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

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It seems like no time at all since one of the best Schools Cup Finals in recent years took place back in March, but September and October have come round again, and with them the first week of our schools’ 1stXV rankings which threatens to throw up as many surprises as this year’s Rugby World Cup:

At the top we find a couple of the ‘usual suspects’, both RBAI (1) and Ballymena Academy (2) making strong starts to their season, but placing third are Dalriada  whose 1stXV currently hold a 100% record with the only blip – if you can call it that – being a draw earned against Antrim GS (27) by their depleted ‘Select’ squad. Regent House (4), Omagh Academy (8) and Grosvenor GS (9) also find themselves among the top-ten, although these sides are yet to face some of the stronger challenges which come within a season; these will prove to be the real test of just how solid they are.

A surprise to regular follows will be just how low – by their standards – Methodist College (7) and Ballyclare HS (10) have entered this year’s table. Of course Methody’s ranking comes with the caveat that they have struggled to field a 1stXV so far and albeit for a couple of points they could have placed higher after their first full-strength game against Ballymena last weekend; on the other hand, Ballyclare appear to be struggling against stronger opponents this season with heavy defeats to RBAI, Ballymena and Campbell College (6).

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Schools 1stXV Rankings 2015/2016 – Week 1

	Team	Win Ratio	Opponent Rating	Score	Season Rating
1	RBAI	1.000	0.522	666	0.925
2	Ballymena Academy	0.857	0.561	615	0.868
3	Dalriada	0.917	0.458	539	0.788
4	Regent House	0.800	0.555	515	0.758
5	Wallace HS	0.700	0.534	507	0.745
6	Campbell College	0.700	0.505	494	0.726
7	Methodist College	0.500	0.666	458	0.686
8	Omagh Academy	1.000	0.316	418	0.640
9	Grosvenor GS	0.667	0.533	406	0.623
10	Ballyclare HS	0.500	0.561	394	0.606
11	Rainey ES	0.600	0.581	393	0.599
12	Portadown College	0.714	0.422	373	0.574
13	Portora RS	0.667	0.465	360	0.556
14	Sullivan Upper	0.500	0.468	357	0.548
15	Bangor GS	0.667	0.420	333	0.519
16	Down HS	0.429	0.548	314	0.494
17	BRA	0.429	0.553	302	0.483
18	Coleraine GS	0.286	0.646	252	0.426
19	Friends’ School	0.500	0.433	251	0.421
20	Lurgan College	0.600	0.337	234	0.399
21	RS Dungannon	0.333	0.552	221	0.381
22	Foyle College	0.333	0.504	209	0.363
23	RS Armagh	0.286	0.492	200	0.350
24	Larne GS	0.333	0.397	168	0.312
25	Belfast HS	0.250	0.462	152	0.291
26	Limavady GS	0.286	0.435	147	0.281
27	Antrim GS	0.250	0.423	140	0.269
28	Cambridge House	0.200	0.462	112	0.236
29	Carrickfergus GS	0.167	0.342	75	0.193
30	Wellington College	0.000	0.392	34	0.147
31	Strabane Academy	0.000	0.393	31	0.139
32	Banbridge Academy	0.000	0.600	21	0.123

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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)
26^th Sep, Away v LUR: 17-14 L
3^rd Oct, Away v DAL*: 7-7 D

Ballyclare HS (BCL)
5^th Sep, Home v BMA: 10-38 L
12^th Sep, Home v BRA: 13-6 W
19^th Sep, Away v CCB: 50-3 L
3^rd Oct, Home v RBAI: 3-29 L
10^th Oct, Home v BEL: 14-0 W
17^th Oct, Away v LIM: 7-31 W

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

Banbridge Academy (BANB)
12^th Sep, Away v PDC: 18-5 L
16^th Sep, Away v RSA: 33-3 L
19^th Sep, Away v SUL: 34-5 L
26^th Sep, Home v OMA: 0-24 L
3^rd Oct, Away v PRS: 40-5 L
10^th Oct, Home v LUR: 5-16 L
17^th Oct, Home v BGS: 7-32 L

