Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 3

[pullquote]It’s mid-November which means Cup entry spots and fixtures will be confirmed for next week, but for now it’s Week 3 of the 2018-19 rankings.[/pullquote]

Summary // Table // Scores // FAQs

And It’s three weeks running for Wallace HS whose impressive 100% record continues against an opponent average of 0.603. In fact, the top 4 remain unchanged and it is Sullivan Upper (5) and Ballymena Academy (7) who are the first changes, both moving up two places after posting another win. On the other hand, RBAI (8) have dropped three places as they suffered a heavy defeat against Belfast rivals Campbell College (6).

Further down the table, BRA (17) managed to get a win against higher placed rivals Dalriada (12) which has pushed them up three places while Grosvenor GS (26) have managed and even more impressive five-place increase with their victory over Larne GS (21)  whose respective loss have pushed them the same number of places in the opposite direction.

Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings 2018/19 – Week 3

	Team	Win Ratio	Opponent Rating	Score	Season Rating	Previous Position
1	Wallace HS	1.000	0.603	744	0.987	1
2	Methodist College	1.000	0.503	659	0.897	2
3	RS Armagh	0.750	0.560	562	0.796	3
4	Enniskillen Royal	0.889	0.482	549	0.779	4
5	Sullivan Upper	0.714	0.587	546	0.772	7
6	Campbell College	0.857	0.474	539	0.761	6
7	Ballymena Academy	0.714	0.560	521	0.739	9
8	RBAI	0.500	0.647	458	0.671	5
9	Rainey ES	0.667	0.551	456	0.666	8
10	Portadown College	0.571	0.632	401	0.607	10
11	Friends’ School	0.778	0.405	396	0.597	12
12	Dalriada	0.778	0.387	389	0.586	11
13	Down HS	0.625	0.503	388	0.581	14
14	Omagh Academy	0.500	0.587	367	0.556	13
15	RS Dungannon	0.500	0.570	328	0.514	17
16	Regent House	0.429	0.605	291	0.472	15
17	Belfast Royal Academy	0.333	0.637	284	0.461	20
18	Ballyclare HS	0.444	0.411	279	0.452	18
19	Coleraine GS	0.333	0.609	269	0.438	19
20	Bangor GS	0.333	0.574	260	0.425	21
21	Larne GS	0.571	0.374	256	0.416	16
22	Cambridge House	0.389	0.508	231	0.388	23
23	Banbridge Academy	0.286	0.547	177	0.330	24
24	Dromore HS	0.250	0.564	162	0.311	25
25	Limavady GS	0.389	0.350	158	0.302	22
26	Grosvenor GS	0.222	0.571	155	0.295	31
27	Belfast HS	0.286	0.457	153	0.289	28
28	Lurgan College	0.333	0.323	138	0.270	26
29	Foyle College	0.188	0.608	136	0.264	27
30	Wellington College	0.250	0.317	93	0.217	30
31	Strabane Academy	0.333	0.216	86	0.206	29
32	Carrickfergus GS	0.125	0.373	67	0.183	32
33	Antrim GS	0.000	0.501	0	0.111	33

Ulster Schools Rugby Scores

Given below, to the best of our knowledge, is a full list of results for each Ulster Schools Rugby 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 (1-4,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)
8^th Sep, Away v WEL: 28-8 L
12^th Sep, Home v RSA^*: 24-40 L
22^nd Sep, Away v LUR: 27-12 L
29^th Sep, Home v DAL: 12-76 L
6^th Oct, Away v CMB: 56-7 L
20^th Oct, Away v LAR: 50-14 L

Ballyclare HS (BCL)
1^st Sep, Away v BMA: 26-12 L
8^th Sep, Away v BRA: 11-12 W
15^th Sep, Home v CCB: 10-24 L
26^th Sep, Home v RBAI: 3-57 L
6^th Oct, Away v BEL: 7-59 W
13^th Oct, Away v BGS: 12-7 L
24^th Oct, Home v GRO: 42-7 W
10^th Nov, Home v CMB: 29-19 W
17^th Nov, Home v BGS: 20-28 L

Ballymena Academy (BMA)
1^st Sep, Home v BCL: 26-12 W
8^th Sep, Away v WHS: 19-16 L
22^nd Sep, Home v BGS: 33-14 W
29^th Sep, Away v COL: 13-15 W
6^th Oct, Away v MCB: 54-8 L
13^th Oct, Home v BRA: 10-8 W
14^th Nov, Away v RES: 22-24 W

