Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup & Bowl Previews: Saturday 7th Dec 2019

Barney McGonigle previews the key ties for this week’s schools’ fixtures… Following a recent review of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup there are twelve Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup/Group matches scheduled to be played on Saturday 7th December. Twenty-four teams competed in the first two sets of twelve Group games on Wednesday 16th, Friday […]

The post Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup & Bowl Previews: Saturday 7th Dec 2019 appeared first on Ulster Rugby.

Barney McGonigle previews the key ties for this week’s schools’ fixtures…

Following a recent review of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup there are twelve Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup/Group matches scheduled to be played on Saturday 7th December.

Twenty-four teams competed in the first two sets of twelve Group games on Wednesday 16th, Friday 18th Saturday 19th October and Saturday 16th November. Each of the twenty-four teams will play one more Group game over the weekend of December (7th) with the six Group winners, and four highest placed runners up, joining the six schools who are exempted from the Group games, in the last sixteen of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup. Those six schools are Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Belfast, Methodist College, Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Royal School, Armagh and Wallace High School. The remaining teams will be joined by the winners and runners up of the Tier 4 competition to compete in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl competition.

The “Tie of the Round” on Saturday 7th December would appear to be game involving Grosvenor Grammar School who will host Dalriada School at the Cameronian Drive venue. With the Sullivan Upper School team almost certain to have already qualified from this Group D Group to join the last sixteen of the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup the battle is on to see who will qualify through as one of the highest placed runners up positions. A bonus point victory by either the Grosvenor Grammar School team or the Dalriada School team might be enough to see either team through.

The Grosvenor Grammar School team has Mark McDowell as the Head Coach with Owen Henry, Rory Butler and David McLaughlin all playing vital roles as assistant coaches. The team is captained by their experience full back, Adam Moore, who is participating in his third season of Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup games. Adam receives great support from his Vice-Captain, Harry Graham, and both these players are well aware of the responsibilities they have when working with what is essentially a very young and inexperienced squad of teammates.

It has been a tough season for the Grosvenor Grammar School squad with consistency being the main issue on a game-to-game basis. A number of losses have been recorded but the side has been in most fixtures deep into the 2nd half before ultimately being defeated on a number of occasions. It has been a steep learning curve for everyone and coaches and players alike have been focusing on their own development rather than results.

Adam Moore has been the top points scorer for the team due to his eye for the opposition try line as well as his consistent accuracy off the tee. Ethan Robinson, a player equally adept in playing on the wing, or in the backrow, is the top try scorer for the Grosvenor Grammar school team. These two players are among a number of Grosvenor Grammar School players the Dalriada School defence will need to monitor closely.

This is a young Grosvenor Grammar School squad with only three of the squad in their final year at the school. Among the squad members is Adam Matchett, a young player with fine rugby genes to call upon. His Dad, Andy, was scrum half with the successful Ulster team that won the European Championship on that famous occasion in January 1999. No 8, Joshua Patterson, is an Ireland Schools’ Hammer thrower will Jack Breen and Rhys Worthington have played for the Grosvenor Grammar School soccer team in NI Schools’ Soccer competitions.

The Grosvenor Grammar School coaches and players wanted to be in this position heading into the Dalriada game with their fate in their own hands and the ability to finish second in the group. They played Dalriada in the first game of the season and, despite losing that game, the Grosvenor GS squad feel they are a different side from that day. The players have worked immensely hard over the last number of months to develop multiple areas of their game as recent positive performances would show. The Grosvenor Grammar School staff and players will have great respect for the Dalriada School team and they are looking forward to welcoming them to Marina Park and will be hopeful of a large crowd of Grosvenor Grammar School supporters in attendance.

Following their 36-14 five try victory against the Grosvenor Grammar School team back in September the Dalriada School team could see themselves as firm favourites to win this final Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group Section D game. However, this is a Dalriada School team in transition and neither the coaching staff, nor the players, will take anything for granted as they prepare for this game against the Grosvenor Grammar School team. This very young team has Rab Gregg as Director of Rugby with the experience of former Ulster and Ireland prop, Bryan Young, to call upon as coach. Bryan is assisted by Niall Irwin and this triumvirate of experienced coaches has worked very hard to prepare their young squad for the physical, technical and mental challenges which the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group games provide. In particular, Bryan’s experience, enthusiasm and technical expertise have been of great value to his young charges at Dalriada.

