A Cambridge House "Select" XV had a comfortable home win against Strabane GS on Saturday 15th November. Despite losing the game the Strabane team found the game to be useful in their preparation for their forthcoming Northern Bank Ulster Schools' Cup Round 1 games with Antrim GS and Wellington College, which are due to take place at the end of November and early December.
Belfast HS entertained Banbridge Academy, a team very keen to get back to winning ways. The Banbridge team was weakened due to the absence of their representative players Shandon Scott, Ryan Bentley and James Simpson. Despite this, the Co Down team recorded a well deserved 29-13 win. The game was evenly poised at half time with Belfast HS leading by 8-7. The 2nd half saw Banbridge forge ahead with a strong performance from their pack enabling their backline to show what they could do with the ball in hand.
James Gibson, Andrew Mitchell, Ben Martin, Ewan Dunbar and Samuel Russell all scored tries with Russell adding two conversions. The High School scores came from a Ross Mc Lean try, a Gary Mc Keown try and a Robbie Fryers penalty.
Ballymena Academy played Rainey ES and recorded a very positive 36-7 victory. Among the Academy scorers were Kyle Moore with two tries, Ross Mc Queen, Andy Warwick, Peter Wallace and Ross Wilson with one try each. Calum Patterson kicked three conversions with regular kicker Charlie Simpson taking a day off from kicking duties.
Wallace HS travelled to play RS Armagh and maintained their excellent run of form with a hard earned 15-13 win. It was a case of a Hughes family double act with Scott Hughes scoring two tries and twin brother Wayne contributing a conversion and a penalty to complete the Wallace scoreline.
Friends' School travelled to Lurgan College and came away with a very positive 43-0 victory. Despite still missing a number of players due to injury the young Friends' team played a very expansive game resulting in them scoring seven tries. The Lisburn boys were 22-0 ahead at half time and they kept the pressure on in the 2nd half ensuring a resounding victory. Andrew Vance scored two tries, David Mc Guigan, Ross Mc Caughey, Paddy Pringle, Gareth Hall and Rory Mc Ivor all scored one try each. The remaining points came from the trusty boot of Rory Mc Ivor.
Portora RS hosted Coleraine AI and found a Coleraine team in determined form. The visitors won by 36-8 with outhalf Richie Mc Master displaying his full range of skills. He contributed 21 points to the Coleraine cause scoring two tries, four conversions and a penalty. The remaining Coleraine points came from Angus Warwicker, Robert Thompson and Michael Mc Dowell, all of whom scored a try each.
With the score at 24-0 at half time Portora mounted a challenge early in the 2nd half when they scored a try and a penalty but it was a case of too little, too late for the Enniskillen boys.
Limavady GS got back to winning ways with a comfortable 27-0 home win against a very spirited Omagh Academy team. It took the home team some time to settle but they eventually got a try through winger Shane Toner at the end of the 1st half. This was converted by Stuart Thompson to give his team a 7-0 half time lead.
The 2nd half saw Limavady GS become much more dominant and midway through the 2nd half Shane Toner scored his 2nd try which once again was converted by Stuart Thompson. Shortly after this Limavady No 8 Jonny King drove over the Omagh line for a try which Thompson duly converted. In the closing stages of the game Thompson completed a fine afternoon's work when he added a drop goal as well as a penalty to his tally for the game.
A revived Dalriada team travelled to play Larne GS, following a midweek 15-15 draw at BRA, hoping to continue their solid start to the season. The home team was fully aware that they would need to be at their best if they were to take anything from the game. The Larne team had their four Northern Bank Ulster Schools' representatives to call on for this tricky encounter and it was the experience of these players that saw them through by 33-12.
Larne took an early lead through tight head prop Daniel Garston when he crashed over for an unconverted try. Dalriada responded almost immediately through centre Stuart Curry who scored a fine individual try to take the score to 5-5. Once again it was that man Garston who crashed over for his 2nd try of the morning which was converted by Stuart Mc Ilwaine to take the score to 12-5 at half time.
The 2nd half saw Larne take control and flanker Brian Blair ran in from 35 metres having taken a pass from winger Gary Mills. Mc Ilwaine added the conversion to put Larne GS 19-5 ahead. The home team hit a purple patch and scored 2 tries in quick succession through winger Lee Millar. Stuart Mc Ilwaine added the conversions leaving his team 33-5 ahead going into the final few minutes.
Dalriada got some reward for their endeavours when, near the end of the game, full back Ben Henderson scored a fine try. This was converted by Lee Ballentine leaving the final score at 33-12 in favour of Larne GS.
Campbell College had to work hard for their 22-17 victory against a lively Grosvenor GS while RBAI had a comfortable victory against a young RS Dungannon team.
Ballyclare HS hosted Bangor GS and recorded a comfortable 33-3 win against a team that has had a difficult run of games so far during the season. Northern Bank Ulster Schools' players Jordan Annett and Adam Best were first to score with Jordan kicking 2 penalties and Adam scoring a try to give Ballyclare an 11-0 half time lead. Matthew Johnston, Ryan Tweed, Simon Reid and Fabien Beickhorensoni all scored tries in the 2nd half for Ballyclare with Ian Scroggie adding a conversion.
Sullivan Upper and Regent House played out an exciting game in Holywood. Sullivan exerted all the pressure in the opening exchanges of the game but were unable to put any points on the board. Against the run of play it was Regent who broke away and scored a try through their right winger. The Regent out half converted the try to put his team 7-0 ahead.
Sullivan came back strongly and got their rewards when John Mc Master scored a fine try which was converted by Hamish Graham to take the score to 7-7. Both teams played attractive rugby for the remainder of the half but the defences held firm to leave the score at 7-7 at half time.
It was the Regent team which started the 2nd half in more determined mood and the Newtownards boys took advantage of Sullivan mistakes to run in 3 quick 2nd half tries, one of which was converted to put them 24-7 going into the final quarter of the game.
Sullivan never stopped trying and got some reward for their efforts when their inspirational captain, Alex Newton, blasted over for a try following a clever lineout move. This was converted by Hamish Graham leaving Regent House winners by 24-14.
