Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, slumped to a disappointing defeat in their opening run-out of the season, going down by five tries to three to Connacht Eagles at Deramore Park, Belfast.
Aly Muldowney and Ed O’Keefe bagged two tries each for Connacht, with Cormac Brennan also crossing the whitewash. Nick Williams, replacement prop Ruaidhri Murphy and Ulster’s Man of the Match Rory Scholes scored for the hosts.
Connacht got the opening try of the game after just seven minutes as Muldowney intercepted a pass from Ulster outhalf, Johnny McPhillips and ran unopposed to the line. Conor McKeon added the extras before extending his team’s lead on 21 minutes when he hit a well-struck penalty.
Ulster’s first points came with nine minutes remaining in the half. Williams, who brought his trademark physicality to the game, collected a pass on a short line, handed-off ex-Ulster scrumhalf Ian Porter and smashed his way over. McPhillips was just wide with the conversion, leaving the scoreboard reading 5-10 at half time.
The visitors started the started the second half the way they began the first - with a try. They shipped the ball out through the backline and Steve McVeigh powered over in the corner.
Ulster hit back almost immediately. Robbie Diack showed pace and power to make an initial break. He was tackled just short of the line, but the ball was recycled quickly and Murphy was on hand to capitalise on his team mate’s good work. McPhillips was successful with the conversion and it looked like an Ulster A fightback was on the cards.
However, it wasn’t to be, as Connacht Eagles had the better of the final quarter, running in three tries in quick succession.
Cormac Brennan scored in the right corner in the 65th minute before replacement O’Keefe got in on the left five minutes later. O’Keefe got another just two minutes later, before Scholes rounded off the scoring with a consolation try for Ulster A right on the final whistle.
Head Coach, Alex Codling, will be looking for much more from his side when they take on Bristol in the opening round of the British and Irish Cup in three weeks.
CD Group Financial Director John Cordner presents Rory Scholes with the Ulster A Man of the Match award
Aly Muldowney and Ed O’Keefe bagged two tries each for Connacht, with Cormac Brennan also crossing the whitewash. Nick Williams, replacement prop Ruaidhri Murphy and Ulster’s Man of the Match Rory Scholes scored for the hosts.
Connacht got the opening try of the game after just seven minutes as Muldowney intercepted a pass from Ulster outhalf, Johnny McPhillips and ran unopposed to the line. Conor McKeon added the extras before extending his team’s lead on 21 minutes when he hit a well-struck penalty.
Ulster’s first points came with nine minutes remaining in the half. Williams, who brought his trademark physicality to the game, collected a pass on a short line, handed-off ex-Ulster scrumhalf Ian Porter and smashed his way over. McPhillips was just wide with the conversion, leaving the scoreboard reading 5-10 at half time.
The visitors started the started the second half the way they began the first - with a try. They shipped the ball out through the backline and Steve McVeigh powered over in the corner.
Ulster hit back almost immediately. Robbie Diack showed pace and power to make an initial break. He was tackled just short of the line, but the ball was recycled quickly and Murphy was on hand to capitalise on his team mate’s good work. McPhillips was successful with the conversion and it looked like an Ulster A fightback was on the cards.
However, it wasn’t to be, as Connacht Eagles had the better of the final quarter, running in three tries in quick succession.
Cormac Brennan scored in the right corner in the 65th minute before replacement O’Keefe got in on the left five minutes later. O’Keefe got another just two minutes later, before Scholes rounded off the scoring with a consolation try for Ulster A right on the final whistle.
Head Coach, Alex Codling, will be looking for much more from his side when they take on Bristol in the opening round of the British and Irish Cup in three weeks.
CD Group Financial Director John Cordner presents Rory Scholes with the Ulster A Man of the Match award