The Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools squad opened the defence of their Inter-Provincial series with a win over Munster today, while the Ulster U18 Clubs squad fell to defeat against the same opposition at the opening day of the IRFU U18s Festival in University of Limerick.
IRFU U18s Festival Game Day 1 Results:
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 12-6 Munster Schools
Leinster U18 Schools 35-24 IQ Rugby
Ulster Schools struggled to get into the game and conceded a penalty on 8 minutes when they were caught off side which was kicked by Jack Delaney. Ulster Schools spent long periods in their own half but their defence was resolute in preventing any further scores until the 32nd minute when once again Jack Delaney added three points for Munster to leave the half time score 0-6.
A rejuvenated Ulster started the second half with some team changes bringing fresh impetus to their performance. On 20 minutes Ulster turned down a penalty just to the right of the posts and kicked to the corner. Their self belief was rewarded when the lineout maul resulted in captain Tom Stewart touching down for a try and then scrum half Nathan Doak added the difficult conversion from the right touchline across a blustery wind to give Ulster the lead for the first time.
Ulster continued to pressurise the Munster line and after the forwards had gone through several phases close to the line space opened up on the blindside for full back Conor Rankin to score an unconverted try in the left corner on 62 minutes.
Ulster continued to keep Munster in their own half to see out a hard earned but deserved win.
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools Team:
(15-9): Conor Rankin (Campbell College), Luke Pollock (Dalriada), Robin McIlveen (RBAI), Ben Moxham (Larne HS), Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI), Greg Hutley (Down HS), Nathan Doak (Wallace HS);
(1-8): Adam Hanna (Banbridge Academy), Tom Stewart (Captain) (BRA), Patrick McAlpine (Campbell College), Will Hopes (Regent House), Riley Westwood (Bangor GS), Jack Gamble (Ballyclare HS), Jonathan Agnew (RS Armagh), Reuben Crothers (Wallace HS)
Replacements: Joel Dundas (Wallace HS), George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper), Oscar Egan (Coleraine GS), Matthew Sands (St Colmans College), Gareth Wells (Bangor GS), Jude Roberts (RS Armagh), Connor McKee (Sullivan Upper), Jack Harte (Friends’ School), Ben Carson (Wallace HS), Luke Graham (Methodist College), Brandon Hassan (BRA).
Ulster U18 Clubs 10-32 Munster U18 Clubs
Connacht U18 Clubs 33-29 Leinster U18 Clubs
Munster reversed the day's earlier result by recording an impressive win over the Ulster Clubs side.
Ulster U18 Clubs team:
(15-9): Luke McMullan (Dungannon), Stuart Patterson (FS Lisburn), Curtis Henry (Cambridge House), Matthew Hamilton (Malone), Stuart Wightman (Belfast MET), Thomas McDevitt (Instonians), Rory MaGinty (Letterkenny);
(1-8): Sam Rainey (Armagh), Evan Charters (Virginia), Michael Mckeon Boyle (Virginia), Stephen Kelly (Letterkenny), Cein McColgan (City of Derry), Ashley Tweed (Ballymoney), Jack Milton (Ballyclare), James Crummie (Armagh).
Replacements: Keenan Barret (Letterkenny), James McMaster (Grosvenor), Philip Nichol (Armagh), John Glasgow (Armagh), Sam Murray (Armagh), Kyle Gill (Ballynahinch), James Campbell (Armagh), Rhys Cobain (Belfast MET), Thomas Wilson (Carrickfergus), Oran O’Neill (Malone), Alan Thompson (Coleraine).
