Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 2

[pullquote]With half-term out of the way, school 1stXV teams have been back in action and Week 2 of this season’s FRU Schools’ Rankings are now available.[/pullquote]

Summary // Table // Scores // FAQs

Wallace HS hold on to the number one spot as they notched up another couple wins against top-ten opponents Portadown College (10) and RS Armagh (3). Also adding to their win tally, Enniskillen Royal (4) and Omagh Academy (13) have both improved their positions with respective wins over Coleraine GS (19) and Limavady GS (22). However, the biggest improvement this week comes from BRA (20) whose win over Bangor GS (21) and close game against Down HS (14) has seen them move up by 5 places.

Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 2

Team Win Ratio Opponent Rating Score Season Rating Previous Position
1 Wallace HS 1.000 0.621 761 0.999 1
2 Methodist College 1.000 0.537 693 0.927 2
3 RS Armagh 0.750 0.560 562 0.792 3
4 Enniskillen Royal 0.875 0.471 529 0.755 5
5 RBAI 0.667 0.577 528 0.750 7
6 Campbell College 0.833 0.470 523 0.741 4
7 Sullivan Upper 0.667 0.581 511 0.725 6
8 Rainey ES 0.750 0.531 489 0.699 8
9 Ballymena Academy 0.667 0.542 482 0.688 9
10 Portadown College 0.667 0.589 443 0.645 10
11 Dalriada 0.875 0.394 436 0.634 11
12 Friends’ School 0.750 0.419 394 0.588 12
13 Omagh Academy 0.550 0.546 376 0.566 15
14 Down HS 0.571 0.514 364 0.550 14
15 Regent House 0.500 0.602 334 0.516 13
16 Larne GS 0.667 0.399 311 0.488 17
17 RS Dungannon 0.444 0.605 310 0.483 16
18 Ballyclare HS 0.500 0.420 307 0.477 19
19 Coleraine GS 0.375 0.560 280 0.445 18
20 Belfast Royal Academy 0.250 0.619 225 0.386 25
21 Bangor GS 0.250 0.590 215 0.372 20
22 Limavady GS 0.500 0.333 193 0.346 22
23 Cambridge House 0.313 0.522 192 0.341 21
24 Banbridge Academy 0.333 0.508 191 0.336 24
25 Dromore HS 0.286 0.573 186 0.327 23
26 Lurgan College 0.333 0.323 138 0.275 26
27 Foyle College 0.188 0.608 136 0.269 27
28 Belfast HS 0.167 0.513 106 0.235 29
29 Strabane Academy 0.333 0.270 105 0.230 28
30 Wellington College 0.250 0.337 99 0.219 31
31 Grosvenor GS 0.125 0.571 96 0.213 30
32 Carrickfergus GS 0.143 0.385 75 0.188 32
33 Antrim GS 0.000 0.501 0 0.107 33

Ulster Schools Rugby Scores

Given below, to the best of our knowledge, is a full list of results for each Ulster Schools Rugby 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 (1-4,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)
8th Sep, Away v WEL: 28-8 L
12th Sep, Home v RSA*: 24-40 L
22nd Sep, Away v LUR: 27-12 L
29th Sep, Home v DAL: 12-76 L
6th Oct, Away v CMB: 56-7 L
20th Oct, Away v LAR: 50-14 L

Ballyclare HS (BCL)
1st Sep, Away v BMA: 26-12 L
8th Sep, Away v BRA: 11-12 W
15th Sep, Home v CCB: 10-24 L
26th Sep, Home v RBAI: 3-57 L
6th Oct, Away v BEL: 7-59 W
13th Oct, Away v BGS: 12-7 L
24th Oct, Home v GRO: 42-7 W
10th Nov, Home v CMB: 29-19 W

Ballymena Academy (BMA)
1st Sep, Home v BCL: 26-12 W
8th Sep, Away v WHS: 19-16 L
22nd Sep, Home v BGS: 33-14 W
29th Sep, Away v COL: 13-15 W
6th Oct, Away v MCB: 54-8 L
13th Oct, Home v BRA: 10-8 W

