CONNACHT U19s (9) ULSTER U19s (13)
Ulster U19 maintained their undefeated status in the course of the season thus far when they travelled to Galway on Saturday and defeated Connacht U19 9-13.
This was a close fought encounter which saw the half time score reading 6-6, with Ulster's Rory Campbell and Connacht player Niall Tobin landing two penalties apiece.
The second half saw the Ulster pack take control of the set piece and breakdown with the backrow trio of Daniel Dass, Dave Cave and ...
CONNACHT U19s (9) ULSTER U19s (13) Ulster U19 maintained their undefeated status in the course of the season thus far when they travelled to Galway on Saturday and defeated Connacht U19 9-13. This was a close fought encounter which saw the half time score reading 6-6, with Ulster's Rory Campbell and Connacht player Niall Tobin landing two penalties apiece. The second half saw the Ulster pack take control of the set piece and breakdown with the backrow trio of Daniel Dass, Dave Cave and Ross Todd getting through a lot of work. Good work from the pack provided the quality possession the Ulster back division needed. However, it was a Connacht attack that led to the only try of the game when, following a flowing backline move, Campbell intercepted a loose pass to run the length of the pitch and put the visitors ahead. The same player converted the try to take the Ulster lead to 6-13. Connacht responded with a third Tobin penalty but it was a case of 'too little, too late' for the men from the West. The Ulster team celebrated their hard earned 9-13 victory at the final whistle and will now concentrate on their final inter-provincial game of the season which will see them travel to play Leinster at Donnybrook on Saturday 21st September (2.30pm).
CONNACHT U20s (27) ULSTER U20s (25) The U20s started the weekend of age grade rugby activities off with a narrow 27-25 loss against Connacht on Friday afternoon, also at the Sportsground. The young Ulster team started the game in a very positive manner with Paddy Colhoun scorching in for an unconverted try early in the game to give them a 0-5 lead. The hosts responded to this early set back with a try and conversion from Sean O'Hagan after twelve minutes. Midway through the first half Jacob Knight was on the end of a flowing Ulster move to touch down for a try, converted by Mark Best for a 7-12 lead. Good work from the Connacht flanker, Rory Moloney, paved the way for a Connacht penalty which O'Hagan converted to reduce the arrears to 10-12 but just before the interval Best converted a penalty to leave the scoreline reading 10-15 in favour of Ulster at the interval. Ten minutes into the second half O'Hagan was successful with a second penalty but Ulster still held a 13-15 advantage. The home team, despite having a player sent to the sin bin, then took control of the game and scored two quick tries through Jacob Walsh and O'Hagan. Once again, O'Hagan was successful with his conversion kicks to put the home team into a 27-15 lead. The Ulster team made a determined effort to rescue the result in the final few minutes of the game. Josh Bingham kicked a penalty to take the score to 27-18 and a David Busby try converted by Best left the final score reading 27-25 in favour of Connacht. The Ulster U20 team will regroup during the week before travelling to play Leinster U20's at Donnybrook in Dublin on Friday 20th September.
DANSKE BANK ULSTER SCHOOLS (14) LEINSTER SCHOOLS (30) The Danske Bank Ulster Schools team met Leinster in the second series of games in the Schools inter-provincial competition at Belfast Harlequin's RFC. The Ulster team was in a confident mood in the lead up to the game having recorded a win against Connacht in their first game, however Leinster provided much more difficult opposition and the Ulster boys found themselves 20-0 down at the interval. The Leinster team scored three first half tries through Con Callan, Jimmy O'Brien and Charlie Cregan. Vice-Captain, Matthew Gilsenan, converted one of the tries and kicked a penalty to give the Leinster their 20 point tally at the break. The second half saw something of an Ulster revival when they scored two tries through Mark Adair and Andrew McGrath, both of which were converted by Robert Lyttle. But Leinster scored a try through replacement player, Max Deegan. Gilsenan converted the try and another replacement player, Tommy Whittle, converted a penalty opportunity to leave the Leinster team as convincing 30-14 winners. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools team will now travel to Cork where they will play Munster Schools at Musgrave Park on Saturday 21st September. This game is scheduled to kick off at 1.00pm.
