Munster A 30 Ulster Ravens 24

Ulster Ravens, (sponsored by CD Group), lost narrowly to Munster A by 30 points to 24 in a hard-fought match at Nenagh Ormond RFC.

The Ravens scored four tries in the game and came back from 27-17 down to be just three points behind entering the final 10 minutes, but despite huge Ulster pressure in the closing stages, Munster A held out to take the victory.

Perhaps the biggest positive from an Ulster perspective was that outhalf, Paddy Jackson, came through 40 minutes having recovered from the dislocated elbow that he sustained in January.

The home team took the lead after ten minutes, when outhalf Rory Scannell kicked the first penalty of the game after Ulster were judged to be offside. However, the Ravens were soon on the score-sheet themselves with a well-worked try.

Ulster won a lineout on the Munster A 5 metre line with 20 minutes on the clock. The ball was won cleanly and a powerful maul from the Ulster forwards resulted in Bronson Ross rumbling over from close range.

Munster A retook the lead 10 minutes later. The moved the ball through the hands and blindside flanker, Shane Buckley had the strength to drive through the Ulster defence to cross. Scannell added the extras for the home side.

The Ravens’ dominance up front was a feature of the game and another powerful maul resulted in a penalty try on the half hour mark. Jackson added the extras to make it Munster A 10 Ulster 12.

However, on 35 minutes Munster were awarded a penalty for an Ulster infringement at a ruck and Scannell kicked the penalty to leave it 13-12 at the interval.

Half Time Munster A 13 Ulster Ravens 12.

Ulster started the second half brightly and after a period of sustained pressure, the ball was passed to centre Mark Best who burst through a gap to score an excellent try.

Munster then scored two tries in quick succession as first Neil Cronin darted over and then Ben Kilkenny grounded after a Munster maul and it looked like the Ravens were out of contention with the score 27-17.

However, credit to the Ravens they fought their way back into the game. Again they used their maul from a line out and after repeated infringements, the referee awarded a second penalty try.

With Jackson off, Michael Heaney kicked the conversion and there was just three points in it.

In those final stages, the Ravens had all the possession but couldn’t convert it into a winning score. Munster turned the ball over and went down the other end and won a penalty.

Scannell who was excellent with the boot all afternoon kicked it and the Ravens who came close, ultimately left Nenagh disappointed.

Full Time: Munster A 30 Ulster 24