Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, despite a 26-21 defeat away to Jersey Reds in the final pool stage game, still progress to the knockout stages of the British & Irish Cup.
With the game delayed by 30 minutes to allow areas of the pitch to thaw out, it was Jersey Reds who made the brighter start when towering lock Uili Kolo'ofa'I picked up from the back of a lineout and stormed in to touch down in the left corner.
Ulster A responded well with some good possession before a sweeping move from right to left, plus delightful hands from Johnny McPhillips sent Mark Best over in the corner. McPhillips added the touchline conversion to put Ulster in front.
On 32 minutes Jersey gave a glimpse of what was to come when a penalty took them deep into Ulster territory, then they secured a lineout before forcing a maul over for flanker James Doyle to touch down.
With the half-time whistle approaching Ulster A winger Jacob Stockdale scored the try of the game, picking the ball up well inside his own half before showing a clean pair of heels to the Jersey rear-guard to dot down under the posts. McPhillips slotted the easy conversion to put Ulster A 10-14 ahead at the break.
Just three minutes after the restart Ulster added their third try. McPhillips took the Ulster men down into the corner, where lineout ball was taken on by Conor Joyce to smash over from close range. McPhillips added the extra two once again.
On 53 minutes Jersey got in for their third try, when some battering work by their forwards made space on left wing for Ross Adair to dot down, narrowing the scoreline to 15-21.
Nine minutes later Jersey secured their bonus point try when Doyle beenfited from another maul to get his second of the game.
In the final quarter it was Jersey who dictated proceedings, forcing a number of penalties from Ulster, in particular from the scum and lineouts. Replacement out-half Sam Katz secured the win for the home side, confidently despatching penalties in the 69th and 73rd minute. The win saw Jersey leapfrog Ulster and top Pool 1 in the final game.
However, with four wins from the six pool games, plus four bonus points along the way, Ulster A still booked a place in the knockout stages as one of the best runners-up.
The draw for the quarter-finals will take place on Monday 30th January, with Ulster A facing an away trip to one of the top four seeded teams.
Jersey Reds
Tries: Kolo'ofa'I, Doyle (2), Adair
Pens: Katz (2)
(15-9): Jack Cuthbert, George Watkins, Jordan Davies, Kuki Ma'afu, Ross Adair, Callum Sheedy, Kieran Hardy;
(1-8) Sean McCarthy, Jack Macfarlane, Simon Kerrod, Uili Kolo'ofa'I, Pierce Phillips (capt), James Freeman, James Doyle, Nick Haining;
Replacements (16-22): Joe Buckle, Jake Woolmore, Jake Armstrong, Dave McKern, Max Argyle; Joel Dudley, Sam Katz.
Ulster A
Tries: Best, Stockdale, Joyce
Cons: McPhillips (3)
(15-9): Jack Owens, David Busby, Rory Butler, Mark Best, Jacob Stockdale, Johnny McPhillips, Jonny Stewart;
(1-8): Eric O’Sullivan, Zack McCall, Peter Cooper, Alan O’Connor (C), John Donnan, Stephen Mulholland, Conor Joyce, Lorcan Dow.
Replacements (16-22): Jonny Murphy, Chris Cundell, Matthew Rea, Nick Timoney, Johnny Creighton, Andrew Magrath, Callum Patterson.
With the game delayed by 30 minutes to allow areas of the pitch to thaw out, it was Jersey Reds who made the brighter start when towering lock Uili Kolo'ofa'I picked up from the back of a lineout and stormed in to touch down in the left corner.
Ulster A responded well with some good possession before a sweeping move from right to left, plus delightful hands from Johnny McPhillips sent Mark Best over in the corner. McPhillips added the touchline conversion to put Ulster in front.
On 32 minutes Jersey gave a glimpse of what was to come when a penalty took them deep into Ulster territory, then they secured a lineout before forcing a maul over for flanker James Doyle to touch down.
With the half-time whistle approaching Ulster A winger Jacob Stockdale scored the try of the game, picking the ball up well inside his own half before showing a clean pair of heels to the Jersey rear-guard to dot down under the posts. McPhillips slotted the easy conversion to put Ulster A 10-14 ahead at the break.
Just three minutes after the restart Ulster added their third try. McPhillips took the Ulster men down into the corner, where lineout ball was taken on by Conor Joyce to smash over from close range. McPhillips added the extra two once again.
On 53 minutes Jersey got in for their third try, when some battering work by their forwards made space on left wing for Ross Adair to dot down, narrowing the scoreline to 15-21.
Nine minutes later Jersey secured their bonus point try when Doyle beenfited from another maul to get his second of the game.
In the final quarter it was Jersey who dictated proceedings, forcing a number of penalties from Ulster, in particular from the scum and lineouts. Replacement out-half Sam Katz secured the win for the home side, confidently despatching penalties in the 69th and 73rd minute. The win saw Jersey leapfrog Ulster and top Pool 1 in the final game.
However, with four wins from the six pool games, plus four bonus points along the way, Ulster A still booked a place in the knockout stages as one of the best runners-up.
The draw for the quarter-finals will take place on Monday 30th January, with Ulster A facing an away trip to one of the top four seeded teams.
Jersey Reds
Tries: Kolo'ofa'I, Doyle (2), Adair
Pens: Katz (2)
(15-9): Jack Cuthbert, George Watkins, Jordan Davies, Kuki Ma'afu, Ross Adair, Callum Sheedy, Kieran Hardy;
(1-8) Sean McCarthy, Jack Macfarlane, Simon Kerrod, Uili Kolo'ofa'I, Pierce Phillips (capt), James Freeman, James Doyle, Nick Haining;
Replacements (16-22): Joe Buckle, Jake Woolmore, Jake Armstrong, Dave McKern, Max Argyle; Joel Dudley, Sam Katz.
Ulster A
Tries: Best, Stockdale, Joyce
Cons: McPhillips (3)
(15-9): Jack Owens, David Busby, Rory Butler, Mark Best, Jacob Stockdale, Johnny McPhillips, Jonny Stewart;
(1-8): Eric O’Sullivan, Zack McCall, Peter Cooper, Alan O’Connor (C), John Donnan, Stephen Mulholland, Conor Joyce, Lorcan Dow.
Replacements (16-22): Jonny Murphy, Chris Cundell, Matthew Rea, Nick Timoney, Johnny Creighton, Andrew Magrath, Callum Patterson.