Bangor GS (BGS)
12^th Sep, Away v RSA: 5-31 W
19^th Sep, Home v PDC: 10-14 L
26^th Sep, Home v BMA: 3-18 L
3^rd Oct, Home v BEL: 19-14 W
10^th Oct, Home v LIM: 49-17 W
17^th Oct, Away v BANB: 7-32 W

Belfast HS (BEL)
10^th Sep, Home v LIM: 5-12 L
19^th Sep, Home v CAR: 12-21 L*
26^th Sep, Away v PDC: 24-15 L
3^rd Oct, Away v BGS: 19-14 L
16^th Oct, Home v LAR: 29-21 W

Belfast Royal Academy (BRA)
12^th Sep, Away v BCL: 13-6 L
19^th Sep, Home v LUR: 31-5 W
26^th Sep, Home v MCB*: 28-17 W
3^rd Oct, Home v SUL: 13-7 W
10^th Oct, Away v WHS: 27-0 L
17^th Oct, Home v BMA: 3-38 L

Cambridge House (CMB)
12^th Sep, Away v COL: 10-0 L
19^th Sep, Home v FSL: 0-34 L
26^th Sep, Away v DAL: 64-0 L
3^rd Oct, Away v GRO*: 20-11 L
17^th Oct, Home v CAR: 35-10 W

Campbell College Belfast (CCB)
19^th Sep, Home v BCL: 50-3 W
23^rd Sep, Home v RSA: 7-0 W
26^th Sep, Home v WHS: 15-15 D
10^th Oct, Home v REG: 38-0 W
17^th Oct, Away v COL: 17-13 L

Carrickfergus GS (CAR)
11^th Sep, Home v LAR 15-30 L
19^th Sep, Away v BEL*: 12-21 W
26^th Sep, Away v LIM: 21-17 L
3^rd Oct, Away v OMA*: 26-14 L
10^th Oct, Home v FLC*: 19-38 L
17^th Oct, Away v CMB: 35-10 L

Coleraine GS (COL)
5^th Sep, Away v RSA: 19-15 L
12^th Sep, Home v CMB: 10-0 W
19^th Sep, Away v OMA: 14-0 L
23^rd Sep, Home v REG: 23-27 L
2^nd Oct, Away v BMA: 23-18 L
10^th Oct, Away v RBAI: 27-5 L
17^th Oct, Home v CCB: 17-13 W

Dalriada (DAL)
12^th Sep, Home v GRO: 17-15 W
19^th Sep, Home v RES: 42-0 W
26^th Sep, Home v CMB: 64-0 W
3^rd Oct, Home v ANT: 7-7 D*
10^th Oct, Home v SUL: 35-17 W
17^th Oct, Away v FLC: 12-38 W

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

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

Friends’ School Lisburn (FSL)
12^th Sep, Home v RSD: 28-14 W
19^th Sep, Away v CMB: 0-34 W
10^th Oct, Away v GRO: 24-0 L
17^th Oct, Away v DHS: 49-7 L

Grosvenor GS (GRO)
12^th Sep, Away v DAL 17-15 L
19^th Sep, Away v DHS: 7-21 W
26^th Sep, Away v RSD: 12-16 W
3^rd Oct, Home v CMB: 20-11 W*
10^th Oct, Home v FSL: 24-0 W
17^th Oct, Away v REG: 19-8 L

Larne GS (LAR)
11^th Sep, Away v CAR 15-30 W
10^th Oct, Away v RES: 25-7 L
16^th Oct, Away v BEL: 29-21 L

Limavady GS (LIM)
5^th Sep, Home v RSD: 3-15 L
12^th Sep, Away v BEL: 5-12 W
19^th Sep, Away v FLC: 48-17 L
26^th Sep, Home v CAR: 21-17 W
3^rd Oct, Home v WHS: 7-24 L
10^th Oct, Away v BGS: 49-17 L
17^th Oct, Home v BCL: 7-31 L

