The Front Row Union Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings, The FRU Rankings

Schools: 1st XV Rankings 2015/16 – Week 7

[wc_tabgroup layout=”box”]

[wc_tab title=”REVIEW”]

With a few teams playing non-Ulster opposition, and results turning out a lot more as expected than in comparison to last week, this set of rankings sees little in the way of change albeit for some notable examples:

Ballymena Academy (1) and Campbell College (2) are once again atop the table, the latter adding to the torrid season of Methodist College (14) with a 19-point-to-nothing win away from home, making for an interesting clash as the sides prepare to meet this coming Saturday. Also at the top, Rainey ES (5) move further up the table, with a very convincing win away to struggling RS Armagh (27), at the expense of Dalriada (6), a team who suffered only their second defeat of the season in a shock result against Bangor GS (16).

Elsewhere it’s pretty much ‘as you were’, although Coleraine GS (9) have moved up again, this time with a close result against BRA (17) whose season seems to have stalled after a promising start. Special mention should also to Wellington College (29) who achieved their first win of the season against Carrickfergus GS (31); that result means that Carrick along with Strabane GS (32) are currently the lowest ranked sides as they prepare to face each other in the Schools’ Cup preliminary round this Saturday.
[/wc_tab][wc_tab title=”RANKINGS”]

Schools’ 1stXV Rankings 2015/16 – Week 7
  Team Win Ratio Opponent Rating Score Season Rating Previous Position
1 Ballymena Academy 0.889 0.536 638 0.870 1
2 Campbell College 0.833 0.526 609 0.837 2
3 RBAI 0.800 0.537 591 0.815 3
4 Wallace HS 0.773 0.511 560 0.779 4
5 Rainey ES 0.778 0.503 500 0.715 6
6 Dalriada 0.773 0.484 484 0.694 5
7 Down HS 0.600 0.536 483 0.689 7
8 Grosvenor GS 0.700 0.489 450 0.651 8
9 Coleraine GS 0.538 0.552 449 0.646 10
10 Portora RS 0.750 0.453 444 0.636 9
11 Omagh Academy 0.833 0.392 425 0.613 12
12 Regent House 0.600 0.506 404 0.588 15
13 Ballyclare HS 0.545 0.571 402 0.582 13
14 Methodist College 0.333 0.728 389 0.564 11
15 Sullivan Upper 0.455 0.518 380 0.551 14
16 Bangor GS 0.545 0.519 379 0.545 16
17 Belfast Royal Academy 0.385 0.560 310 0.476 17
18 Portadown College 0.583 0.444 304 0.466 18
19 Friends’ School 0.700 0.306 262 0.419 19
20 RS Dungannon 0.417 0.515 255 0.408 20
21 Lurgan College 0.500 0.406 238 0.387 21
22 Larne GS 0.500 0.356 218 0.362 22
23 Foyle College 0.250 0.543 177 0.316 23
24 Belfast HS 0.286 0.422 150 0.285 24
25 Cambridge House 0.250 0.456 141 0.272 25
26 Limavady GS 0.200 0.527 131 0.258 27
27 RS Armagh 0.167 0.588 129 0.251 26
28 Banbridge Academy 0.154 0.474 101 0.219 28
29 Wellington College 0.200 0.270 79 0.192 32
30 Antrim GS 0.100 0.412 70 0.178 29
31 Carrickfergus GS 0.100 0.358 49 0.153 30
32 Strabane Academy 0.000 0.038 23 0.122 31

[/wc_tab][wc_tab title=”RESULTS”]

Given below, to the best of our knowledge, is a full list of results for each Ulster Schools’ 1stXV that participates in the Schools’ Cup competition; it does not include training/controlled matches, opponents from outside of Ulster, non-schools’ teams or games against teams who are not 1stXV EXCEPT for ‘Select’ squads, indicated by an asterisk *.
Any letters/numbers appearing in brackets () after a result indicates that it was a competitive fixture; the letter (c,p,b,t) gives the form of competition (cup, plate, bowl, trophy) and the number (x,1-3,q,s,f) indicates the round at which it was played.
If you feel that any information is missing/incorrect, please leave a comment at the bottom stating the correct details along with any ‘evidence’ (website, match report, player) to support your claim.

