The 1st XI hockey team are making the long journey south to Cork to play in the All-Ireland Schoolboy Championships. Sullivan have only missed qualification for these championships twice since 1997. The competition takes the format of an initial group of four stage, the group winner moving forward to a semi-final. The remaining teams then play a friendly against other competitors before heading home on the Friday. Sullivan have been drawn in Group B against Newtown School (Waterford), local rivals Campbell College (who they will also face on return in the McCullough Cup) and favourites St Andrews College (Dublin). Sullivan played St Andrews in a pre-season friendly narrow losing 3-2. St Andrews have won the competition five times in the last six years. Fixtures Wednesday 25 October 2017 1.30 pm against Campbell College at Garryduff Thursday 26 October 2017 10.00 am against Newtown at Bandon School 2.15 pm against St Andrews at Garrduff Best of luck to the squad and coaches: Fergus Gibson (C), Tom Robson (VC), Callum Carson, Patrick Crookshanks, Sonny Erskine, Djay Erskine, Daniel Girvan, Issac Hart, Fergus Kerr, Harry Morris, Matthew Morris, Tom McClintock, Thomas McCord, Patrick Rose, Michael Trimble and Matthew Willis

Sullivan Upper were away to Wallace High for their second away fixture of the season. The match started with Sullivan holding up against Wallace pressure in defence, with Wallace eventually scoring the first try of the game. In reply, Sullivan broke into the Wallace 22, with Andy Weir scoring just before half time, converted by Conor McKee. After multiple phases of attack from Wallace, they couldn’t get through the Sullivan defence and at half time the scores were 7-7 in what was a very tight game. In the second half, Wallace continued to gain territory through clever kicking and line breaks, leading to a further two tries after multiple phases of attack with the Sullivan defence finally being breached. Late on in the game Wallace also took a penalty in front of the posts to stretch their lead. The match finished 22-7 to Wallace. 2nd XV report from Rory Houston Saturday 14th October – Wallace entertained Sullivan Upper . Sullivan showed determination in the first play by winning the ball back from their kick off and after a few phases fullback Thomas Leitch used his speed to beat a defender and score in the corner, conversion was missed 5-0 . After lots of pressure from Wallace’s defence Sullivan’s Out half made a half break to offload to Thomas Leitch to score in the corner for his second, conversion missed 10-0 Sullivan. Wallace began to come back into the game with penalties but could not seem to find touch with the punt, Sullivan’s counter attack proved to be well drilled with the back 3 linking up well for Thomas Leitch to score his hat trick under the post, conversion scored 17-0 Sullivan. Ill-discipline and sloppy defence cause Sullivan to concede a penalty off the kick off and to concede a try from Wallace’s number 6. Half time score 17-7. The second half began quickly again by Sullivan eager to fight back after conceding late in the first half with a well organised set piece off the line out to see outside centre Rory Houston make a line break and beat the Wallace fullback to score Sullivan’s 4th try. Conversion missed 22-7. Sullivan once again off the kick off made ground off a few offloads to see Ollie Faith make a clean break to beat the fullback and score in the corner. Sullivan showed their desire to keep playing by winning a penalty which they kicked to the corner and after a few phases winger Patrick McCleave scored after beating 2 defenders, conversion missed 32-7 . Late in the game Sullivan were still piling on the pressure on Wallace’s line and the game ended with Sullivan using their slick hands to get the ball to winger replacement Aaron Tierney who scored in the corner and converted his own try. Full time score 39-7.

Sullivan travelled to play Wallace High School in what was thought to be the hardest match in their group. Despite the rain, a good crowd of SUS supporters watched as the boys settled into the first half. Fifteen minutes in, SUS went ahead with a drag flick by Gibson from a short corner. Sullivan had the better of the possession in the first half but on the half hour Wallace scored from a short to make it 1-1. Within 2 minutes Wallace took the lead. SUS upped the pace and were rewarded with another short corner that Gibson converted just before half time. Halftime Sullivan 2 (F Gibson x 2) – Wallace 2 Throughout the second half Sullivan had almost all the possession and controlled the game. SUS went ahead with a good passage of play from Willis along the baseline and a Crookshanks strike from the top of the D to go ahead 3-2. A few substitutions helped to maintain their pace of play. The boys varied their movement of the ball building from the back four. M. Morris made it 4-2 half way through the second half from open play along the right hand side. A green card for Wallace allowed Sullivan to take advantage with a well-worked move, Carson made it 5-2. Wallace had a few chances in the closing 10 with two shorts that were well cleared by the visitors. A comfortable win for the boys and some very encouraging passages of play particularly in the second half. Final Score Sullivan 5 (G Gibson 2, M Morris, P Crookshanks and C Carson) Wallace 2

Department of Education has confirmed that all schools should return to business as usual from Wednesday 18 October 2017, therefore, Sullivan Upper School (Preparatory and Secondary Department) will be open as normal from Wednesday 18 October 2017. C J W PEEL Headmaster

Following an update from the Department of Education, who has taken advice from the Met Office on the prolonged nature and potential severity of the storm, Sullivan Upper School (Preparatory and Secondary Department) will remain closed on Tuesday 17 October 2017. C J W PEEL Headmaster

Sullivan Upper School (Preparatory and Secondary Departments) will be closed on Monday 16 October 2017 due to the predicted adverse weather conditions, and guidance from the Department of Education.