Captaining the side and hoping to emulate Bryan’s success is James McCormick. James is having an outstanding season having captained the Ulster Schools’ team and recently being selected for the Irish Under-18 Schools’ Squad. His all-round ability means that he has played in the front row and back row this season and is an accurate kicker off the tee. His influence around the pitch and his regular scoring makes him a key figure for his team. Will Scott, Aaron Gervais, Philip Irvine and Paddy Steele are other influential players in the Dalriada School squad but the major strength of the team is the ability of the boys to play together and work hard for each other throughout any game. The season to date has been one of re-building and the Dalriada results have reflected this. However, an early 36-10 victory against their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group D opponents, away from home, will give the Dalriada School players a deal of confidence going into the final group game.

This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Group D game is scheduled to kick off at 10.30am.

The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Tier 4 Schools’ Bowl game, featuring Wellington College, Belfast, and Carrickfergus Grammar School, will see both these teams battle it out for the top in this competitive Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Group. The Wellington College team currently has nine points and sits proudly on top of the Tier 4 Group after two games. Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock sits in second place with nine points having played all three of their Group games. The Carrickfergus Grammar School team sits in third place with six points after two games so a four-point win against Wellington College, Belfast, assuming the Wellington College team did not get a losing bonus point, would see the Carrickfergus Grammar School team take top spot with ten points.

The Wellington College, Belfast team is coached by Peter Chambers, himself a former winner of the Ulster Schools’ Cup during his playing days with Regent House School. Peter can call upon the experience of Latimer Adair to assist him with the coaching duties of what is essentially a very young Wellington College, Belfast squad of players. The Wellington College team is captained by Jake Hamilton, their dynamic back row forward. Jake leads by example in all his games and he has impressed observers with his performances against both Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock and Antrim Grammar School in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools; Bowl Group games already played. Chris Campbell, a Wellington College winger, is the leading try scorer for his team this season. Leading points scorer is out half, Tom Stanfield, and both these players could have a major impact on the final out outcome of the game against Carrickfergus Grammar School.

The Carrickfergus Grammar School team is coached by Neal Kennedy who can call upon the experience and wisdom of the evergreen Michael Dickson, the former King’s Scholar RFC scrumhalf, and Jordan McKinstry, to assist him with his coaching duties with the squad. The team captain is Ellis Bradley, their 2nd Row forward, a player who has impressed with his performances throughout the season thus far. Despite having a very small squad of players to call upon everyone has bought into what the coaching staff have been trying to achieve. A big focus is on enjoyment and development and they have a lot of boys who have previously played soccer returning to the fold. There is a good blend of youth and experience with players like Ellis Bradley, Ethan McGreevy, Lewis Simpson and Jakob McComb playing in their third Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup campaign. Into the squad as fifth formers come Daniel Porter, Andrew Byers, Joshua Boyd, Evan McAteer, Sam Daniels and Tom Kennedy. Year 13 players form the bulk of the squad with players such as James Weir, Adam McIlroy, Scott Gardner, Josh Dimbleby, Matthew Alexander, Michael Brodison, Ben McConnell and Cameron Long adding their combined talents to the team. Top scorers with two tries each are Jakob McComb (Back Row), Josh Dimbleby (Full Back), Adam McIlroy (Prop), Daniel Porter (Back Row) and Marcus Baird (Wing). Josh Dimbleby is the leading points scorer with 2 tries, 8 conversions and 5 penalties. Back row player Jakob McComb has made the transition from centre to the back row this season. who is Head Boy at the school. Out half, Scott Gardner, is also a talented cricketer and is a member of the NCU U16 Cricket Squad.

Head Coach, Neal Kennedy feels the game against Wellington College, Belfast could be a close one as the Wellington College team has shaded their matches in previous seasons.  However, the Carrickfergus Grammar School squad will be hoping to avenge those previous defeats. All the matches in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Tier 4 competition this season have been very competitive with all teams wanting to play a brand of open running rugby and they will approach this game like every other game with the focus on enjoying the experience!

This Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Bowl Group game is scheduled to kick off at 10.30am.

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