Banbridge Academy (BANB)
21^st Sep, Away v OMA: 59-0 L
29^th Sep, Home v ENN: 0-41 L
6^th Oct, Away v LUR: 12-38 W
13^th Oct, Away v LIM: 5-14 W
20^th Oct, Home v COL: 0-26 L
24^th Oct, Away v DRO: 37-15 L
17^th Nov, Home v FSL: 3-35 L

Bangor GS (BGS)
8^th Sep, Home v RSA: 7-12 L
22^nd Sep, Away v BMA: 33-14 L
29^th Sep, Home v BEL: 66-24 W
6^th Oct, Away v SUL: 33-10 L
13^th Oct, Home v BCL: 12-7 W
24^th Oct, Away v CCB: 42-40 L
27^th Oct, Away v COL: 23-12 L
3^rd Nov, Home v BRA: 26-33 L
17^th Nov, Away v BCL: 20-28 W

Belfast HS (BEL)
15^th Sep, Home v CAR: 43-7 W
22^nd Sep, Home v PDC: 24-43 L
29^th Sep, Away v BGS: 66-24 L
6^th Oct, Home v BCL: 7-59 L
13^th Oct, Away v LAR: 28-12 L
20^th Oct, Home v FSL: 15-40 L
17^th Nov, Away v CAR: 5-10 W

Belfast Royal Academy (BRA)
8^th Sep, Home v BCL: 11-12 L
15^th Sep, Home v LIM: 62-0 W
22^nd Sep, Away v MCB: 33-13 L
29^th Sep, Away v SUL: 26-16 L
6^th Oct, Home v WHS: 15-45 L
13^th Oct, Away v BMA: 10-8 L
3^rd Nov, Away v BGS: 26-33 W
10^th Nov, Home v DWN: 19-23 L
17^th Nov, Away v DAL: 12-28 W

Cambridge House (CMB)
8^th Sep, Home v COL: 26-26 D
15^th Sep, Away v FSL: 53-3 L
22^nd Sep, Home v DAL: 0-31 L
6^th Oct, Home v ANT: 56-7 W
13^th Oct, Away v CAR: 18-24 W
20^th Oct, Away v DAL: 26-7 L
27^th Oct, Away v RES: 53-14 L
10^th Nov, Away v BCL: 29-19 L
17^th Nov, Away v LIM: 3-41 W

Campbell College Belfast (CCB)
15^th Sep, Away v BCL: 10-24 W
22^nd Sep, Away v WHS: 31-14 L
3^rd Oct, Away v REG: 17-43 W
13^th Oct, Home v COL: 20-5 W
24^th Oct, Home v BGS: 42-40 W
10^th Nov, Away v GRO: 13-33 W
16^th Nov, Home v RBAI: 30-13 W

Carrickfergus GS (CAR)
8^th Sep, Home v LAR: 0-7 L
15^th Sep, Away v BEL: 43-7 L
22^nd Sep, Away v LIM: 16-10 L
29^th Sep, Home v LUR: 25-5 W
6^th Oct, Away v FLC: 22-10 L
13^th Oct, Home v CMB: 18-24 L
20^th Oct, Away v GRO: 36-15 L
17^th Nov, Home v BEL: 5-10 L

Coleraine GS (COL)
8^th Sep, Away v CMB: 26-26 D
15^th Sep, Home v OMA: 10-10 D
29^th Sep, Home v BMA: 13-15 L
6^th Oct, Home v RBAI: 6-15 L
13^th Oct, Away v CCB: 20-5 L
20^th Oct, Away v BANB: 0-26 W
27^th Oct, Home v BGS: 23-12 W
10^th Nov, Away v ENN: 19-8 L
17^th Nov, Away v MCB: 45-0 L

Dalriada (DAL)
8^th Sep, Away v GRO: 14-31 W
15^th Sep, Away v RES: 56-7 L
22^nd Sep, Away v CMB: 0-31 W
29^th Sep, Away v ANT: 12-76 W
13^th Oct, Home v FLC: 48-0 W
17^th Oct, Home v LAR: 59-0 W
20^th Oct, Home v CMB: 26-7 W
10^th Nov, Home v REG: 36-0 W
17^th Nov, Home v BRA: 12-28 L

Down HS (DWN)
8^th Sep, Away v OMA: 15-18 W
15^th Sep, Away v GRO: 10-36 W
22^nd Sep, Home v SUL: 3-28 L
29^th Sep, Away v RSA: 52-19 L
6^th Oct, Home v PDC: 17-37 L
13^th Oct, Away v DRO: 0-52 W
10^th Nov, Away v BRA: 19-23 W
17^th Nov, Away v REG: 22-44 W