2nd XV – Jack McFerran Today the 2s arrived at Bangor Grammar prepared for a big performance from both sides which was reflected in both the first and second half. Despite Bangor grammar being physical, our skill and teamwork came out on top with one try coming from a forwards maul off our lineout with Matthew Martin touching down. With a slow beginning, the 2s managed to keep putting pressure on Bangor into the second half where the accuracy picked up, scoring a fantastic second try down the right wing with a chip and chase, eventually gathered by Jack McFerran who converted his own try. Bangor came back into the match, asking questions of the Sullivan defence and eventually broke through. But it was too little too late as the game ended with the score 12-7 to Sullivan, who continued their unbeaten start to the season. 1st XV – Patrick Casement Sullivan played their fourth game of the season away to Bangor Grammar. Sullivan started poorly after conceding a try less than 5 minutes in. Sullivan took a while to get into the game but scored in the middle of the half. The try was scored by Shaun Tyler as he broke from the back of a maul. The resulting conversion was missed and there were no more scores in the first half. It was a frustrating first half for both sides as Bangor missed two kickable penalties and Sullivan lacked any real chances. The half finished 7-5 to Bangor. Sullivan started the second half a lot stronger as Shaun Tyler got his second try of the match. Bangor got their only points of the half through a penalty soon after. 10 minutes later Sullivan scored another try as they mauled over from 15 metres out. Stewart Wylie was the scorer. Bangor were reduced to 14 men and Sullivan capitalised as scrum half Conor McKee scored with a pick from 5 metres out. Bangor nearly scored from an intercepted chip but Sullivan defended well and conceded no tries in the second half. Sullivan finished the game with George Saunderson scoring from close range. In the end the game finished with Sullivan winning by a comfortable margin of 33 points to 10 in their first derby of the season.

Sullivan played their second competitive game on the new school pitch against the same opposition as their first, Methody. Their second McCullough Cup match started the same as the first group match with Sullivan in control of the game, with Methody quickly getting all their players behind the ball, this made it very difficult for Sullivan to get shooting opportunities. With only a few penalty corners that were not converted the end half in a frustrating nil all. Halftime Sullivan 0 v Methody 0 The second half started with a bit more urgency and after good work down the right, Matthew Willis was there to tap the ball home. This was then quickly followed with two goals from Daniel Girvan. Sullivan then relaxed and with a couple of errors allowed Methody a few chances. This gave the opposition some hope and they eventually scored a consolation goal. Final Score Sullivan 3 (M Willis and D Girvan 2) v Methody 1

In the first match of this year’s McCullough Cup Sullivan travelled to Cookstown. This was only the second match that the full team played due to UK School Game and Interpros. Sullivan started well and controlled the game with Tom McCord having very little to do in the first half. Goals from Sonny Erskine, Fergus Gibson and Patrick Rose put them in control. The second half Sullivan were less dominant after ‘taking the foot of the gas’. Cookstown won a few penalty corners but these were defended well and their only chances. A second half goal from Matthew Morris completed the scoring. Final score Cookstown 0 – Sullivan 4 (S Erskine, Gibson, Rose and M Morris) Sullivan play Methody this Wednesday at 4:15 pm at home, followed by Wallace High School next Saturday away.

Congratulations to the following Year 8 and 9 boys who represented the school at the Ulster Schools Novice Swimming Gala in Ballymena on Saturday 19th May: Year 8 Evan Coulter and Gethin Lloyd, Year 9 Mark Stinson and Matthew Latimer. Evan Coulter came first in the 12 year old boys 50m Breaststroke and third in the 50m backstroke with the others all swimming in finals. The four boys were delighted to come first in the 13 year old Freestyle Relay and second in the 14 year old Medley Relay events.

Congratulations to the following boys who have been selected for Ulster at U16 or U18 level: U16 Michael Trimble (Yr12), Harrison Dunlop, Djay Erskine and Tom McClintock (Yr 11) and Patrick Rose (Yr10) U18 Fergus Gibson, Tom Robson and Callum Carson (Yr14), Harry and Matthew Morris (Yr13) – further congratulations to Fergus and Tom on being named Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. This is an unprecedented number of representatives and Sullivan pupils make up the largest school contingent in both squads.