School

Match Report | Ulster U18 Schools 27-19 Munster U18 Schools

24th August 2024

Ulster had a dominant first half of the contest, scoring tries through a Conor McVicker double and another from Russell Alo Veikune. Munster fought back well in the second half with the wind behind them and scored two tries that narrowed the score in a tight contest.

The opening exchanges of the match saw Ulster attack the Munster backline, showing good hands as they tried to prise their way through. An early tap and go penalty was thrwarted as Ulster got close to getting their first score while in the Munster 22.

After seeing off the early Ulster pressure well, Munster began to make inroads into the Ulster territory, after as series of penalties gave the away side a chance to hurt Ulster with a 5m lineout.

There were some superb defensive interventions from both Noah Bell and Sam Warwick, with the forwards putting in big efforts to halt Munster in that period of pressure.

Ulster cleared their lines and then landed the first blow. Ulster managed to turn over Munster's possession and build into the away side's 22. The lively scrum-half, Conor McVicker, showed quick thinking, as he picked the ball up from a ruck and slipped in a gap in the Munster defence for the opening try. His conversion from a central postion was slotted home for a 7-0 lead.

McVicker would notch his second successful kick minutes later, opting to kick a penalty in the Munster half after lock, Adam Boyd, made a great turnover.

The Cork boys then put the pressure on Ulster and after phases from an attacking lineout in Ulster's 22 scord their first try after prop, Fionn O’Sullivan, picked and went from close range. James Butler converted the try to make the scoreline 10-7.

The next score of the match was extremely well-worked from Ulster, who had broken the Munster line and attacked with great hands. The ball was worked wide right and winger, Russell Alo Veikune, was found on his right wing, doing well to spin around his defender and finish well in the corner. McVicker did very well to bring his kick in from a difficult angle out of the right to make it 17-7.

With the extra bit of breathing room, Ulster notched another before the break. Full-back, Reuben Allen, made fantastic run to make up metres in Munster's 22 and Conor McVicker again managed to dart through space for his second try of the half. He nailed his conversion once more to extend the lead and send Ulster into HT with a healthy 24-7 lead.

The second half started with Ulster facing an increasingly strong wind that the Munster team looked to punish the home side with. An early Charlie Hargy carry into the Munster half got the home fans excited, with the Ballymena man making good metres into the Munster half.

Ulster went close to an opening score of the second half, however the Cork boys were able to make an important turnover and relieve the onslaught.

Minutes later, Munster would grab their second try through their scrum-half, Aaron Moloney, who dipped the shoulder and sped over the line. Alan Cleary's kick snuck inside the right post to make the score 24-14.

Ulster would rue a switch of concentration for Munster's third try, after a loose pass in the midfield gave the away side the chance to punt the ball downfield into dangerous territory. As Ulster scrambled to gather up the ball, the kick from McVicker was charged down by Aaron Moloney, who dived over the Ulster tryline after his charge down. Cleary's kick from wide left was missed, and the game was on a knife edge at five points of a difference.

Ulster pressed for another try of their own to try and close out the contest, going close to the Munster line from an attacking lineout, with McVicker and Noble both halted inches away from a try.

With Munster sensing the home side's frustrations of not executing in the second half, they tried to venture into the Ulster half.

A superb turnover from Charlie Hargy felt like a vital moment in the closing stages of the contest.

With seconds left on the clock, Ulster forced a late penalty and that gave Conor McVicker a kick at the death to add another three points to end the contest.

A strong first half performance was enough for Ulster to see out the win, in a difficult battle. Jonny Graham's side will now go to Leinster next week with the chance to seal an interpro series victory, after they made it three wins on the bounce this weekend.

FT: Ulster 27-19 Munster

Scorers

Ulster:

TRY: McVicker x2, Veikune

CON: McVicker x3

PEN: McVicker x2

Munster:

TRY: O’Sullivan, Moloney x2

CON: Butler, Cleary

Teams

Ulster

(1-8) James Gould (Wallace HS), Nathan Noble (Sullivan Upper), Angus Graham (Dalriada), Adam Boyd (RBAI), Noah Bell (Banbridge Academy), Ben Moore (Wallace HS), Sam Warwick (Wallace HS), Charlie Hargy (Ballymena Academy)

(15-9) Reuben Allen (Ballymena Academy), Russell Alo Veikune (CCB), Charlie O'Connor (RBAI), Tom Bell (Regent HS), Matthew Callaghan (Regent HS), Owen O'Kane (Rainey Endowed), Connor McVicker (BRA)

Replacements: Matthew Scott (MCB), Daniel Macklin-Copeland (Wallace HS), Ollie Fitzsimmons (Wallace HS), Jack Law (Sullivan Upper), Cian McClean (RBAI), Alex Stevenson (Wallace HS), Connor Patton (RBAI), Callum Largey (MCB), Zach Surphlis (RBAI)

Munster

15\. Fionn Rowsome (Crescent College Comprehensive)

14\. Daniel O’Connell (Ardscoil Rís)

13\. Robbie O’Donnell (Castletroy College)

12\. Ryan McCormack (Ardscoil Rís)

11\. Michael Kennedy (Bandon Grammar School)

10\. James Butler (Ardscoil Rís)

9\. Aaron Moloney (Roscrea Cistercian College)

1\. Kalum Kirwan (St Munchins College)

2\. Zach Piper (Bandon Grammar School)

3\. Fionn O’Sullivan (PBC)

4\. Cathal Bruhn (PBC)