Now that we’ve got all our weekend coverage completed it’s time to have a look at the Schools Cup results, the draws for Round Three and the Schools Trophy Quarter Finals. How did our predictions stack up against the actual results?

Friday Night Lights.

Both of the Friday night games were played at local clubs to avail of the floodlights.

For the Cambridge House v Banbridge Academy match at Ballymena Rugby Club we’d predicted a decisive win for Cambridge House who sat 11 places above their rivals in the Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings. Despite a spirited effort from Banbridge, that’s pretty much how it worked out with a three try blitz at the start of the second half pulling Cambridge House clear for a 34 – 22 win.

Up at City of Derry Rugby Club Foyle College entertained Dromore High School where we’d predicted a win for the well drilled Co Down side. Despite conditions making it difficult to play flowing rugby, Dromore High found enough to win this one 17 – 0, with both teams rolling back the clock for an appropriate bout of handbags late in the match to keep themselves warm. 😉

Saturday Sunshine.

In contrast the Saturday morning fixtures were largely played in bright sunlight though conditions were still cold and windy.

Larne Grammar switched to Larne Rugby Club where they entertained Lurgan College in a game were we’d said that the Lurgan lads would be the bookies favourites but, as it’s my old school, I opted for Larne to cause a surprise. It was a close game and it may have ended differently if Larne’s try under the posts had been spotted by the referee but but on the balance of play Lurgan were good value for their 0 – 14 win.

In the final match we covered, Rainey Endowed looked good value as the highest ranked side in Round Two as they comfortably dealt with a spirited Belfast High. The High School can take some comfort from scoring two tries against their opponents but it wasn’t enough to derail the Rainey machine who ran in six in their 40- 15 win.

We did a bit of dithering about the Carrick Grammar v Regent House match with both sides only two places apart in the rankings. In the end we opted for Regent and the Newtownards boys certainly had no doubts as they romped to a 17 – 40 win.

The Grosvenor Grammar v Antrim Grammar also went the way of the rankings with Grosvenor claiming the second biggest winning margin with their 37 – 7 win with Grosvenor scoring the most tries of the round having bagged seven. Carrick will be disappointed with the result having hinted at something of a revival this season.

The honour of the biggest winning margin goes to the 31 point differential in Portadown College’s 36 – 5 win against Limavady Grammar. With only one place between the two teams we’d predicted that this one would be considerably closer which points towards playing higher ranked opponents throughout the season.

The full set of results for Round Two are shown below.

Cambridge House	34	–	22	Banbridge Academy
Foyle College	0	–	17	Dromore High
Larne Grammar	0	–	14	Lurgan College
Rainey Endowed	38	–	15	Belfast High
Carrick Grammar	17	–	40	Regent House
Grosvenor Grammar	37	–	7	Antrim Grammar
Portadown College	36	–	5	Limavady Grammar

 

With Bangor Grammar, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Grammar, Dalriada School, Down High, Friends School, Omagh Academy, Royal School Dungannon and Sullivan Upper all joining the competition the Draw for Round Three is as follows.

Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup Round 3 Draw.

Lurgan College	v	Down High
Rainey Endowed	v	Portadown College
Grosvenor Grammar	v	Royal School Dungannon
Coleraine Grammar	v	Friends School
Omagh Academy	v	Bangor Grammar
Cambridge House	v	Regent House
Belfast Royal Academy	v	Sullivan Upper
Dromore High	v	Dalriada School

Matches to be played on or before Saturday 20th January 2018

The teams beaten in Round Two drop into the Schools Trophy where they are joined by the winners of the match between Strabane Academy and Wellington College who both lost their first Round matches.

Strabane won that one 57 – 0 so the draw for the Schools Trophy Quarter finals is as follows:

 

Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Trophy Quarter-Finals Draw.

Foyle College	v	Carrick Grammar
Belfast High	v	Strabane Academy
Banbridge Academy	v	Larne Grammar
Limavady Grammar	v	Antrim Grammar

Matches to be played on or before Saturday 20th January 2018.