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Game Day 2 - Wednesday 22nd August:
11am - Ulster Schools v IQ Rugby
1pm - Leinster Clubs v Ulster Clubs
3pm - Munster Clubs v Connacht U18
5pm - Munster Schools v Leinster Schools
Game Day 3 - Sunday 26th August:
11am - Munster Schools v IQ Rugby
1pm - Connacht U18 v Ulster Clubs
3pm - Ulster Schools v Leinster Schools
5pm - Munster Clubs v Leinster Clubs
IRFU U18s Festival Game Day 1 Results:
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 12-6 Munster Schools
Leinster U18 Schools 35-24 IQ Rugby
Ulster Schools struggled to get into the game and conceded a penalty on 8 minutes when they were caught off side which was kicked by Jack Delaney. Ulster Schools spent long periods in their own half but their defence was resolute in preventing any further scores until the 32nd minute when once again Jack Delaney added three points for Munster to leave the half time score 0-6.
A rejuvenated Ulster started the second half with some team changes bringing fresh impetus to their performance. On 20 minutes Ulster turned down a penalty just to the right of the posts and kicked to the corner. Their self belief was rewarded when the lineout maul resulted in captain Tom Stewart touching down for a try and then scrum half Nathan Doak added the difficult conversion from the right touchline across a blustery wind to give Ulster the lead for the first time.
Ulster continued to pressurise the Munster line and after the forwards had gone through several phases close to the line space opened up on the blindside for full back Conor Rankin to score an unconverted try in the left corner on 62 minutes.
Ulster continued to keep Munster in their own half to see out a hard earned but deserved win.
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools Team:
(15-9): Conor Rankin (Campbell College), Luke Pollock (Dalriada), Robin McIlveen (RBAI), Ben Moxham (Larne HS), Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI), Greg Hutley (Down HS), Nathan Doak (Wallace HS);
(1-8): Adam Hanna (Banbridge Academy), Tom Stewart (Captain) (BRA), Patrick McAlpine (Campbell College), Will Hopes (Regent House), Riley Westwood (Bangor GS), Jack Gamble (Ballyclare HS), Jonathan Agnew (RS Armagh), Reuben Crothers (Wallace HS)
Replacements: Joel Dundas (Wallace HS), George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper), Oscar Egan (Coleraine GS), Matthew Sands (St Colmans College), Gareth Wells (Bangor GS), Jude Roberts (RS Armagh), Connor McKee (Sullivan Upper), Jack Harte (Friends’ School), Ben Carson (Wallace HS), Luke Graham (Methodist College), Brandon Hassan (BRA).
Ulster U18 Clubs 10-32 Munster U18 Clubs
Connacht U18 Clubs 33-29 Leinster U18 Clubs
Munster reversed the day's earlier result by recording an impressive win over the Ulster Clubs side.
Ulster U18 Clubs team:
(15-9): Luke McMullan (Dungannon), Stuart Patterson (FS Lisburn), Curtis Henry (Cambridge House), Matthew Hamilton (Malone), Stuart Wightman (Belfast MET), Thomas McDevitt (Instonians), Rory MaGinty (Letterkenny);
(1-8): Sam Rainey (Armagh), Evan Charters (Virginia), Michael Mckeon Boyle (Virginia), Stephen Kelly (Letterkenny), Cein McColgan (City of Derry), Ashley Tweed (Ballymoney), Jack Milton (Ballyclare), James Crummie (Armagh).
Replacements: Keenan Barret (Letterkenny), James McMaster (Grosvenor), Philip Nichol (Armagh), John Glasgow (Armagh), Sam Murray (Armagh), Kyle Gill (Ballynahinch), James Campbell (Armagh), Rhys Cobain (Belfast MET), Thomas Wilson (Carrickfergus), Oran O’Neill (Malone), Alan Thompson (Coleraine).
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Game Day 2 - Wednesday 22nd August:
11am - Ulster Schools v IQ Rugby
1pm - Leinster Clubs v Ulster Clubs
3pm - Munster Clubs v Connacht U18
5pm - Munster Schools v Leinster Schools
Game Day 3 - Sunday 26th August:
11am - Munster Schools v IQ Rugby
1pm - Connacht U18 v Ulster Clubs
3pm - Ulster Schools v Leinster Schools
5pm - Munster Clubs v Leinster Clubs