The Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools, the Ulster U18 Clubs and the Ulster U19's were all in action this weekend, with the sides having mixed fortunes against Munster opposition.
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 16-12 Munster U18 Schools
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team was up as the first game of a double header as Osborne Park on Saturday and they got the afternoon of to a great start when they defeated their Munster counterparts by 16-12 in an absorbing game.
Nathan Doak gave the Ulster team a 3-0 lead in the early stages of the game when he converted a penalty opportunity. Four minutes later the Munster team drew level when Cian Whooley converted a penalty kick of his own. Two Minutes later the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team regained the lead when Nathan Doak was successful with his second penalty of the game. The Ulster team had a lot of possession throughout the remainder of the half but the Munster defence was solid. The Ulster team did, however, extend their lead to 9-3 when Nathan Doak converted another penalty just before the interval.
Early Munster pressure after the restart was rewarded when Cian Whooley kicked his second penalty of the game to reduce the arrears to 9-6. Another Cian Whooley penalty saw the teams draw level with the scoreboard reading 9-9. Midway through the half a clever kick from Robbie Armstrong saw the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team take opposition just outside the Munster 22m area. From the Munster throw Ulster regained possession and finished some great hard yards work with a try from Kevin McNaboe. Nathan Doak added the conversion to see the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team into a 16-9 lead. Back came Munster and seven minutes from the end Cian Whooley was successful with his fourth penalty of the game to reduce the Munster deficit to 16-12. The Ulster team then went on the attack and denied Munster any real territory or possession in the final few minutes of the game. This ensured the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team had secured their deserved 16-12 victory at the no-side whistle.
The final game for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team will take place at Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin on Saturday 23rd September. A win or a draw in that game would be enough for the Ulster team to secure the IRFU Schools’ U18 Inter Pro title. All support would be welcome.
Ulster U19 21-22 Munster U19
The second game at Osborne Park saw the Ulster U19 team play their Munster counterparts in a game that Munster won by 22-21.
The Ulster team dominated the first half and took a 14-0 lead into the break through three penalties from Bruce Houston and an unconverted try from team captain, Claytan Milligan.
The second half saw the Ulster team lose two players to the ‘bin’ and the Munster team took advantage. Sean French ran in for a try, which was converted by Jake Flannery, to see his team reduce the arrears to 14-7. Then Jonathan Wrenn scored an unconverted try to further reduce the deficit to 14-12. A Conor Philips try, converted by Jake Flannery, then put Munster on the front foot with a 19-14 lead. This became 22-14 when Jake Flannery converted a penalty opportunity following an Ulster infringement. The Ulster team did mount something of a revival in the final few minutes of the game and got rewarded for their endeavours when Ben Savage was driven over the Munster line for a try. Bruce Houston converted the try but soon after the final whistle sounded and it was the Munster team that celebrated their hard earned 22-21 victory.
Munster U18 Clubs 32-7 Ulster U18 Clubs
The Ulster U18 Clubs side fell to a disappointing 32-7 loss away to Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday afternoon.
That old cliché game of two halves summed up this game on a warm afternoon in Limerick. Munster started the better of the two teams scoring all 32 of their points in the first half. Ulster clubs failed to capitalise on their possession in the Munster red zone, three times the ball was held up crossing the whitewash and a fourth ball knocked on at the last moment. Ulster were dominant in the second half with Nial Preston scoring under the posts.
The Ulster lads will have their final Inter-Pro game at home to Connacht next Saturday 23rd September, kick-off 2.30pm at City of Armagh RFC.
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 16-12 Munster U18 Schools
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team was up as the first game of a double header as Osborne Park on Saturday and they got the afternoon of to a great start when they defeated their Munster counterparts by 16-12 in an absorbing game.
Nathan Doak gave the Ulster team a 3-0 lead in the early stages of the game when he converted a penalty opportunity. Four minutes later the Munster team drew level when Cian Whooley converted a penalty kick of his own. Two Minutes later the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team regained the lead when Nathan Doak was successful with his second penalty of the game. The Ulster team had a lot of possession throughout the remainder of the half but the Munster defence was solid. The Ulster team did, however, extend their lead to 9-3 when Nathan Doak converted another penalty just before the interval.
Early Munster pressure after the restart was rewarded when Cian Whooley kicked his second penalty of the game to reduce the arrears to 9-6. Another Cian Whooley penalty saw the teams draw level with the scoreboard reading 9-9. Midway through the half a clever kick from Robbie Armstrong saw the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team take opposition just outside the Munster 22m area. From the Munster throw Ulster regained possession and finished some great hard yards work with a try from Kevin McNaboe. Nathan Doak added the conversion to see the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team into a 16-9 lead. Back came Munster and seven minutes from the end Cian Whooley was successful with his fourth penalty of the game to reduce the Munster deficit to 16-12. The Ulster team then went on the attack and denied Munster any real territory or possession in the final few minutes of the game. This ensured the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team had secured their deserved 16-12 victory at the no-side whistle.
The final game for the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team will take place at Donnybrook Stadium in Dublin on Saturday 23rd September. A win or a draw in that game would be enough for the Ulster team to secure the IRFU Schools’ U18 Inter Pro title. All support would be welcome.
Ulster U19 21-22 Munster U19
The second game at Osborne Park saw the Ulster U19 team play their Munster counterparts in a game that Munster won by 22-21.
The Ulster team dominated the first half and took a 14-0 lead into the break through three penalties from Bruce Houston and an unconverted try from team captain, Claytan Milligan.
The second half saw the Ulster team lose two players to the ‘bin’ and the Munster team took advantage. Sean French ran in for a try, which was converted by Jake Flannery, to see his team reduce the arrears to 14-7. Then Jonathan Wrenn scored an unconverted try to further reduce the deficit to 14-12. A Conor Philips try, converted by Jake Flannery, then put Munster on the front foot with a 19-14 lead. This became 22-14 when Jake Flannery converted a penalty opportunity following an Ulster infringement. The Ulster team did mount something of a revival in the final few minutes of the game and got rewarded for their endeavours when Ben Savage was driven over the Munster line for a try. Bruce Houston converted the try but soon after the final whistle sounded and it was the Munster team that celebrated their hard earned 22-21 victory.
Munster U18 Clubs 32-7 Ulster U18 Clubs
The Ulster U18 Clubs side fell to a disappointing 32-7 loss away to Munster at Thomond Park on Sunday afternoon.
That old cliché game of two halves summed up this game on a warm afternoon in Limerick. Munster started the better of the two teams scoring all 32 of their points in the first half. Ulster clubs failed to capitalise on their possession in the Munster red zone, three times the ball was held up crossing the whitewash and a fourth ball knocked on at the last moment. Ulster were dominant in the second half with Nial Preston scoring under the posts.
The Ulster lads will have their final Inter-Pro game at home to Connacht next Saturday 23rd September, kick-off 2.30pm at City of Armagh RFC.