Lurgan College (LUR)
9^th Sep, Home v PDC: 5-24 L
19^th Sep, Away v BRA: 31-5 L
26^th Sep, Home v ANT: 17-14 W
3^rd Oct, Home v WEL: 5-3 W
10^th Oct, Away v BANB: 5-16 W

Methodist College Belfast (MCB)
12^th Sep, Away v SUL: 12-10 L*
16^th Sep, Home v DHS: 17-11 W*
26^th Sep, Away v BRA: 28-17 L*
10^th Oct, Away v BMA: 23-22 L

Omagh Academy (OMA)
12^th Sep, Away v DHS: 18-20 W
19^th Sep, Home v COL: 14-0 W
26^th Sep, Away v BANB: 0-24 W
30^th Sep, Away v PRS: 10-19 W
3^rd Oct, Home v CAR: 26-14 W*
7^th Oct, Home v STR: 15-14 W*
10^th Oct, Away v RSD: 7-10 W

Portadown College (PDC)
9^th Sep, Away v LUR: 5-24 W
12^th Sep, Home v BANB: 18-5 W
19^th Sep, Away v BGS: 10-14 W
26^th Sep, Home v BEL: 24-15 W
3^rd Oct, Away v RES: 25-0 L
10^th Oct, Home v DHS: 15-27 L
17^th Oct, Away v RSA: 8-16 W

Portora RS (PRS)
12^th Sep, Away v FLC: 10-18 W
19^th Sep, Away v REG: 24-0 L
26^th Sep, Away v RSA: 5-26 W
30^th Sep, Home v OMA: 10-19 L
3^rd Oct, Home v BANB: 40-5 W
17^th Oct, Home v RSD: 16-3 W                                  

Rainey ES (RES)
12^th Sep, Home v REG: 24-29 L
19^th Sep, Away v DAL 42-0 L
26^th Sep, Home v FLC: 17-10 W
3^rd Oct, Home v PDC: 25-0 W
10^th Oct, Home v LAR: 25-7 W

RBAI (RBAI)
19^th Sep, Away v BMA: 14-30 W
3^rd Oct, Away v BCL: 3-29 W
10^th Oct, Home v COL: 27-5 W

Regent House (REG)
12^th Sep, Away v RES: 24-29 W
19^th Sep, Home v PRS: 24-0 W
23^rd Sep, Away v COL: 23-27 W
10^th Oct, Away v CCB: 38-0 L
17^th Oct, Home v GRO: 19-8 W

RS Armagh (RSA)
5^th Sep, Home v COL: 19-15 W
12^th Sep, Home v BGS: 5-31 L
16^th Sep, Home v BANB: 33-3 W
23^rd Sep, Away v CCB: 7-0 L
26^th Sep, Home v PRS: 5-26 L
30^th Sep, Away v DHS: 41-0 L
17^th Oct, Home v PDC: 8-16 L

RS Dungannon (RSD)
5^th Sep, Away v LIM: 3-15 W
12^th Sep, Away v FSL: 28-14 L
26^th Sep, Home v GRO: 12-16 L
3^rd Oct, Away v FLC: 14-19 W
10^th Oct, Home v OMA: 7-10 L
17^th Oct, Away v PRS: 16-3 L

Strabane Academy (STR)
7^th Oct, Away v OMA*: 15-14 L

Sullivan Upper (SUL)
12^th Sep, Home v MCB*: 12-10 W
19^th Sep, Home v BANB: 34-5 W
23^rd Sep, Home v DHS: 27-13 W
3^rd Oct, Away v BRA: 13-7 L
10^th Oct, Away v DAL: 35-17 L
17^th Oct, Away v WHS: 26-12 L

Wallace HS (WHS)
12^th Sep, Away v BMA: 10-3 L
26^th Sep, Away v CCB: 15-15 D
3^rd Oct, Away v LIM: 7-24 W
10^th Oct, Home v BRA: 27-0 W
17^th Oct, Home v SUL: 26-12 W

Wellington College (WEL)
3^rd Oct, Away v LUR: 5-3 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 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 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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