The Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy fell to a late narrow defeat at the hands of a much more experienced Munster team at Thomond Park on Friday evening.
Whilst the young white knights will be hugely disappointed to let a six point lead slip in the last 5 minutes, they can take great heart from the fact that Munster had to wheel on some very experienced cavalry to wrestle victory away from this talented, resilient and energetic group of young players.
The game started with a bang with the Munster forward catching the kick off being tumbled into touch by the energetic and rumbustious lock Matthew Dalton. From the ensuing lineout Rory Butler took a flat pass from Jonny Stewart, splitting the Munster defence then rounding the last defender to score a fine individual effort out wide on the left. Michael Lowry added the 2 points from near the touch line for a 7-0 lead after 1 minute.
Ulster continued to dominate with very aggressive defence, stopping the big Munster forwards in their tracks. Dalton, Tom O'Toole, Aaron Hall and Jack Regan were to the fore and following a forced penalty Michael Lowry converted a 7th minute penalty to extend the lead to 10-0. Against the run of play, Munster gladly accepted a simple penalty, converted by Conor Fitzgerald to make it 10-3.
Ulster continued to press and look the more dangerous side although Munster were coming more into the game. During the next 15 minutes Ulster missed two kickable penalties, one bouncing off the upright... and finally in the 33rd minute, third time lucky, Lowry converted a second penalty to make it 13-3. In the final 2 minutes of the half Munster pressed hard with their big forwards carrying ball hard up the channels, but Ulster's defence held firm.
Half time saw Munster wheel on some more bulk and experience with 26 year old hooker O'Byrne and back row Coombes. In the first 12 minutes of the second half Ulster were forced to replace Lowry (with Callum Smith) and impressive schoolboy Stewart Moore (Josh Jordan) through injury along with tactical substitutions, Jones for Hall and McCall for Clarke. Munster took advantage of the disruption to score two quick tries in the 53rd (O'Byrne) and 55th minutes (Shane Daly), the latter being converted by centre McHenry. Ulster steadied the ship and refused to be bullied by the large Munster forwards, retaking the lead via a Smith penalty in the 61st minute.
The next 15 minutes were evenly contested with both defences holding firm. It was Ulster who broke the deadlock in the 75th minute after 15+ phases with forwards and backs probing and testing the Munster defence until eventually Rory Butler broke and following quickly recycled ball, captain Stewart scampered over midway out. The conversion bounced off the upright, which would prove critical as a requirement for 6 points in 4-5 minutes is very different from 8!
Crucially from the kick-off Munster won possession and after multiple phases of play their captain Ronan Coffey forced his way over at the posts, with the conversion being added for a 1 point lead with less than 2 minutes remaining. Once again Munster crucially won the restart leaving Ulster attempting desperately attempting to turn the ball over. Munster maintained calm heads and possession, with the Ulster defence sacrificing its usual robust organisation in an attempt to retrieve the ball, ultimately leaving a gap for Rob O'Donovan to add a final score at the death, again converted this time by A team player Dave Johnston.
Ulster will be hugely disappointed to have lost having led with 5 minutes to go. Whilst the whole team can hold their heads high, there were particularly notable performances from the outstanding O'Toole and Clarke in the front row; Regan and Dunleavy in the back 5; Lowry; Butler and Moore in the backs. It was the small margins that proved crucial - 13 points were missed with the boot, whereas Munster converted 4 from 5; and those crucial restarts in the last 5 minutes giving Munster that all too important possession in the championship moments. However, this group of young players will have learned a lot against more experienced opponents, which will stand them in good stead when the British & Irish Cup games come round. With the majority of the squad also eligible for National U20 selection, they will be hopeful of having a sizeable representation.
Whilst the young white knights will be hugely disappointed to let a six point lead slip in the last 5 minutes, they can take great heart from the fact that Munster had to wheel on some very experienced cavalry to wrestle victory away from this talented, resilient and energetic group of young players.
The game started with a bang with the Munster forward catching the kick off being tumbled into touch by the energetic and rumbustious lock Matthew Dalton. From the ensuing lineout Rory Butler took a flat pass from Jonny Stewart, splitting the Munster defence then rounding the last defender to score a fine individual effort out wide on the left. Michael Lowry added the 2 points from near the touch line for a 7-0 lead after 1 minute.
Ulster continued to dominate with very aggressive defence, stopping the big Munster forwards in their tracks. Dalton, Tom O'Toole, Aaron Hall and Jack Regan were to the fore and following a forced penalty Michael Lowry converted a 7th minute penalty to extend the lead to 10-0. Against the run of play, Munster gladly accepted a simple penalty, converted by Conor Fitzgerald to make it 10-3.
Ulster continued to press and look the more dangerous side although Munster were coming more into the game. During the next 15 minutes Ulster missed two kickable penalties, one bouncing off the upright... and finally in the 33rd minute, third time lucky, Lowry converted a second penalty to make it 13-3. In the final 2 minutes of the half Munster pressed hard with their big forwards carrying ball hard up the channels, but Ulster's defence held firm.
Half time saw Munster wheel on some more bulk and experience with 26 year old hooker O'Byrne and back row Coombes. In the first 12 minutes of the second half Ulster were forced to replace Lowry (with Callum Smith) and impressive schoolboy Stewart Moore (Josh Jordan) through injury along with tactical substitutions, Jones for Hall and McCall for Clarke. Munster took advantage of the disruption to score two quick tries in the 53rd (O'Byrne) and 55th minutes (Shane Daly), the latter being converted by centre McHenry. Ulster steadied the ship and refused to be bullied by the large Munster forwards, retaking the lead via a Smith penalty in the 61st minute.
The next 15 minutes were evenly contested with both defences holding firm. It was Ulster who broke the deadlock in the 75th minute after 15+ phases with forwards and backs probing and testing the Munster defence until eventually Rory Butler broke and following quickly recycled ball, captain Stewart scampered over midway out. The conversion bounced off the upright, which would prove critical as a requirement for 6 points in 4-5 minutes is very different from 8!
Crucially from the kick-off Munster won possession and after multiple phases of play their captain Ronan Coffey forced his way over at the posts, with the conversion being added for a 1 point lead with less than 2 minutes remaining. Once again Munster crucially won the restart leaving Ulster attempting desperately attempting to turn the ball over. Munster maintained calm heads and possession, with the Ulster defence sacrificing its usual robust organisation in an attempt to retrieve the ball, ultimately leaving a gap for Rob O'Donovan to add a final score at the death, again converted this time by A team player Dave Johnston.
Ulster will be hugely disappointed to have lost having led with 5 minutes to go. Whilst the whole team can hold their heads high, there were particularly notable performances from the outstanding O'Toole and Clarke in the front row; Regan and Dunleavy in the back 5; Lowry; Butler and Moore in the backs. It was the small margins that proved crucial - 13 points were missed with the boot, whereas Munster converted 4 from 5; and those crucial restarts in the last 5 minutes giving Munster that all too important possession in the championship moments. However, this group of young players will have learned a lot against more experienced opponents, which will stand them in good stead when the British & Irish Cup games come round. With the majority of the squad also eligible for National U20 selection, they will be hopeful of having a sizeable representation.