Schools: 1st XV Rankings 2015/16 – Week 4

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[wc_tab title=”REVIEW”]

Another busy week of schools’ rugby took place this weekend past with most schools in action one way or another. Results have led to following changes in the rankings for week 4:

There are few changes at the top where RBAI (1) and Ballymena Academy (2) still look like the strongest teams in this year’s contest, the latter continuing to show their dominance this weekend with a 35-10 win over Sullivan Upper (13). Meanwhile, Dalriada (5) and Regent House (6) met in Newtownards, a narrow 22-19 victory for the Ballymoney team causing them to swap places with their opponents in this week’s rankings.

Closer to mid-table, Down HS (12) have risen two places this week with a strong win against BRA (17), as the turnaround of their season seems to continue, as indeed have RS Dungannon (18) who earned a 17-6 win at home to Lurgan College (22).

As an added note this week, it’s worth pointing out that seeding have been decided for this season’s Cup competition which will have an impact on next week’s rankings; you can check the seedings and 1st Round draw here on the FRU.
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Schools’ 1stXV Rankings 2015/16 – Week 4

	Team	Win Ratio	Opponent Rating	Score	Season Rating	Previous Position
1	RBAI	1.000	0.475	612	0.876	1
2	Ballymena Academy	0.889	0.536	611	0.870	2
3	Campbell College	0.750	0.516	530	0.783	4
4	Wallace HS	0.813	0.482	529	0.777	3
5	Dalriada	0.813	0.483	505	0.747	6
6	Regent House	0.714	0.536	458	0.696	5
7	Ballyclare HS	0.556	0.576	437	0.669	8
8	Omagh Academy	1.000	0.312	413	0.640	7
9	Rainey ES	0.714	0.504	409	0.631	9
10	Grosvenor GS	0.625	0.541	389	0.605	10
11	Methodist College	0.333	0.777	383	0.595	11
12	Down HS	0.556	0.526	376	0.582	14
13	Sullivan Upper	0.500	0.490	367	0.568	12
14	Portora RS	0.714	0.439	364	0.560	13
15	Portadown College	0.600	0.458	345	0.535	15
16	Coleraine AI	0.400	0.618	317	0.502	16
17	Belfast Royal Academy	0.400	0.536	280	0.465	17
18	RS Dungannon	0.444	0.531	275	0.455	20
19	Bangor GS	0.444	0.474	254	0.429	18
20	Friends’ School	0.714	0.294	253	0.422	19
21	Larne GS	0.500	0.339	207	0.371	22
22	Lurgan College	0.375	0.454	199	0.358	21
23	Foyle College	0.286	0.534	191	0.346	23
24	Belfast HS	0.333	0.425	177	0.325	26
25	RS Armagh	0.200	0.583	176	0.320	24
26	Cambridge House	0.286	0.449	151	0.290	27
27	Limavady GS	0.222	0.524	141	0.274	25
28	Antrim GS	0.125	0.413	76	0.205	28
29	Banbridge Academy	0.100	0.505	75	0.198	29
30	Carrickfergus GS	0.125	0.360	61	0.179	30
31	Strabane Academy	0.000	0.128	20	0.133	31
32	Wellington College	0.000	0.297	16	0.124	32

[/wc_tab][wc_tab title=”RESULTS”]

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
7^th Nov, Away v LAR: 20-17 L
14^th Nov, Away v PDC: 47-14 L

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
21^st Oct, Away v WHS: 31-0 L
7^th Nov, Home v GRO: 17-12 W
14^th Nov, Home v BGS: 32-6 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
7^th Nov, Away v COL: 5-14 W
14^th Nov, Home v SUL: 35-10 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
24^th Oct, Home v COL: 0-22 L
6^th Nov, Home v CAR: 41-0 W
14^th Nov, Away v BEL: 7-0 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
21^st Oct, Home v CCB: 7-36 L
6^th Nov, Home v BRA: 7-24 L
14^th Nov, Away v BCL: 32-6 L

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
24^th Oct, Away v FSL: 46-25 L
14^th Nov, Home v BANB: 7-0 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
24^th Oct, Away v RSD: 10-7 L
6^th Nov, Away v BGS: 7-24 W
14^th Nov, Away v DHS: 23-0 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
7^th Nov, Home v REG: 24-55 L
14^th Nov, Home v STR: 13-0 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
21^st Oct, Away v BGS: 7-36 W

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
6^th Nov, Away v BANB: 41-0 L
14^th Nov, Home v FSL: 10-17 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
24^th Oct, Away v BANB: 0-22 W
4^th Nov, Away v DAL: 7-27 W
7^th Nov, Home v BMA: 5-14 L

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
4^th Nov, Home v COL: 7-27 L
14^th Nov, Away v REG: 19-22 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
24^th Oct, Away v LUR: 7-44 W
14^th Nov, Home v BRA: 23-0 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
24^th Oct, Away v PRS: 12-0 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
24^th Oct, Home v BEL: 46-25 W
4^th Nov, Home v WEL: 36-10 W
14^th Nov, Away v CAR: 10-17 W

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
24^th Oct, Home v PDC: 25-5 W
7^th Nov, Away v BCL: 17-12 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
7^th Nov, Home v ANT: 20-17 W

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
23^rd Oct, Away v RES: 32-0 L
14^th Nov, Away v OMA: 10-0 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
24^th Oct, Home v DHS: 7-44 L
7^th Nov, Home v OMA: 3-7 L
14^th Nov, Away v RSD: 17-6 L

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
24^th Oct, Home v RBAI: 7-8 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
24^th Oct, Away v RSA: 5-17 W
7^th Nov, Away v LUR: 3-7 W
14^th Nov, Home v LIM: 10-0 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
24^th Oct, Away v GRO: 25-5 L
7^th Nov, Home v WHS: 0-25 L
14^th Nov, Home v ANT: 47-14 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
24^th Oct, Home v FLC: 12-0 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
23^rd Oct, Home v LIM: 32-0 W
7^th Nov, Home v RSD: 6-0 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
24^th Oct, Away v MCB: 7-8 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
7^th Nov, Away v CMB: 24-55 W
14^th Nov, Home v DAL: 19-22 L

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
24^th Oct, Home v OMA: 5-17 L
7^th Nov, Away v SUL: 28-5 L
14^th Nov, Away v WHS: 24-0 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
24^th Oct, Home v BRA: 10-7 W
7^th Nov, Away v RES: 6-0 L
14^th Nov, Home v LUR: 17-6 W

Strabane Academy (STR)
7^th Oct, Away v OMA*: 15-14 L
14^th Nov, Away v CMB: 13-0 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
7^th Nov, Home v RSA: 28-5 W
14^th Nov, Away v BMA: 35-10 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
21^st Oct, Home v BCL: 31-0 W
7^th Nov, Away v PDC: 0-25 W
14^th Nov, Home v RSA: 24-0 W

Wellington College (WEL)
3^rd Oct, Away v LUR: 5-3 L
4^th Nov, Away v FSL: 36-10 L

^{*Played against/as ‘SelectXV’}
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[wc_tab title=”FAQ’S”]

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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