Schools: 1st XV Rankings 2015/16 – Week 5

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[wc_tab title=”REVIEW”]

It’s an interesting week for the Schools’ 1stXV rankings as the entry round for each school was confirmed by Ulster Branch. This, along with a number of somewhat surprising results, has led to significant changes in the table :

The team at the top has changed once again despite their 1stXV not playing over the past week; Ballymena Academy (1) now sit at the top of the table after previous leaders RBAI (4) suffered their first defeat of the season to old rivals Campbell College (3). Despite this win, Campbell remain in third position as Wallace HS (2) improved their standing by also taking a 100% from another team, specifically Omagh Academy (11) who fall outside of the top-ten.

Down HS (6), Grosvenor GS (8), Portora RS (9) also saw major improvement this week, not only because of their wins at the weekend but because they were confirmed at higher rounds of the competition than had been previously anticipated. Likewise with Coleraine GS (13) whose confirmation as a top-seed was made all the sweeter with a 20-10 victory over Methodist College (15), the Belfast team now with their lowest ever positions since rankings began in 2007.
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	Team	Win Ratio	Opponent Rating	Score	Season Rating	Previous Position
1	Ballymena Academy	0.889	0.536	638	0.871	2
2	Wallace HS	0.833	0.529	608	0.836	4
3	Campbell College	0.786	0.557	605	0.829	3
4	RBAI	0.800	0.537	591	0.810	1
5	Dalriada	0.833	0.470	502	0.716	5
6	Down HS	0.600	0.536	483	0.692	12
7	Rainey ES	0.714	0.504	462	0.666	9
8	Grosvenor GS	0.667	0.525	456	0.655	10
9	Portora RS	0.750	0.453	444	0.638	14
10	Regent House	0.625	0.544	440	0.630	6
11	Omagh Academy	0.909	0.359	427	0.611	8
12	Ballyclare HS	0.600	0.544	418	0.598	7
13	Coleraine AI	0.455	0.584	415	0.590	16
14	Sullivan Upper	0.556	0.457	407	0.577	13
15	Methodist College	0.250	0.697	322	0.487	11
16	Portadown College	0.545	0.484	307	0.467	15
17	Bangor GS	0.444	0.474	306	0.467	19
18	Belfast Royal Academy	0.364	0.563	296	0.452	17
19	Friends’ School	0.750	0.307	277	0.428	20
20	RS Dungannon	0.400	0.553	263	0.409	18
21	Lurgan College	0.444	0.424	222	0.363	22
22	Larne GS	0.400	0.405	195	0.331	21
23	Belfast HS	0.333	0.425	180	0.311	24
24	Foyle College	0.250	0.543	177	0.303	23
25	Cambridge House	0.286	0.449	155	0.276	26
26	RS Armagh	0.182	0.570	137	0.254	25
27	Limavady GS	0.200	0.527	131	0.243	27
28	Banbridge Academy	0.182	0.459	112	0.219	29
29	Antrim GS	0.125	0.389	80	0.182	28
30	Carrickfergus GS	0.125	0.360	57	0.155	30
31	Wellington College	0.000	0.222	26	0.119	32
32	Strabane Academy	0.000	0.085	23	0.111	31

[/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
21^st Nov, Away v FLC: 12-24 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
21^st Nov, Away v WEL: 7-12 W

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
21^st Nov, Home v DAL: 15-21 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
21^st Nov, Away v RBAI: 6-10 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
21^st Nov, Home v MCB: 20-10 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
4^th Nov, Home v COL: 7-27 L
14^th Nov, Away v REG: 19-22 W
21^st Nov, Away v BRA: 15-21 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
21^st Nov, Home v REG: 13-7 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
24^th Oct, Away v PRS: 12-0 L
21^st Nov, Home v BCL: 12-24 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
21^st Nov, Away v RSD: 5-17 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
21^st Nov, Away v LAR: 3-38 W

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
21^st Nov, Home v GRO: 3-38 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
23^rd Oct, Away v RES: 32-0 L
14^th Nov, Away v OMA: 10-0 L
18^th Nov, Away v SUL: 48-10 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
21^st Nov, Home v RSA: 13-12 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
24^th Oct, Home v RBAI: 7-8 L
21^st Nov, Away v COL: 20-10 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
21^st Nov, Home v WHS: 0-26 L

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
21^st Nov, Away v PRS: 24-7 L

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
21^st Nov, Home v PDC: 24-7 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
21^st Nov, Home v CCB: 6-10 L

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
21^st Nov, Away v DHS: 13-7 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
21^st Nov, Away v LUR: 13-12 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
21^st Nov, Home v FSL: 5-17 L

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
18^th Nov, Home v LIM: 48-10 W

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
21^st Nov, Away v OMA: 0-26 W

Wellington College (WEL)
3^rd Oct, Away v LUR: 5-3 L
4^th Nov, Away v FSL: 36-10 L
21^st Nov, Home v BANB: 7-12 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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