Banbridge Academy (BANB)
21st Sep, Away v OMA: 59-0 L
29th Sep, Home v ENN: 0-41 L
6th Oct, Away v LUR: 12-38 W
13th Oct, Away v LIM: 5-14 W
20th Oct, Home v COL: 0-26 L
24th Oct, Away v DRO: 37-15 L

Bangor GS (BGS)
8th Sep, Home v RSA: 7-12 L
22nd Sep, Away v BMA: 33-14 L
29th Sep, Home v BEL: 66-24 W
6th Oct, Away v SUL: 33-10 L
13th Oct, Home v BCL: 12-7 W
24th Oct, Away v CCB: 42-40 L
27th Oct, Away v COL: 23-12 L
3rd Nov, Home v BRA: 26-33 L

Belfast HS (BEL)
15th Sep, Home v CAR: 43-7 W
22nd Sep, Home v PDC: 24-43 L
29th Sep, Away v BGS: 66-24 L
6th Oct, Home v BCL: 7-59 L
13th Oct, Away v LAR: 28-12 L
20th Oct, Home v FSL: 15-40 L

Belfast Royal Academy (BRA)
8th Sep, Home v BCL: 11-12 L
15th Sep, Home v LIM: 62-0 W
22nd Sep, Away v MCB: 33-13 L
29th Sep, Away v SUL: 26-16 L
6th Oct, Home v WHS: 15-45 L
13th Oct, Away v BMA: 10-8 L
3rd Nov, Away v BGS: 26-33 W
10th Nov, Home v DWN: 19-23 L

Cambridge House (CMB)
8th Sep, Home v COL: 26-26 D
15th Sep, Away v FSL: 53-3 L
22nd Sep, Home v DAL: 0-31 L
6th Oct, Home v ANT: 56-7 W
13th Oct, Away v CAR: 18-24 W
20th Oct, Away v DAL: 26-7 L
27th Oct, Away v RES: 53-14 L
10th Nov, Away v BCL: 29-19 L

Campbell College Belfast (CCB)
15th Sep, Away v BCL: 10-24 W
22nd Sep, Away v WHS: 31-14 L
3rd Oct, Away v REG: 17-43 W
13th Oct, Home v COL: 20-5 W
24th Oct, Home v BGS: 42-40 W
10th Nov, Away v GRO: 13-33 W

Carrickfergus GS (CAR)
8th Sep, Home v LAR: 0-7 L
15th Sep, Away v BEL: 43-7 L
22nd Sep, Away v LIM: 16-10 L
29th Sep, Home v LUR: 25-5 W
6th Oct, Away v FLC: 22-10 L
13th Oct, Home v CMB: 18-24 L
20th Oct, Away v GRO: 36-15 L

Coleraine GS (COL)
8th Sep, Away v CMB: 26-26 D
15th Sep, Home v OMA: 10-10 D
29th Sep, Home v BMA: 13-15 L
6th Oct, Home v RBAI: 6-15 L
13th Oct, Away v CCB: 20-5 L
20th Oct, Away v BANB: 0-26 W
27th Oct, Home v BGS: 23-12 W
10th Nov, Away v ENN: 19-8 L

Dalriada (DAL)
8th Sep, Away v GRO: 14-31 W
15th Sep, Away v RES: 56-7 L
22nd Sep, Away v CMB: 0-31 W
29th Sep, Away v ANT: 12-76 W
13th Oct, Home v FLC: 48-0 W
17th Oct, Home v LAR: 59-0 W
20th Oct, Home v CMB: 26-7 W
10th Nov, Home v REG: 36-0 W

Down HS (DWN)
8th Sep, Away v OMA: 15-18 W
15th Sep, Away v GRO: 10-36 W
22nd Sep, Home v SUL: 3-28 L
29th Sep, Away v RSA: 52-19 L
6th Oct, Home v PDC: 17-37 L
13th Oct, Away v DRO: 0-52 W
10th Nov, Away v BRA: 19-23 W

