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

Schools: 1st XV Rankings 2015/16 – Week 6

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[wc_tab title=”REVIEW”]

Another week of schools’ fixtures, and this season shows no signs of settling down as a number of results went against what might have been expected:

Ballymena Academy (1) retain their lead despite the best efforts of Campbell College (2) who push into their highest position of the season after an extremely convincing 55-to-nothing against Sullivan Upper (14). Campbell were helped into this position as Wallace HS (4) suffered a somewhat surprising loss to Methodist College (11), a win which takes the Belfast team four places up the table. 

Close to Methody on the table, Coleraine GS (10) have also improved their ranking by a number of spots with a win over RS Dungannon (20) while Omagh Academy (12) move even further down after what was only their second defeat of the season, this one coming at the hands of Rainey ES (6) who improve by one.
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  Team Win Ratio Opponent Rating Score Season Rating Previous Position
1 Ballymena Academy 0.889 0.536 638 0.866 1
2 Campbell College 0.813 0.550 619 0.842 3
3 RBAI 0.800 0.537 591 0.810 4
4 Wallace HS 0.750 0.516 551 0.765 2
5 Dalriada 0.850 0.477 517 0.727 5
6 Rainey ES 0.750 0.545 514 0.719 7
7 Down HS 0.600 0.536 483 0.684 6
8 Grosvenor GS 0.700 0.489 450 0.646 8
9 Portora RS 0.750 0.453 444 0.635 9
10 Coleraine GS 0.500 0.566 435 0.622 13
11 Methodist College 0.400 0.707 432 0.614 15
12 Omagh Academy 0.833 0.392 425 0.603 11
13 Ballyclare HS 0.545 0.571 402 0.576 12
14 Sullivan Upper 0.500 0.493 393 0.562 14
15 Regent House 0.556 0.530 389 0.554 10
16 Bangor GS 0.500 0.494 343 0.502 17
17 Belfast Royal Academy 0.417 0.562 329 0.489 18
18 Portadown College 0.583 0.444 304 0.459 16
19 Friends’ School 0.667 0.328 266 0.416 19
20 RS Dungannon 0.364 0.548 239 0.385 20
21 Lurgan College 0.444 0.424 222 0.363 21
22 Larne GS 0.500 0.356 218 0.355 22
23 Foyle College 0.250 0.543 177 0.309 24
24 Belfast HS 0.333 0.392 169 0.297 23
25 Cambridge House 0.286 0.449 155 0.278 25
26 RS Armagh 0.182 0.570 137 0.256 26
27 Limavady GS 0.200 0.527 131 0.246 27
28 Banbridge Academy 0.167 0.479 108 0.218 28
29 Antrim GS 0.125 0.366 77 0.182 29
30 Carrickfergus GS 0.111 0.375 54 0.154 30
31 Strabane Academy 0.000 0.057 23 0.119 32
32 Wellington College 0.000 0.312 21 0.112 31

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Played against/as ‘SelectXV’
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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.

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