AI 150th Anniversary celebrations. This was the first time the Ulster Schools' Management team had the opportunity to view players, nominated by their schools as potential Ulster Schools' players, in a competitive game situation.

The Coleraine AI team won the game by 36-21 with both sides expressing satisfaction in the performance of their teams. Coleraine AI opened the game strongly and got their first score after six minutes play. Michael Shiels scored a try which was the culmination of good work from Nathan Rankin and Jamie Liken in the Coleraine pack. Quick ruck ball enabled Paddy Farrell to feed Michael Shiels and he made no mistake from close range. Irish Schools' player, Ritchie Mc Master, added the conversion to put Coleraine AI 7-0 ahead.

On fifteen minutes Ritchie Mc Master broke from his own 22m area to feed Dean Rankin on the halfway line. Dean carried the ball into the Ulster 22m area where a pass to the supporting Michael Shiels was followed by a Coleraine ruck being set up. Unfortunately for the home team a played was penalised at the ruck allowing the Ulster Development team to clear the danger. Ulster got a lineout outside their 22m area which was disrupted by the Coleraine AI pack. Keith Mc Knight and Kyle Markey ushered the Ulster ball carrier into touch and from the resultant lineout Jamie Liken was on the end of a series of passes which gave him the opportunity to score the 2nd try of the game. The conversion was missed but the Coleraine team was now 12-0 in the lead.

This lead was extended a few minutes later when Nathan Rankin won excellent lineout ball and fed Paddy Farrell. Paddy released Ritchie Mc Master into space which allowed Ritchie to make a break before off loading to Dean Rankin. Dean shrugged off the attention of two would be Ulster defenders to power over and touch down under the Ulster posts.
Ritchie Mc Master once again added the conversion to give his team a comfortable 19-0 lead after twenty six minutes play.

Three minutes later the Ulster Schools' U17 Development team got their first score of the game when Dalriada winger, Rhys Mc Auley, intercepted a Coleraine AI pass in the Coleraine 22m area.. Rhys did not have the pace to score himself and was stopped just short of the Coleraine line. However, support was on hand and after good work from the impressive Foyle and Londonderry College flanker, Tom Burns, the ball ended up with John Andrew from Ballymena Academy who scored the try. Daniel Kennedy from Bangor Gramar School added the conversion to reduce the arrears to 19-7.

Just before half time the Ulster Schools' Development team scored their second try when Tom Burns and Daniel Kennedy combined to feed the Ulster Schools' Development team openside flanker, James Vance from Friends' School. James laid off a neat pass to Ryan Elliott from Belfast High School who needed no further invitation to score the try under the Coleraine AI posts. Daniel Kennedy was successful with his conversion attempt to take the half time score to 19-14 in favour of Coleraine AI.

The Ulster Schools' U17 Development Management team made a number of changes at half time to allow them to see as many players as possible in the course of the game.

From the restart Coleraine regained possession through Alex Gourley who claimed the ball and set up a ruck. Coleraine moved the ball across their backline but the move was stopped just short of the Ulster line. Replacement Ulster flanker, Shay Mc Intosh from Limavady Grammar School turned the ball over but then made the cardinal error of losing the ball in contact. Ali Asghar claimed the ball and popped it off to his scrum half, Paddy Farrell. Paddy made no mistake in taking advantage of the situation and scoring another Coleraine AI try. Ritchie Mc Master added another conversion to see his team increase their lead to 26-14 after thirty eight minutes play.

Ten minutes later a good interchange of passes involving Michael Shiels, Dean Rankin, Adam Brown and Reza Dehaghani saw a ruck developing on the Ulster Schools' Development team 10m line. Paddy Farrell spotted the gap to feed his Coleraine team mate and winger, Alan Clarke. Alan took full advantage of some slack Ulster defence to power his way to the line and score the try. This try was not converted but his team had a 31-14 lead.

After fifty three minutes play Michael Poskitt made a great break through the Ulster Development team midfield area. He displayed great awareness in off loading to the supporting Dean Rankin who showed the Ulster defence a clean pair of heels and won the race to the try line to score his second try of the game. The conversion was missed but the Coleraine team had opened up a 36-14 lead in the game.

The Ulster Schools' Development team showed great determination in the closing stages of the game and got rewarded for their effort when Tom Burns picked the ball up from the back of a ruck and scored a deserved try under the Coleraine posts. This try was converted by Adam Webb from Wellington College to leave the Coleraine AI team as deserved
36-21 winners of this entertaining game.

The Northern Bank Ulster Schools' U18 Management team will continue their screening process for next season when they will see as many of their U17 players as possible in action at Cambridge House School in Ballymena on Monday 29th March. They are planning to play internal U17 Development games and the action gets underway at 11-00 am.

Players from Royal School Armagh and Campbell College involved in the Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Subsidiary Shield Final as well as players emerging from the U16 Blitz Tournament will be included in the U17 Development teams at Cambridge House on Monday 29th. All players notified are asked to meet at Cambridge House not later than 10-30 am to be ready to start at 11-00 am.