Dromore HS (DRO)
15^th Sep, Home v LUR: 34-7 W
26^th Sep, Home v FSL: 15-23 L
29^th Sep, Away v REG: 55-12 L
13^th Oct, Home v DWN: 0-52 L
20^th Oct, Home v PDC: 0-56 L
24^th Oct, Home v BANB: 37-15 W
10^th Nov, Away v RES: 40-7 L
17^th Nov, Away v RSD: 38-12 L

Enniskillen Royal (ENN)
8^th Sep, Home v FLC: 40-0 W
15^th Sep, Home v REG: 34-0 W
22^nd Sep, Home v RSA: 11-7 W
29^th Sep, Away v BANB: 0-41 W
6^th Oct, Away v RES: 15-7 L
13^th Oct, Away v RSD: 10-35 W
20^th Oct, Away v FLC: 0-31 W
10^th Nov, Home v COL: 19-8 W
17^th Nov, Away v PDC: 19-71 W

Foyle College (FLC)
8^th Sep, Away v ENN: 40-0 L
22^nd Sep, Home v RES: 0-28 L
29^th Sep, Away v RSD: 40-17 L
3^rd Oct, Home v LIM: 5-5 D
6^th Oct, Home v CAR: 22-10 W
13^th Oct, Away v DAL: 48-0 L
17^th Oct, Home v LIM: 17-36 L
20^th Oct, Home v ENN: 0-31 L

Friends’ School Lisburn (FSL)
8^th Sep, Away v RSD: 24-8 L
15^th Sep, Home v CMB: 53-3 W
26^th Sep, Away v DRO: 15-23 W
29^th Sep, Away v LAR: 8-21 W
6^th Oct, Home v GRO: 29-7 W
13^th Oct, Home v OMA: 30-24 W
20^th Oct, Away v BEL: 15-40 W
24^th Oct, Home v RSD: 17-29 L
17^th Nov, Away v BANB: 3-35 W

Grosvenor GS (GRO)
8^th Sep, Home v DAL: 14-31 L
15^th Sep, Home v DWN: 10-36 L
22^nd Sep, Home v RSD: 0-40 L
6^th Oct, Away v FSL: 29-7 L
13^th Oct, Home v REG: 5-7 L
20^th Oct, Home v CAR: 36-15 W
24^th Oct, Away v BCL: 42-7 L
10^th Nov, Home v CCB: 13-33 L
17^th Nov, Home v LAR: 27-12 W

Larne GS (LAR)
8^th Sep, Away v CAR: 0-7 W
15^th Sep, Home v WEL: 47-0 W
29^th Sep, Home v FSL: 8-21 L
13^th Oct, Home v BEL: 28-12 W
17^th Oct, Away v DAL: 59-0 L
20^th Oct, Home v ANT: 50-14 W
17^th Nov, Away v GRO: 27-12 L

Limavady GS (LIM)
15^th Sep, Away v BRA: 62-0 L
22^nd Sep, Home v CAR: 16-10 W
3^rd Oct, Away v FLC: 5-5 D
6^th Oct, Home v STR: 37-22 W
13^th Oct, Home v BANB: 5-14 L
17^th Oct, Away v FLC: 17-36 W
7^th Nov, Home v OMA: 0-39 L
14^th Nov, Home v SUL^*: 14-34 L
17^th Nov, Home v CMB: 3-41 L

Lurgan College (LUR)
15^th Sep, Away v DRO: 34-7 L
22^nd Sep, Home v ANT: 27-12 W
29^th Sep, Away v CAR: 25-5 L
6^th Oct, Home v BANB: 12-38 L
10^th Oct, Home v WEL: 39-21 W
27^th Oct, Away v OMA: 13-12 L

Methodist College Belfast (MCB)
22^nd Sep, Home v BRA: 33-13 W
28^th Sep, Home v OMA: 41-8 W
6^th Oct, Home v BMA: 54-8 W
13^th Oct, Away v RBAI: 10-19 W
10^th Nov, Home v SUL: 52-3 W
17^th Nov, Home v COL: 45-0 W

Omagh Academy (OMA)
8^th Sep, Home v DWN: 15-18 L
15^th Sep, Away v COL: 10-10 D
21^st Sep, Home v BANB: 59-0 W
28^th Sep, Away v MCB: 41-8 L
6^th Oct, Home v RSD: 17-16 W
13^th Oct, Away v FSL: 30-24 L
20^th Oct, Home v RSA: 8-39 L
24^th Oct, Home v STR: 29-0 W
27^th Oct, Home v LUR: 13-12 W
7^th Nov, Away v LIM: 0-39 W
17^th Nov, Away v WHS: 34-12 L

