The young Ulster squad displayed moments of individual brilliance and collective resolve, particularly in a first half that saw them seize control and build a commanding lead.
The game started with Saracens on the front foot, with their number 15, Morrow, instigating a dangerous kick chase that forced Ulster into a defensive posture. The Ulster defence, however, was up to the task, with a crucial turnover on the 5-metre line halting an early Saracens advance.
Ulster's pack began to assert their dominance. Lock Paddy Woods showcased a fantastic take from a scrum and a powerful weave through the maul to gain significant ground, setting the tone for the forwards. This was followed by a solid lineout take from flanker Noah Bell, demonstrating the team's set-piece strength.
Despite a strong clearance kick from skipper Owen O’Kane, Saracens found an opening. A swift attack saw Finch break away to score under the posts, with Morrow adding the conversion to make it 0-7 in the 7th minute.
Ulster’s resilience was tested further when number 8, Sam Warwick, was forced off with an injury, replaced by Jayden Irwin. However, this only seemed to spur the team on. The Ulster front row, led by the outstanding Nathan Noble and Matthew Wright, began to make heavy hits and strong carries, with Noble in particular excelling in attack. Their relentless pressure resulted in the Ulstermen having an attempt to even the score in the 14th minute, but the ball was held up.
The hard work eventually paid off in the 26th minute. Following a great break and a great run from James Kerr to get Ulster deep into the Saracens 22, a series of well-executed phases and a pinpoint cross-field kick from Owen O'Kane set up Winger Matthew Callaghan to dot down. O’Kane calmly slotted the conversion to level the scores at 7-7.
With momentum firmly on their side, Ulster’s pressure earned a penalty, and Owen O’Kane stepped up to show his accuracy, slotting the ball between the posts to give Ulster a deserved 10-7 lead in the 30th minute. Just moments later, Patton once again showed his flair with a fantastic tackle to regain possession for his team. The half was capped off in spectacular fashion when Nathan Noble took an amazing lineout ball and burst through to score. O’Kane added the extras, sending Ulster into the break with a comfortable 17-7 lead.
HT: Ulster 17 - 7 Saracens
Saracens came out firing in the second half, quickly scoring a converted try through Mason to narrow the gap to 17-14 in the 37th minute. Ulster's defence held firm once again, with a good clearance kick from O'Kane temporarily halting another attack. However, Saracens found their rhythm, and prop Gillett eventually scored in the 42nd minute, with Morrow’s conversion putting them ahead for the first time in the half, 17-21.
The game became a thrilling back-and-forth affair, with both teams pushing the ball up and down the pitch in a display of significant strength. The Ulster side, showing immense character, worked their way back into the Saracens’ 22. After a series of well-executed phases, centre Jake Irwin crossed the gain line to score, and with another successful conversion from O’Kane, Ulster regained the lead at 24-21 with less than 15 minutes to go.
Despite strong defensive work from James Wells and another well-defended attack, Saracens found another gear in the closing stages. A late surge saw them score a try, which Morrow converted to make it 24-28. With time running out, they added one more converted try through Dehauteur, sealing the final score at 24-35.
While the result was not what the team had hoped for, the Ulster XV showed incredible spirit and fight throughout the match. The first-half performance, in particular, highlighted the potential of this young side and gave them plenty of positives to build on.
Teams
Ulster
15 James McMillan, 14 Ryan McDowell, 13 Jake Irwin, 12 Connor Patton, 11 Matthew Callaghan, 10 Owen O’Kane ©, 9 Sam Harper, 8 Sam Warwick, 7 Cian McClean, 6 Noah Bell, 5 Archie Graham, 4 Paddy Woods, 3 Matthew Wright, 2 Nathan Noble, 1 Lewis Robinson
Replacements
16 Charlie Hargy, 17 Alex Stinson, 18 Daniel Macklin Copeland, 19 Jayden Irwin, 20 Harry Dougan, 21 James Wells, 22 Andrew Jackson, 23 Nathan Hamilton, 24 James Murray, 25 James Kerr
Saracens
15 Morrow, 14 Kava, 13 Mason, 12 Jones, 11 Finch, 10 Keylock, 9 Heard, 8 Branch-Holland, 7 Marshall, 6 Dehauteur, 5 Barker, 4 Murphy, 3 Dargan, 2 Kingsford, 1 Gillett
Replacements
Elone, Roberts, Moss, Keaveney