CONNACHT U19s (9) ULSTER U19s (13) Ulster U19 maintained their undefeated status in the course of the season thus far when they travelled to Galway on Saturday and defeated Connacht U19 9-13. This was a close fought encounter which saw the half time score reading 6-6, with Ulster's Rory Campbell and Connacht player Niall Tobin landing two penalties apiece. The second half saw the Ulster pack take control of the set piece and breakdown with the backrow trio of Daniel Dass, Dave Cave and Ross Todd getting through a lot of work. Good work from the pack provided the quality possession the Ulster back division needed. However, it was a Connacht attack that led to the only try of the game when, following a flowing backline move, Campbell intercepted a loose pass to run the length of the pitch and put the visitors ahead. The same player converted the try to take the Ulster lead to 6-13. Connacht responded with a third Tobin penalty but it was a case of 'too little, too late' for the men from the West. The Ulster team celebrated their hard earned 9-13 victory at the final whistle and will now concentrate on their final inter-provincial game of the season which will see them travel to play Leinster at Donnybrook on Saturday 21st September (2.30pm).
CONNACHT U20s (27) ULSTER U20s (25) The U20s started the weekend of age grade rugby activities off with a narrow 27-25 loss against Connacht on Friday afternoon, also at the Sportsground. The young Ulster team started the game in a very positive manner with Paddy Colhoun scorching in for an unconverted try early in the game to give them a 0-5 lead. The hosts responded to this early set back with a try and conversion from Sean O'Hagan after twelve minutes. Midway through the first half Jacob Knight was on the end of a flowing Ulster move to touch down for a try, converted by Mark Best for a 7-12 lead. Good work from the Connacht flanker, Rory Moloney, paved the way for a Connacht penalty which O'Hagan converted to reduce the arrears to 10-12 but just before the interval Best converted a penalty to leave the scoreline reading 10-15 in favour of Ulster at the interval. Ten minutes into the second half O'Hagan was successful with a second penalty but Ulster still held a 13-15 advantage. The home team, despite having a player sent to the sin bin, then took control of the game and scored two quick tries through Jacob Walsh and O'Hagan. Once again, O'Hagan was successful with his conversion kicks to put the home team into a 27-15 lead. The Ulster team made a determined effort to rescue the result in the final few minutes of the game. Josh Bingham kicked a penalty to take the score to 27-18 and a David Busby try converted by Best left the final score reading 27-25 in favour of Connacht. The Ulster U20 team will regroup during the week before travelling to play Leinster U20's at Donnybrook in Dublin on Friday 20th September.
DANSKE BANK ULSTER SCHOOLS (14) LEINSTER SCHOOLS (30) The Danske Bank Ulster Schools team met Leinster in the second series of games in the Schools inter-provincial competition at Belfast Harlequin's RFC. The Ulster team was in a confident mood in the lead up to the game having recorded a win against Connacht in their first game, however Leinster provided much more difficult opposition and the Ulster boys found themselves 20-0 down at the interval. The Leinster team scored three first half tries through Con Callan, Jimmy O'Brien and Charlie Cregan. Vice-Captain, Matthew Gilsenan, converted one of the tries and kicked a penalty to give the Leinster their 20 point tally at the break. The second half saw something of an Ulster revival when they scored two tries through Mark Adair and Andrew McGrath, both of which were converted by Robert Lyttle. But Leinster scored a try through replacement player, Max Deegan. Gilsenan converted the try and another replacement player, Tommy Whittle, converted a penalty opportunity to leave the Leinster team as convincing 30-14 winners. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools team will now travel to Cork where they will play Munster Schools at Musgrave Park on Saturday 21st September. This game is scheduled to kick off at 1.00pm.