Antrim GS (ANT)
26th Sep, Away v LUR: 17-14 L
3rd Oct, Away v DAL*: 7-7 D
7th Nov, Away v LAR: 20-17 L
14th Nov, Away v PDC: 47-14 L
5th Dec, Away v FSL: 31-5 L

Ballyclare HS (BCL)
5th Sep, Home v BMA: 10-38 L
12th Sep, Home v BRA: 13-6 W
19th Sep, Away v CCB: 50-3 L
3rd Oct, Home v RBAI: 3-29 L
10th Oct, Home v BEL: 14-0 W
17th Oct, Away v LIM: 7-31 W
21st Oct, Away v WHS: 31-0 L
7th Nov, Home v GRO: 17-12 W
14th Nov, Home v BGS: 32-6 W
21st Nov, Away v FLC: 12-24 W
28th Nov, Home v DAL: 20-43 L

Ballymena Academy (BMA)
5th Sep, Away v BCL: 10-38 W
12th Sep, Home v WHS: 10-3 W
19th Sep, Home v RBAI: 14-30 L
26th Sep, Away v BGS: 3-18 W
2nd Oct, Home v COL: 23-18 W
10th Oct, Home v MCB: 23-22 W
17th Oct, Away v BRA: 3-38 W
7th Nov, Away v COL: 5-14 W
14th Nov, Home v SUL: 35-10 W

Banbridge Academy (BANB)
12th Sep, Away v PDC: 18-5 L
16th Sep, Away v RSA: 33-3 L
19th Sep, Away v SUL: 34-5 L
26th Sep, Home v OMA: 0-24 L
3rd Oct, Away v PRS: 40-5 L
10th Oct, Home v LUR: 5-16 L
17th Oct, Home v BGS: 7-32 L
24th Oct, Home v COL: 0-22 L
6th Nov, Home v CAR: 41-0 W
14th Nov, Away v BEL: 7-0 L
21st Nov, Away v WEL: 7-12 W
28th Nov, Away v GRO: 29-0 L
5th Dec, Home v RSD: 12-22 L

Bangor GS (BGS)
12th Sep, Away v RSA: 5-31 W
19th Sep, Home v PDC: 10-14 L
26th Sep, Home v BMA: 3-18 L
3rd Oct, Home v BEL: 19-14 W
10th Oct, Home v LIM: 49-17 W
17th Oct, Away v BANB: 7-32 W
21st Oct, Home v CCB: 7-36 L
6th Nov, Home v BRA: 7-24 L
14th Nov, Away v BCL: 32-6 L
28th Nov, Home v FSL: 12-10 W
5th Dec, Home v DAL: 22-19 W

Belfast HS (BEL)
10th Sep, Home v LIM: 5-12 L
19th Sep, Home v CAR: 12-21 L*
26th Sep, Away v PDC: 24-15 L
3rd Oct, Away v BGS: 19-14 L
16th Oct, Home v LAR: 29-21 W
24th Oct, Away v FSL: 46-25 L
14th Nov, Home v BANB: 7-0 W
5th Dec, Away v REG: 67-12 L

Belfast Royal Academy (BRA)
12th Sep, Away v BCL: 13-6 L
19th Sep, Home v LUR: 31-5 W
26th Sep, Home v MCB*: 28-17 W
3rd Oct, Home v SUL: 13-7 W
10th Oct, Away v WHS: 27-0 L
17th Oct, Home v BMA: 3-38 L
24th Oct, Away v RSD: 10-7 L
6th Nov, Away v BGS: 7-24 W
14th Nov, Away v DHS: 23-0 L
21st Nov, Home v DAL: 15-21 L
28th Nov, Home v REG: 43-5 W
5th Dec, Away v COL: 12-5 L

