(Niall Annett started at hooker for the Ravens)
Ulster Ravens, sponsored by CD Group, lost their opening fixture in this season's British and Irish Cup, going down 34 points to 17 against Cornish Pirates at Mennaye Field in Cornwall.Â
The home side scored two tries in the last twenty minutes to secure a winning bonus point and leave Ulster 'A' playing catch-up in Pool 6 of the tournament.Â
The Pirates took the lead with an eighth minute try from Canada captain Aaron Carpenter.
But the ...
(Niall Annett started at hooker for the Ravens) Ulster Ravens, sponsored by CD Group, lost their opening fixture in this season's British and Irish Cup, going down 34 points to 17 against Cornish Pirates at Mennaye Field in Cornwall. The home side scored two tries in the last twenty minutes to secure a winning bonus point and leave Ulster 'A' playing catch-up in Pool 6 of the tournament. The Pirates took the lead with an eighth minute try from Canada captain Aaron Carpenter. But the Ravens Ulster came back strongly with two James McKinney penalties putting the Ravens ahead after 22 minutes. Angus Sinclair kicked a penalty to put the Pirates back in front after a breakdown offence and then winger Mike Pope added to the home side's lead when he raced almost the full length of the pitch to score. However, the Ravens showed great character to get back into the game when Peter Nelson, playing on the wing, scored a well worked try just before half time. James McKinney kicked a 49th minute penalty to put Ulster in front.
Then, in the final quarter the home side scored those two tries. Fullback Kieran Goss got the grounded in the corner, then Matt Evans ran in under the posts to score the Pirates' fourth try meaning that they secured the bonus point. With Mike McComish sin-binned for killing the ball picked up a yellow card for killing the ball Kieran Hallett sealed the win for the Cornish Pirates with a penalty.
The Ravens will be looking to get things back on track when they face a Jersey side containing ex Ulster flyhalf, Niall O'Connor, at Ravenhill on Friday night (kick off 1930).
Tickets for that game are available here: CORNISH PIRATES: Goss, Pope (Holland h/t), Fatialofa (Hallett 77), James, Evans, Sinclair, Cattle (capt); Davies (Cahill 66), Channon, Prescott (Joyce 77), Graulich, Barry (Cheesman 46), Morgan (Atkinson 79), Conlon (Parker 59), Carpenter. Scorers: Tries - Carpenter, Pope, Goss, Evans; Con - Sinclair; Pens - Sinclair (3), Hallett. ULSTER RAVENS: McIlwaine, Cochrane (Busby 77), Andrew, Farrell, Nelson (McCloskey 62), McKinney, Heaney (Porter 73); McAllister (Cromie 50), Annett (Murphy 77), Ross, Stevenson, O'Connor (Taggart 73), C.Joyce (Doyle h/t), McComish (sin bin 62-72), McComb. Scorers: Try - Nelson; Pens - McKinney (3); Yellow Card - McComish. Referee: T Foley (RFU) Â Â
(Niall Annett started at hooker for the Ravens) Ulster Ravens, sponsored by CD Group, lost their opening fixture in this season's British and Irish Cup, going down 34 points to 17 against Cornish Pirates at Mennaye Field in Cornwall. The home side scored two tries in the last twenty minutes to secure a winning bonus point and leave Ulster 'A' playing catch-up in Pool 6 of the tournament. The Pirates took the lead with an eighth minute try from Canada captain Aaron Carpenter. But the Ravens Ulster came back strongly with two James McKinney penalties putting the Ravens ahead after 22 minutes. Angus Sinclair kicked a penalty to put the Pirates back in front after a breakdown offence and then winger Mike Pope added to the home side's lead when he raced almost the full length of the pitch to score. However, the Ravens showed great character to get back into the game when Peter Nelson, playing on the wing, scored a well worked try just before half time. James McKinney kicked a 49th minute penalty to put Ulster in front.
Then, in the final quarter the home side scored those two tries. Fullback Kieran Goss got the grounded in the corner, then Matt Evans ran in under the posts to score the Pirates' fourth try meaning that they secured the bonus point. With Mike McComish sin-binned for killing the ball picked up a yellow card for killing the ball Kieran Hallett sealed the win for the Cornish Pirates with a penalty.
The Ravens will be looking to get things back on track when they face a Jersey side containing ex Ulster flyhalf, Niall O'Connor, at Ravenhill on Friday night (kick off 1930).
Tickets for that game are available here: CORNISH PIRATES: Goss, Pope (Holland h/t), Fatialofa (Hallett 77), James, Evans, Sinclair, Cattle (capt); Davies (Cahill 66), Channon, Prescott (Joyce 77), Graulich, Barry (Cheesman 46), Morgan (Atkinson 79), Conlon (Parker 59), Carpenter. Scorers: Tries - Carpenter, Pope, Goss, Evans; Con - Sinclair; Pens - Sinclair (3), Hallett. ULSTER RAVENS: McIlwaine, Cochrane (Busby 77), Andrew, Farrell, Nelson (McCloskey 62), McKinney, Heaney (Porter 73); McAllister (Cromie 50), Annett (Murphy 77), Ross, Stevenson, O'Connor (Taggart 73), C.Joyce (Doyle h/t), McComish (sin bin 62-72), McComb. Scorers: Try - Nelson; Pens - McKinney (3); Yellow Card - McComish. Referee: T Foley (RFU) Â Â