Wednesday was a mixed day for representative sides at Queen's University as Ulster U19s defeated the Irish Exiles but Ulster Youth suffered a defeat to the same opposition.

ULSTER YOUTH 12 - 17 IRISH EXILES

Ulster Youth gave a great account of themselves before going down by 17-12 against the Irish Exiles in a game played at the excellent Queen’s University facilities at the Dub.

Both teams contributed greatly to an entertaining game which was enjoyed by the large crowd gathered to watch. One of the standout players for the Exiles team was Kieran Joyce, younger brother of Conor Joyce, a player in the Ulster Academy who starred with the Ireland U20 team in RWC Junior World Cup held back in June.

For the Ulster team Cory Logan, Jason Gribben and team captain, Josh Ferguson, all impressed with their performances with Cameron Cromie, TJ Morris and Jack Murphy also playing well.

The Exile’s Development Manager, former Ulster Rugby star, Mark Blair, one of the Heroes of ’99, and his fellow Management team members, will have been delighted to record this hard earned victory and would among the first to recognise the contribution the Ulster Club’s U18 team made to this exciting game.

The Ulster U18 Manager, Liam Eastwood, and his coaching staff of Chris Parker and Gareth Bronte, will be pleased that all their hard work with their talented group of players seems to be paying off. They should be approaching their forthcoming Inter Provincial series of games, to be held in October, with increasing confidence.

ULSTER U19s 37 - 5 IRISH EXILES

The second game of the day at the Queen’s playing fields featured the Ulster U19s playing the Exiles U19s in the third of the Exiles U19 Provincial games. The Ulster team started strongly and set the tone for their 37-5 victory with a try from James Gallagher after just four minutes of the game. Rory Campbell was successful with the conversion to give the Ulster team a 7-0 lead.

The Exiles responded in a very positive fashion and got due reward for their endeavours when their hard working flanker, Charlie Green, touched down for an unconverted try five minutes later to reduce the arrears to 7-5.

Both teams were keen to play with the ball in hand and both defences had to be well organised. Both midfields cancelled each other out until the twenty seventh minute when the Ulster full back, David McMaster, took advantage of hesitancy in the visitor’s defence to storm in for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Ulster U19 team now had a 12-5 lead.

On the stroke of half time this lead was increased to 15-5 when the Exiles were punished for an offence close to the Ulster 22m area and Rory Campbell successfully converted the resultant penalty.

From the restart the Ulster team was awarded another penalty close to the Exile’s line and, once again, Rory Campbell successfully converted the penalty to increase the Ulster lead to 18-5.

Four minutes later, Ross Todd touched down for a try following good work from the Ulster pack. Rory Campbell converted the try to put the Ulster team into a comfortable 25-5 lead.

Midway through the second half a strong Ulster U19 scrum paved the way for a charge down and Conor Shiels ran strongly to touch the ball down for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Ulster U19 team now had a 30-5 lead.

The Exiles team never gave up and showed good ability in their attempts to run the ball out of defence particularly through players such as Calum Sheedy, Piers O’Connor and George Brookes. However, the Ulster defence stood firm and managed to successfully defend their line in the course of the second half.

Almost on the stroke of the no side whistle, Michael Cartmill started a move which saw good interplay, featuring both Ulster forwards and backs, and finished with Michael blasting over the line for another Ulster try. Timmy Emerson successfully converted the try to leave the Ulster U19 team ending the game as 37-5 winners.

The next Ulster U19 game will see the team play the Italy U19 team at the Queen’s playing fields on Friday 30th August at 2.30pm.

Mixed day for underage representative sides v Irish Exiles

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