Cambridge House (CMB)
12th Sep, Away v COL: 10-0 L
19th Sep, Home v FSL: 0-34 L
26th Sep, Away v DAL: 64-0 L
3rd Oct, Away v GRO*: 20-11 L
17th Oct, Home v CAR: 35-10 W
7th Nov, Home v REG: 24-55 L
14th Nov, Home v STR: 13-0 W
5th Dec, Home v LUR: 12-22 L

Campbell College Belfast (CCB)
19th Sep, Home v BCL: 50-3 W
23rd Sep, Home v RSA: 7-0 W
26th Sep, Home v WHS: 15-15 D
10th Oct, Home v REG: 38-0 W
17th Oct, Away v COL: 17-13 L
21st Oct, Away v BGS: 7-36 W
21st Nov, Away v RBAI: 6-10 W
25th Nov, Home v SUL: 55-0 W
5th Dec, Away v MCB: 0-19 W

Carrickfergus GS (CAR)
11th Sep, Home v LAR 15-30 L
19th Sep, Away v BEL*: 12-21 W
26th Sep, Away v LIM: 21-17 L
3rd Oct, Away v OMA*: 26-14 L
10th Oct, Home v FLC*: 19-38 L
17th Oct, Away v CMB: 35-10 L
6th Nov, Away v BANB: 41-0 L
14th Nov, Home v FSL: 10-17 L
28th Nov, Home v LAR: 0-27 L
5th Dec, Away v WEL: 12-7 L

Coleraine GS (COL)
5th Sep, Away v RSA: 19-15 L
12th Sep, Home v CMB: 10-0 W
19th Sep, Away v OMA: 14-0 L
23rd Sep, Home v REG: 23-27 L
2nd Oct, Away v BMA: 23-18 L
10th Oct, Away v RBAI: 27-5 L
17th Oct, Home v CCB: 17-13 W
24th Oct, Away v BANB: 0-22 W
4th Nov, Away v DAL: 7-27 W
7th Nov, Home v BMA: 5-14 L
21st Nov, Home v MCB: 20-10 W
28th Nov, Away v RSD: 7-34 W
5th Dec, Home v BRA: 12-5 W

Dalriada (DAL)
12th Sep, Home v GRO: 17-15 W
19th Sep, Home v RES: 42-0 W
26th Sep, Home v CMB: 64-0 W
3rd Oct, Home v ANT: 7-7 D*
10th Oct, Home v SUL: 35-17 W
17th Oct, Away v FLC: 12-38 W
4th Nov, Home v COL: 7-27 L
14th Nov, Away v REG: 19-22 W
21st Nov, Away v BRA: 15-21 W
28th Nov, Away v BCL: 20-43 W
5th Dec, Away v BGS: 22-19 L

Down HS (DHS)
12th Sep, Home v OMA: 18-20 L
16th Sep, Away v MCB*: 17-11 L
19th Sep, Home v GRO: 7-21 L
23rd Sep, Away v SUL: 27-13 L
30th Sep, Home v RSA: 41-0 W
10th Oct, Away v PDC: 15-27 W
17th Oct, Home v FSL: 49-7 W
24th Oct, Away v LUR: 7-44 W
14th Nov, Home v BRA: 23-0 W
21st Nov, Home v REG: 13-7 W

Foyle College (FLC)
12th Sep, Home v PRS: 10-18 L
19th Sep, Home v LIM: 48-17 W
26th Sep, Away v RES: 17-10 L
3rd Oct, Home v RSD: 14-19 L
10th Oct, Away v CAR: 19-38 W*
17th Oct, Home v DAL: 12-38 L
24th Oct, Away v PRS: 12-0 L
21st Nov, Home v BCL: 12-24 L

