Derby showdown in Schools’ Cup

For the two East Antrim sides it’s a re-run of last year’s third-round head-to-head when it was the Jordanstown school who came out on top. It promises to be an eagerly anticipated second-round match on January 14.

Elsewhere, Carrick Grammar have been handed an away tie against Rainey Endowed while Ballyclare High School, among the eight seeded teams, will have to wait until February to join the competition in round four.

Last year Larne saw off Portora Royal in the second round before exiting the cup to Belfast High. For the High School the match against Larne was the second local derby in a row, having defeated Carrick Grammar in round two.

Scores from Matt Huntley, Ryan McGonigle, Aaron Blair and two conversions from Robbie Fryers secured the High’s School’s progress. A second-half try from Aaron McBride followed by a Philip Andrews conversion was all the Grammar had to show for their hard work.

Skipper McGonigle, who plays at No. 8, is a major influence on a squad which has been buoyed by a recent tour to Abu Dhabi. Coach Davy Scott said the lads will be looking forward to the New Year match. “It’s exciting to get one of the local teams and it makes it interesting because they are so close by,” he said.

“We played Larne at home earlier in the season and defeated them but the cup match will be a tight game. I’m hoping we can go through but it’s not a foregone conclusion. We have the home draw so it makes for a tasty match.”

Tournament organisers and participants have been boosted by the news that Northern Bank, who have supported the competition since 2005, have renewed their sponsorship of one of Ulster’s premier school sports tournaments and the second oldest rugby competition in the world.

Rosamond Bennett, Head of Communications at Northern Bank, said: “We are proud to renew our sponsorship of the Schools’ Cup for another three years. It’s a tournament that holds a particularly special place in the hearts of pupils and former pupils, teachers and families, who come out to show their support rain, hail, shine or snow.

“It is this level of local energy and passion that makes the Schools’ Cup such a rewarding partnership for us as a local bank. We are looking forward to another exciting tournament ahead.”

The winning teams from the round two matches will progress to the third round of competition (January 28) and will be joined by 10 teams: Bangor Grammar, Belfast Royal Academy, Coleraine Academical Institution, Down High, Foyle & Londonderry College, Grosvenor Grammar, Portadown College, Regent House, Royal School Dungannon and Sullivan Upper.

The final eight seeded teams Ballyclare High, Ballymena Academy, Campbell College, Limavady Grammar, Methodist College Belfast, Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Royal School Armagh and Wallace High will join the competition on Saturday, February 11.

Second-round draw: Belfast High School v Larne Grammar School, Lurgan College v Cambridge House School, Friends School v Antrim Grammar or Wellington College, Portora Royal School v Dalriada, Rainey Endowed School v Carrick Grammar School, Omagh Academy v Banbridge Academy.