Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 5

[pullquote]Week 5, and the first round of the Cup kicks off in under two weeks which means team are looking to hit peak form in the next number of weeks before end of term.[/pullquote]

Summary // Table // Scores // FAQs

Methodist College (1) maintain the top spot for now just ahead of Wallace HS (2) and Sullivan Upper (3) as part of an unchanged top-3; however RS Armagh (4) have pushed themselves up into fourth with a victory over strong opponents Rainey ES (9).

Also continuing to rise up the table, BRA (13) continue their impressive climb with a victory over Coleraine GS (19) who are struggling to find form this season. Ballyclare HS (15) have also had an impressive rise this week, 4 places to be specific, with their high-scoring 32-25 victory over Friends’ SL (17).

Cup entry rounds and early matches have now also been confirmed by Ulster Branch. You can check out the details HERE (scroll down after the picture for the interesting stuff!)

Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 5

Team Win Ratio Opponent Rating Score Season Rating Previous Position
1 Methodist College 1.000 0.570 753 0.966 1
2 Wallace HS 0.889 0.655 743 0.952 2
3 Sullivan Upper 0.750 0.607 608 0.814 3
4 RS Armagh 0.800 0.548 606 0.809 5
5 Enniskillen Royal 0.889 0.482 601 0.801 4
6 Campbell College 0.667 0.563 532 0.728 7
7 Ballymena Academy 0.667 0.497 482 0.674 6
8 Portadown College 0.625 0.593 470 0.659 9
9 Rainey ES 0.600 0.576 457 0.643 8
10 RBAI 0.400 0.673 424 0.607 10
11 Omagh Academy 0.542 0.552 401 0.579 11
12 Dalriada 0.727 0.395 399 0.575 12
13 Belfast Royal Academy 0.455 0.588 372 0.544 14
14 RS Dungannon 0.500 0.527 365 0.534 13
15 Ballyclare HS 0.545 0.458 347 0.512 19
16 Down HS 0.556 0.531 338 0.500 15
17 Friends’ School 0.636 0.417 317 0.475 16
18 Bangor GS 0.364 0.599 313 0.468 17
19 Coleraine GS 0.364 0.581 303 0.454 18
20 Regent House 0.444 0.543 274 0.422 21
21 Dromore HS 0.400 0.541 248 0.393 23
22 Larne GS 0.556 0.348 238 0.380 20
23 Cambridge House 0.409 0.472 236 0.373 22
24 Grosvenor GS 0.300 0.539 196 0.330 24
25 Limavady GS 0.389 0.350 161 0.292 25
26 Belfast HS 0.250 0.456 141 0.268 26
27 Banbridge Academy 0.222 0.514 135 0.259 27
28 Foyle College 0.167 0.600 126 0.246 29
29 Lurgan College 0.286 0.336 122 0.240 28
30 Wellington College 0.333 0.291 116 0.230 30
31 Carrickfergus GS 0.100 0.394 61 0.172 32
32 Strabane Academy 0.333 0.122 56 0.163 31
33 Antrim GS 0.000 0.427 0 0.101 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
17th Nov, Home v BGS: 20-28 L
24th Nov, Home v DAL: 26-24 W
1st Dec, Away v FSL: 25-32 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
14th Nov, Away v RES: 22-24 W
24th Nov, Away v DWN: 16-48 W
30th Nov, Away v WHS: 10-3 L

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
17th Nov, Home v FSL: 3-35 L
23rd Nov, Home v GRO: 5-28 L
1st Dec, Away v RSD: 43-0 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
17th Nov, Away v BCL: 20-28 W
24th Nov, Away v FSL: 29-47 W
1st Dec, Away v DAL: 24-10 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
17th Nov, Away v CAR: 5-10 W
1st Dec, Home v REG: 19-29 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
17th Nov, Away v DAL: 12-28 W
24th Nov, Away v REG: 9-53 W
1st Dec, Home v COL: 39-22 W

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
17th Nov, Away v LIM: 3-41 W
24th Nov, Home v DRO: 22-25 L
1st Dec, Home v LUR: 49-0 W

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
16th Nov, Home v RBAI: 30-13 W
23rd Nov, Home v SUL: 16-15 W
30th Nov, Home v MCB: 14-26 L

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
17th Nov, Home v BEL: 5-10 L
24th Nov, Away v LAR: 36-0 L
28th Nov, Away v WEL: 29-19 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
17th Nov, Away v MCB: 45-0 L
24th Nov, Home v RSD: 29-24 W
1st Dec, Away v BRA: 39-22 W

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
17th Nov, Home v BRA: 12-28 L
24th Nov, Away v BCL: 26-24 L
1st Dec, Home v BGS: 24-10 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
17th Nov, Away v REG: 22-44 W
24th Nov, Home v BMA: 16-48 L

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
17th Nov, Away v RSD: 38-12 L
24th Nov, Away v CMB: 22-25 W
1st Dec, Home v LAR: 33-0 W

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
17th Nov, Away v PDC: 19-71 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
30th Nov, Away v OMA: 36-10 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
17th Nov, Away v BANB: 3-35 W
24th Nov, Home v BGS: 29-47 L
1st Dec, Home v BCL: 25-32 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
17th Nov, Home v LAR: 27-12 W
23rd Nov, Away v BANB: 5-28 W

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
17th Nov, Away v GRO: 27-12 L
24th Nov, Home v CAR: 36-0 W
1st Dec, Away v DRO: 33-0 L

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
14th Nov, Home v SUL*: 14-34 L
17th Nov, Home v CMB: 3-41 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
1st Dec, Away v CMB: 49-0 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
17th Nov, Home v COL: 45-0 W
24th Nov, Home v WHS: 38-8 W
30th Nov, Away v CCB: 14-26 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
17th Nov, Away v WHS: 34-12 L
30th Nov, Home v FLC: 36-10 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
17th Nov, Home v ENN: 19-71 L
24th Nov, Away* v WEL: 5-31 W

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
14th Nov, Home v BMA: 22-24 L
1st Dec, Home v RSA: 6-26 L

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
16th Nov, Away v CCB: 30-13 L
24th Nov, Home v RSA: 10-22 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
17th Nov, Home v DWN: 22-44 L
24th Nov, Home v BRA: 9-53 L
1st Dec, Away v BEL: 19-29 W

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
24th Nov, Away v RBAI: 10-22 W
1st Dec, Away v RES: 6-26 W

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
17th Nov, Home v DRO: 38-12 W
24th Nov, Away v COL: 29-24 L
1st Dec, Home v BANB: 43-0 W

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
14th Nov, Away* v LIM: 14-34 W
23rd Nov, Away v CCB: 16-15 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
17th Nov, Home v OMA: 34-12 W
24th Nov, Away v MCB: 38-8 L
30th Nov, Home v BMA: 10-3 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
24th Nov, Home v PDC*: 5-31 L
28th Nov, Home v CAR: 29-19 W

* ‘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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