Dromore HS (DRO)
15th Sep, Home v LUR: 34-7 W
26th Sep, Home v FSL: 15-23 L
29th Sep, Away v REG: 55-12 L
13th Oct, Home v DWN: 0-52 L
20th Oct, Home v PDC: 0-56 L
24th Oct, Home v BANB: 37-15 W
10th Nov, Away v RES: 40-7 L

Enniskillen Royal (ENN)
8th Sep, Home v FLC: 40-0 W
15th Sep, Home v REG: 34-0 W
22nd Sep, Home v RSA: 11-7 W
29th Sep, Away v BANB: 0-41 W
6th Oct, Away v RES: 15-7 L
13th Oct, Away v RSD: 10-35 W
20th Oct, Away v FLC: 0-31 W
10th Nov, Home v COL: 19-8 W

Foyle College (FLC)
8th Sep, Away v ENN: 40-0 L
22nd Sep, Home v RES: 0-28 L
29th Sep, Away v RSD: 40-17 L
3rd Oct, Home v LIM: 5-5 D
6th Oct, Home v CAR: 22-10 W
13th Oct, Away v DAL: 48-0 L
17th Oct, Home v LIM: 17-36 L
20th Oct, Home v ENN: 0-31 L

Friends’ School Lisburn (FSL)
8th Sep, Away v RSD: 24-8 L
15th Sep, Home v CMB: 53-3 W
26th Sep, Away v DRO: 15-23 W
29th Sep, Away v LAR: 8-21 W
6th Oct, Home v GRO: 29-7 W
13th Oct, Home v OMA: 30-24 W
20th Oct, Away v BEL: 15-40 W
24th Oct, Home v RSD: 17-29 L

Grosvenor GS (GRO)
8th Sep, Home v DAL: 14-31 L
15th Sep, Home v DWN: 10-36 L
22nd Sep, Home v RSD: 0-40 L
6th Oct, Away v FSL: 29-7 L
13th Oct, Home v REG: 5-7 L
20th Oct, Home v CAR: 36-15 W
24th Oct, Away v BCL: 42-7 L
10th Nov, Home v CCB: 13-33 L

Larne GS (LAR)
8th Sep, Away v CAR: 0-7 W
15th Sep, Home v WEL: 47-0 W
29th Sep, Home v FSL: 8-21 L
13th Oct, Home v BEL: 28-12 W
17th Oct, Away v DAL: 59-0 L
20th Oct, Home v ANT: 50-14 W

Limavady GS (LIM)
15th Sep, Away v BRA: 62-0 L
22nd Sep, Home v CAR: 16-10 W
3rd Oct, Away v FLC: 5-5 D
6th Oct, Home v STR: 37-22 W
13th Oct, Home v BANB: 5-14 L
17th Oct, Away v FLC: 17-36 W
7th Nov, Home v OMA: 0-39 L

Lurgan College (LUR)
15th Sep, Away v DRO: 34-7 L
22nd Sep, Home v ANT: 27-12 W
29th Sep, Away v CAR: 25-5 L
6th Oct, Home v BANB: 12-38 L
10th Oct, Home v WEL: 39-21 W
27th Oct, Away v OMA: 13-12 L

Methodist College Belfast (MCB)
22nd Sep, Home v BRA: 33-13 W
28th Sep, Home v OMA: 41-8 W
6th Oct, Home v BMA: 54-8 W
13th Oct, Away v RBAI: 10-19 W
10th Nov, Home v SUL: 52-3 W

Omagh Academy (OMA)
8th Sep, Home v DWN: 15-18 L
15th Sep, Away v COL: 10-10 D
21st Sep, Home v BANB: 59-0 W
28th Sep, Away v MCB: 41-8 L
6th Oct, Home v RSD: 17-16 W
13th Oct, Away v FSL: 30-24 L
20th Oct, Home v RSA: 8-39 L
24th Oct, Home v STR: 29-0 W
27th Oct, Home v LUR: 13-12 W
7th Nov, Away v LIM: 0-39 W

