RBAI opted to kick off the game against an Enniskillen team looking to claim its first major Belfast school scalp of the season. David Stinson caught well and the forwards kept possession as Enniskillen rucked their way up the field urged on by scum half Matthew Bothwell. RBAI turned the ball over inside their own 22 but were quickly tackled into touch, conceding the first lineout of the game.
Despite Hooker Ryan Phair’s increasingly accurate throws and the best efforts of Callum Smyton and Justin White to conceal calls, RBAI’s tall lock forwards were going to make set plays from line outs uncertain all game and this was the first of a number of steals. RBAI opted to kick with their possession but Sam Milligan, who along with Jason Bothwell covered ground and caught balls brilliantly all morning, did not allow RBAI to gain any real advantage from these tactics.
Enniskillen won the first scrum against the head and props Matthew Graham and Ben Davis should take pride in the fact that they dominated this area of the play for the entire game. The Enniskillen scrummaging provided a secure base for Eddie Keys and the back line to work off and this time quick offloading amongst the forwards played winger Sam Balfour in to score.
Through the running of centre pairing Stephen Balfour and Taine Haire and the precise kicking of Eddie Keys Enniskillen pressurized the RBAI try line for much of the rest of the first half. However they were unable to convert pressure to points and the half finished 5-0.
The second half began well for Enniskillen when Justin White recognized the RBAI out half lining up a kick and charged it down. After some powerful rucking led by Henry Keys and Zak Havers, Ryan Phair was able to twist through two tacklers and ground the ball. Eddie Keys converted well from just off the touch line to make it 12 – 0.
With Matthew Beatty and Adam Sanderson relieving tired legs Sam Balfour picked up and ran in loose ball for the third try and Stephen Balfour ran straight through the holes in RBAI’s defence for the fourth. Matthew Wilson, John Elliot and Andrew Patton played well when given their opportunity and John Elliot was unfortunate not to be awarded a try after grounding the ball in the last moments of the game. The score finished 28-0.
ERGS U14s vs RBAI
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Enniskillen Royal Grammar School is a new academically selective voluntary grammar school that opened on 1 September 2016.
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School is co-educational and non-denominational.
Latest News
SUCCESS AT STORMONT FOR ERGS DEBATERS
The historic Senate Chamber at Stormont played host to the Grand Final of NI Schools Debating Competition where Annie Fowler (Year 14) finished her ERGS debating journey on a high, winning the Best Individual Speaker award alongside the Team of the Year 2026 award with her co-debater Luchia McCusker (Year 13). The award was presented this year by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. This is the second year running that ERGS have claimed this coveted prize!
The evening began with the Best Individual Speaker Final, debating the motion: “This House believes that it is symbolic of Belfast’s sense of its own importance that it can produce a city of seven quarters.”
Annie grounded her approach in a Fermanagh perspective and delivered an impressive Opposition speech, engaging the audience with her fresh and enlightening take on the complexities of Belfast and its seven quarters. Annie’s Points of Information were sharp and perceptive, and she kept her poise and eloquence in response to the Propositions’ interjections.
The Team of the Year award recognises Annie and Luchia for their team performance throughout the course of the competition where they excelled in their display of mature, respectful and courteous debate underpinned by critical thinking.
We commend both Annie and Luchia for role-modelling our school values and ethos with such grace and maturity and congratulate them on their achievement.
Transport Disruption F111 Service
Please see below message form the Education Authority
We regret to advise that service F111 will not operate on Wednesday 29th April and Thursday 30th April due to driver availability.
Please could the school inform parents so they can make alternative transport arrangements for pupils.
We apologise for the inconvenience.
Beckett–Joyce Award Success for ERGS
We were delighted to attend today’s Beckett–Joyce Award ceremony in the Senior Common Room at Trinity College Dublin. It was a truly prestigious event celebrating outstanding literary talent from Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and Clongowes Wood College SJ
A very special congratulations to Nathaniel Nkoma, who was awarded overall winner for his piece “Welcome Aboard.” This is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to his creativity and talent….we are incredibly proud.
It was an honour to have the awards presented by Dr Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland and current Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin, which made the occasion all the more memorable.
Congratulations to all of our ERGS participants for representing the school so well throughout this competition. In particular, we are proud of our other finalists - Lily Shaw, Caitlin Kelly, Eva Nelson and Freya Boyd McManus, whose work was of an exceptionally high standard.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to John F. M. Aiken, President of the Old Portoran Union (OPU), for organising such a fantastic event.
A special word of thanks also to Brenda Davis (ERGS) and Tom Carroll (Clongowes Wood College) for their work in preparing students and supporting the shortlisting process for the finals.
Thank you to our friends in Clongowes Wood College for their participation - it was lovely to meet up again and celebrate a shared love of writing.
A wonderful day for all involved 👏📚