Friends’ School Lisburn (FSL)
12th Sep, Home v RSD: 28-14 W
19th Sep, Away v CMB: 0-34 W
10th Oct, Away v GRO: 24-0 L
17th Oct, Away v DHS: 49-7 L
24th Oct, Home v BEL: 46-25 W
4th Nov, Home v WEL: 36-10 W
14th Nov, Away v CAR: 10-17 W
21st Nov, Away v RSD: 5-17 W
28th Nov, Away v BGS: 12-10 L
5th Dec, Home v ANT: 31-5 W

Grosvenor GS (GRO)
12th Sep, Away v DAL 17-15 L
19th Sep, Away v DHS: 7-21 W
26th Sep, Away v RSD: 12-16 W
3rd Oct, Home v CMB: 20-11 W*
10th Oct, Home v FSL: 24-0 W
17th Oct, Away v REG: 19-8 L
24th Oct, Home v PDC: 25-5 W
7th Nov, Away v BCL: 17-12 L
21st Nov, Away v LAR: 3-38 W
28th Nov, Home v BANB: 29-0 W

Larne GS (LAR)
11th Sep, Away v CAR 15-30 W
10th Oct, Away v RES: 25-7 L
16th Oct, Away v BEL: 29-21 L
7th Nov, Home v ANT: 20-17 W
21st Nov, Home v GRO: 3-38 L
28th Nov, Away v CAR: 0-27 W

Limavady GS (LIM)
5th Sep, Home v RSD: 3-15 L
12th Sep, Away v BEL: 5-12 W
19th Sep, Away v FLC: 48-17 L
26th Sep, Home v CAR: 21-17 W
3rd Oct, Home v WHS: 7-24 L
10th Oct, Away v BGS: 49-17 L
17th Oct, Home v BCL: 7-31 L
23rd Oct, Away v RES: 32-0 L
14th Nov, Away v OMA: 10-0 L
18th Nov, Away v SUL: 48-10 L
2nd Dec, Home v PRS: 0-57 L*

Lurgan College (LUR)
9th Sep, Home v PDC: 5-24 L
19th Sep, Away v BRA: 31-5 L
26th Sep, Home v ANT: 17-14 W
3rd Oct, Home v WEL: 5-3 W
10th Oct, Away v BANB: 5-16 W
24th Oct, Home v DHS: 7-44 L
7th Nov, Home v OMA: 3-7 L
14th Nov, Away v RSD: 17-6 L
21st Nov, Home v RSA: 13-12 W
5th Dec, Away v CMB: 12-22 W

Methodist College Belfast (MCB)
12th Sep, Away v SUL: 12-10 L*
16th Sep, Home v DHS: 17-11 W*
26th Sep, Away v BRA: 28-17 L*
10th Oct, Away v BMA: 23-22 L
24th Oct, Home v RBAI: 7-8 L
21st Nov, Away v COL: 20-10 L
28th Nov, Home v WHS: 12-5 W
5th Dec, Home v CCB: 0-19 L

Omagh Academy (OMA)
12th Sep, Away v DHS: 18-20 W
19th Sep, Home v COL: 14-0 W
26th Sep, Away v BANB: 0-24 W
30th Sep, Away v PRS: 10-19 W
3rd Oct, Home v CAR: 26-14 W*
7th Oct, Home v STR: 15-14 W*
10th Oct, Away v RSD: 7-10 W
24th Oct, Away v RSA: 5-17 W
7th Nov, Away v LUR: 3-7 W
14th Nov, Home v LIM: 10-0 W
21st Nov, Home v WHS: 0-26 L
25th Nov, Away v RES: 37-10 L

Portadown College (PDC)
9th Sep, Away v LUR: 5-24 W
12th Sep, Home v BANB: 18-5 W
19th Sep, Away v BGS: 10-14 W
26th Sep, Home v BEL: 24-15 W
3rd Oct, Away v RES: 25-0 L
10th Oct, Home v DHS: 15-27 L
17th Oct, Away v RSA: 8-16 W
24th Oct, Away v GRO: 25-5 L
7th Nov, Home v WHS: 0-25 L
14th Nov, Home v ANT: 47-14 W
21st Nov, Away v PRS: 24-7 L
28th Nov, Home v WEL: 34-0 W

