Down High open bid

Down High open bid

21 January 2015

DOWN High School embark on their Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Cup odyssey when they take on Rainey Endowed at Ballynahinch Rugby Club in the second round of the competition on Saturday morning.

The Downpatrick school received a first round bye after they were seeded following last year’s record equalling run to the quarter-finals.

Down High and Rainey met in the third round last season and the Downpatrick school won a tight game 6-5 to reach the last eight of the competition for only the second time in their history.

Unfortunately, they lost 36-9 to a Sullivan Upper side which went on to reach the final where they were beaten by Methodist College.

Down High may have lost lost 11 senior starting players at end of last season, but Nathan Gibson, Ross Carlisle, William Martin, Thomas Forson, Aaron Chambers, Harry McCormick, Rory Kerr, Duncan Ross, Mark Hanna, Jamie Gibson, Joseph Bingham and Patrick Preston are all back for more.

Throw in the highly talented Zac Ward, son of Ireland and Ulster hero Andy Ward, and you have an enthusiastic squad capable of reaching the last eight.

The squad has been put through their paces in the build-up to the game by head coaches John Gunson and Charlie Knox, assisted by Aaron Cairns and Kelvin Hamilton.

The squad has enjoyed a successful season to date with wins over Larne, Grosvenor, Armagh, Portadown, Lurgan, BRA, Regent, Bangor and Belfast High School. They have been beaten three times, losing out narrowly to Sullivan, RBAI and Dalriada.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 11am. In the event of severe weather on Saturday morning check Twitter page @downhighrugby for updates.

Down High forward panel: Nathan Gibson, Claytan Milligan, Rory Horder, Aaron Chambers, Harry McCormick, Stuart Cochrane, Sam Rickard, Duncan Ross, Mark Hanna, Chris Beattie, Elliot Evans, James Martin, William Martin, Patrick Preston, Zac Ward.

Backs: Thomas Forson, Ewan Keers, Ross Carlisle, Patrick Browne, Charlie Power, John Hyndman, Rory Kerr, Jonathan McCoubrey, Marcus Graham, Luke Sandford, Harry Hitchens, Jamie Gibson, Joseph Bingham.