Methodist College will begin their defence of the Ulster Bank Schools Cricket Cup with an away game against Belfast rivals Campbell College or Down High School.

(Pictured right are Richard Johnson, President of the Northern Cricket Union, and Mark McKelvey of Ulster Bank at the draw for the early rounds of the Bank-sponsored Ulster Schools Cup)

The holders are one of eight seeded schools which received byes into the second round in which last year's runners-up RBAI will have home advantage against either Friends' School Lisburn or Sullivan Upper.  All four North West schools in the competition have also gone directly into the second round.

The full draw is:

First round to be played by May 3:

A   Ballyclare High School v Lurgan College
B   Bangor Grammar School v Carrickfergus Grammar School
C   Friends' School Lisburn v Sullivan Upper
D   Campbell College v Down High School
E   Royal School Armagh v Ballymena Academy
F   Belfast High School v Antrim Grammar School.

Grosvenor Grammar School and RBAI Seconds received byes into the second round along with the eight seeded schools.

(Pictured right is cricket master James Kennedy of holders Methodist College (centre) at the draw for next season's Ulster Bank Schools Cup. The school is one of eight seeds receiving byes to the second round and will be away to the winners of the first round tie between Campbell College and Down High School)

The second round games to be played by May 10 are:

RBAI Seconds v Coleraine Grammar School.
Limavady Grammar School v A
B v Belfast Royal Academy
RBAI v C
D v Methodist College
Wallace High School v E
F v Strabane Academy
Foyle College v Grosvenor Grammar School.

(Photos © Rowland White / PressEye)