Portora RS (PRS)
12th Sep, Away v FLC: 10-18 W
19th Sep, Away v REG: 24-0 L
26th Sep, Away v RSA: 5-26 W
30th Sep, Home v OMA: 10-19 L
3rd Oct, Home v BANB: 40-5 W
17th Oct, Home v RSD: 16-3 W
24th Oct, Home v FLC: 12-0 W
21st Nov, Home v PDC: 24-7 W
2nd Dec, Away v LIM*: 0-57 W

Rainey ES (RES)
12th Sep, Home v REG: 24-29 L
19th Sep, Away v DAL 42-0 L
26th Sep, Home v FLC: 17-10 W
3rd Oct, Home v PDC: 25-0 W
10th Oct, Home v LAR: 25-7 W
23rd Oct, Home v LIM: 32-0 W
7th Nov, Home v RSD: 6-0 W
25th Nov, Home v OMA: 37-10 W
5th Dec, Away v RSA: 0-47 W

RBAI (RBAI)
19th Sep, Away v BMA: 14-30 W
3rd Oct, Away v BCL: 3-29 W
10th Oct, Home v COL: 27-5 W
24th Oct, Away v MCB: 7-8 W
21st Nov, Home v CCB: 6-10 L

Regent House (REG)
12th Sep, Away v RES: 24-29 W
19th Sep, Home v PRS: 24-0 W
23rd Sep, Away v COL: 23-27 W
10th Oct, Away v CCB: 38-0 L
17th Oct, Home v GRO: 19-8 W
7th Nov, Away v CMB: 24-55 W
14th Nov, Home v DAL: 19-22 L
21st Nov, Away v DHS: 13-7 L
28th Nov, Away v BRA: 43-5 L
5th Dec, Home v BEL: 67-12 W

RS Armagh (RSA)
5th Sep, Home v COL: 19-15 W
12th Sep, Home v BGS: 5-31 L
16th Sep, Home v BANB: 33-3 W
23rd Sep, Away v CCB: 7-0 L
26th Sep, Home v PRS: 5-26 L
30th Sep, Away v DHS: 41-0 L
17th Oct, Home v PDC: 8-16 L
24th Oct, Home v OMA: 5-17 L
7th Nov, Away v SUL: 28-5 L
14th Nov, Away v WHS: 24-0 L
21st Nov, Away v LUR: 13-12 L
5th Dec, Home v RES: 0-47 L

RS Dungannon (RSD)
5th Sep, Away v LIM: 3-15 W
12th Sep, Away v FSL: 28-14 L
26th Sep, Home v GRO: 12-16 L
3rd Oct, Away v FLC: 14-19 W
10th Oct, Home v OMA: 7-10 L
17th Oct, Away v PRS: 16-3 L
24th Oct, Home v BRA: 10-7 W
7th Nov, Away v RES: 6-0 L
14th Nov, Home v LUR: 17-6 W
21st Nov, Home v FSL: 5-17 L
28th Nov, Home v COL: 7-34 L
5th Dec, Away v BANB: 12-22 W

Strabane Academy (STR)
7th Oct, Away v OMA*: 15-14 L
14th Nov, Away v CMB: 13-0 L

Sullivan Upper (SUL)
12th Sep, Home v MCB*: 12-10 W
19th Sep, Home v BANB: 34-5 W
23rd Sep, Home v DHS: 27-13 W
3rd Oct, Away v BRA: 13-7 L
10th Oct, Away v DAL: 35-17 L
17th Oct, Away v WHS: 26-12 L
7th Nov, Home v RSA: 28-5 W
14th Nov, Away v BMA: 35-10 L
18th Nov, Home v LIM: 48-10 W
25th Nov, Away v CCB: 55-0 L
5th Dec, Home v WHS: 5-33 L