Portadown College (PDC)
22^nd Sep, Away v BEL: 24-43 W
29^th Sep, Home v RES: 26-22 W
6^th Oct, Away v DWN: 17-37 W
13^th Oct, Home v RSA: 5-33 L
20^th Oct, Away v DRO: 0-56 W
3^rd Nov, Away v WHS: 44-24 L
17^th Nov, Home v ENN: 19-71 L

Rainey ES (RES)
8^th Sep, Away v REG: 19-14 L
15^th Sep, Home v DAL: 56-7 W
22^nd Sep, Away v FLC: 0-28 W
29^th Sep, Away v PDC: 26-22 L
6^th Oct, Home v ENN: 15-7 W
27^th Oct, Home v CMB: 53-14 W
5^th Nov, Home v RSD: 21-12 W
10^th Nov, Home v DRO: 40-7 W
14^th Nov, Home v BMA: 22-24 L

RBAI (RBAI)
26^th Sep, Away v BCL: 3-57 W
6^th Oct, Away v COL: 6-15 W
13^th Oct, Home v MCB: 10-19 L
16^th Nov, Away v CCB: 30-13 L

Regent House (REG)
8^th Sep, Home v RES: 19-14 W
15^th Sep, Away v ENN: 34-0 L
29^th Sep, Home v DRO: 55-12 W
3^rd Oct, Home v CCB: 17-43 L
13^th Oct, Away v GRO: 5-7 W
10^th Nov, Away v DAL: 36-0 L
17^th Nov, Home v DWN: 22-44 L

RS Armagh (RSA)
8^th Sep, Away v BGS: 7-12 W
12^th Sep, Away^* v ANT: 24-40 W
22^nd Sep, Away v ENN: 11-7 L
26^th Sep, Away v RSD: 10-52 W
29^th Sep, Home v DWN: 52-19 W
13^th Oct, Away v PDC: 5-33 W
20^th Oct, Away v OMA: 8-39 W
9^th Nov, Home v WHS: 3-10 L

RS Dungannon (RSD)
8^th Sep, Home v FSL: 24-8 W
15^th Sep, Home v SUL: 18-26 L
22^nd Sep, Away v GRO: 0-40 W
26^th Sep, Home v RSA: 10-52 L
29^th Sep, Home v FLC: 40-17 W
6^th Oct, Away v OMA: 17-16 L
13^th Oct, Home v ENN: 10-35 L
24^th Oct, Away v FSL: 17-29 W
5^th Nov, Away v RES: 21-12 L
17^th Nov, Home v DRO: 38-12 W

Strabane Academy (STR)
29^th Sep, Away v WEL: 17-26 W
6^th Oct, Away v LIM: 37-22 L
24^th Oct, Away v OMA: 29-0 L

Sullivan Upper (SUL)
15^th Sep, Away v RSD: 18-26 W
22^nd Sep, Away v DWN: 3-28 W
29^th Sep, Home v BRA: 26-16 W
6^th Oct, Home v BGS: 33-10 W
13^th Oct, Home v WHS: 15-24 L
10^th Nov, Away v MCB: 52-3 L
14^th Nov, Away^* v LIM: 14-34 W

Wallace HS (WHS)
8^th Sep, Home v BMA: 19-16 W
22^nd Sep, Home v CCB: 31-14 W
6^th Oct, Away v BRA: 15-45 W
13^th Oct, Away v SUL: 15-24 W
3^rd Nov, Home v PDC: 44-24 W
9^th Nov, Away v RSA: 3-10 W
17^th Nov, Home v OMA: 34-12 W

Wellington College (WEL)
8^th Sep, Home v ANT: 28-8 W
15^th Sep, Away v LAR: 47-0 L
29^th Sep, Home v STR: 17-26 L
10^th Oct, Away v LUR: 39-21 L

* ‘Select’ squad
^ Match abandoned after halftime
# Match not played; bye recorded

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Ulster Schools Rugby Rankings FAQS

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 33 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: win percentage (number of wins, draws, and losses), opponent rating (the strength of sides faced), and competitive rating (their progression within the various competitions). Inactivity penalties are also scored thereby preventing less active schools being ranked higher than they deserve. The formula produces a score for each team using these factors which allows them to be ranked in order from 1 to 33.

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 a few seasons ago 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 point 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.