Portadown College (PDC)
22nd Sep, Away v BEL: 24-43 W
29th Sep, Home v RES: 26-22 W
6th Oct, Away v DWN: 17-37 W
13th Oct, Home v RSA: 5-33 L
20th Oct, Away v DRO: 0-56 W
3rd Nov, Away v WHS: 44-24 L

Rainey ES (RES)
8th Sep, Away v REG: 19-14 L
15th Sep, Home v DAL: 56-7 W
22nd Sep, Away v FLC: 0-28 W
29th Sep, Away v PDC: 26-22 L
6th Oct, Home v ENN: 15-7 W
27th Oct, Home v CMB: 53-14 W
5th Nov, Home v RSD: 21-12 W
10th Nov, Home v DRO: 40-7 W

RBAI (RBAI)
26th Sep, Away v BCL: 3-57 W
6th Oct, Away v COL: 6-15 W
13th Oct, Home v MCB: 10-19 L

Regent House (REG)
8th Sep, Home v RES: 19-14 W
15th Sep, Away v ENN: 34-0 L
29th Sep, Home v DRO: 55-12 W
3rd Oct, Home v CCB: 17-43 L
13th Oct, Away v GRO: 5-7 W
10th Nov, Away v DAL: 36-0 L

RS Armagh (RSA)
8th Sep, Away v BGS: 7-12 W
12th Sep, Away* v ANT: 24-40 W
22nd Sep, Away v ENN: 11-7 L
26th Sep, Away v RSD: 10-52 W
29th Sep, Home v DWN: 52-19 W
13th Oct, Away v PDC: 5-33 W
20th Oct, Away v OMA: 8-39 W
9th Nov, Home v WHS: 3-10 L

RS Dungannon (RSD)
8th Sep, Home v FSL: 24-8 W
15th Sep, Home v SUL: 18-26 L
22nd Sep, Away v GRO: 0-40 W
26th Sep, Home v RSA: 10-52 L
29th Sep, Home v FLC: 40-17 W
6th Oct, Away v OMA: 17-16 L
13th Oct, Home v ENN: 10-35 L
24th Oct, Away v FSL: 17-29 W
5th Nov, Away v RES: 21-12 L

Strabane Academy (STR)
29th Sep, Away v WEL: 17-26 W
6th Oct, Away v LIM: 37-22 L
24th Oct, Away v OMA: 29-0 L

Sullivan Upper (SUL)
15th Sep, Away v RSD: 18-26 W
22nd Sep, Away v DWN: 3-28 W
29th Sep, Home v BRA: 26-16 W
6th Oct, Home v BGS: 33-10 W
13th Oct, Home v WHS: 15-24 L
10th Nov, Away v MCB: 52-3 L

Wallace HS (WHS)
8th Sep, Home v BMA: 19-16 W
22nd Sep, Home v CCB: 31-14 W
6th Oct, Away v BRA: 15-45 W
13th Oct, Away v SUL: 15-24 W
3rd Nov, Home v PDC: 44-24 W
9th Nov, Away v RSA: 3-10 W

Wellington College (WEL)
8th Sep, Home v ANT: 28-8 W
15th Sep, Away v LAR: 47-0 L
29th Sep, Home v STR: 17-26 L
10th Oct, Away v LUR: 39-21 L

* ‘Select’ squad
^ Match abandoned after halftime
# Match not played; bye recorded


Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings FAQS

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 33 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: win percentage (number of wins, draws, and losses), opponent rating (the strength of sides faced), and competitive rating (their progression within the various competitions). Inactivity penalties are also scored thereby preventing less active schools being ranked higher than they deserve. The formula produces a score for each team using these factors which allows them to be ranked in order from 1 to 33.

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 record, competitive 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 a few seasons ago 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 point 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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