Wallace HS (WHS)
12th Sep, Away v BMA: 10-3 L
26th Sep, Away v CCB: 15-15 D
3rd Oct, Away v LIM: 7-24 W
10th Oct, Home v BRA: 27-0 W
17th Oct, Home v SUL: 26-12 W
21st Oct, Home v BCL: 31-0 W
7th Nov, Away v PDC: 0-25 W
14th Nov, Home v RSA: 24-0 W
21st Nov, Away v OMA: 0-26 W
28th Nov, Away v MCB: 12-5 L
5th Dec, Away v SUL: 5-33 W

Wellington College (WEL)
3rd Oct, Away v LUR: 5-3 L
4th Nov, Away v FSL: 36-10 L
21st Nov, Home v BANB: 7-12 L
28th Nov, Away v PDC: 34-0 L
5th Dec, Home v CAR: 12-7 W

*Played against/as ‘SelectXV’
[/wc_tab]

[wc_tab title=”FAQ’S”]

Every season people ask questions about these calculations and we welcome them as, in the past, it has helped us to improve the system. Feel free to post your queries, but you may find an answer to one of our FAQs below:

What is the point of the ranking system?

This system was mainly designed so that every one of the 32 teams involved with Ulster Schools’ 1stXV rugby could be ranked using the data available, without the need for every team to have played against every other.

How is the ranking calculated for each team?

The three biggest factors taken into account are each team’s win percentage (number of wins, draws, and losses), opponent rating (the strength of sides faced) and competitive rating (their progression within the various competitions), alongside penalties for inactivity which prevent less active schools being ranked higher than they deserve. The formula produces a score for each team using these factors which then allows us to rank them in order from 1 to 32.

How are these figures actually used to rank the teams?

Teams are placed in order firstly by score then by competitive rating, then by form and finally, opponent strength. If there is a still a tie at this point other factors such as head-to-head recordcompetitive match-ups and inactivity penalties may be taken into account, but it is unlikely that this would be needed, and has so far proven to be so.

Are points/tries for/against taken into account?

YES. This is a big change brought in last season which means not only W, D and Ls are important but how they are achieved matters too (although to a lesser extent). Points are now added/subtracted depending on a team’s points difference per game and the opponents these points were scored against.

Hey, my team defeated that one! Should we not be above them?

Not necessarily: the ranking for each team is based on the season as a whole, not a head-to-head basis, so often teams can be ranked below those which they have beaten. Don’t worry though, if you’re truly better than they are it will show eventually!

What does the score for each team represent?

The score shown beside each team is a measure of performance. This is a number between 0 to approx. 1000; the higher the number the better the performance. This allows teams to be compared week-on-week and even season-on season as the same score in any two weeks represents the exact same level of performance.

So then, what does the rating of each team represent?

The decimal rating assigned to each team represents a calculated estimation of that team’s ability. To put it another way, if every team played every other in a full season, the number shown is what win percentage would be expected of each team, given the data available. This is why teams’ ratings change week-on-week even if they haven’t played; it is a comparison with the ability of every other team.

How is opponent strength calculated?

Previously, an average was taken across the season as a whole up to that point, but now the average is calculated using the strength of opponent dependant on how strong they were when they actually played the team in question. This has led to a more accurate representation of a team’s performance and stops the situation whereby a team could see their performance improved/downgraded without actually playing that week.

How do inactivity penalties work?

Penalties for inactivity accumulate from week to week if a school does not take part in a representative fixture and are factored in to the calculation by lowering the a team’s opponent rating. This helps to prevent schools being unfairly ranked above others as sometimes happened with the original system.

What about abandoned games?

The result of an abandoned game will be taken into account when more than one half has been played and if one team is winning by seven points or greater when it is stopped; if either one of these conditions is not met the teams involved will only be awarded any points scored during the course of the game.

[/wc_tab]

[/wc_tabgroup]


Corrections, comments or questions?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.