Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, took a significant step towards a spot in the British & Irish quarter-finals, thanks to a bonus point win over Cornish Pirates at Shaw's Bridge on Friday evening.
Going into the Round 5 clash, both Ulster A and the Pirates were sitting top of Pool 5 on 14 points, meaning the Ulster men’s win now puts them in pole position to top the group and book their place in the playoffs.
The Pirates started the game the brightest, with their forwards using their considerable bulk to force Ulster deep into their own territory. An infringement at the breakdown presented the Pirates with the opening scoring opportunity on 12 minutes and out-half Laurence May confidently dispatched the goal kick.
The home side played their way into the game and winger Rob Lyttle showed superb speed and footwork to beat the Pirates cover and dive over in the right corner on 22 minutes. Peter Nelson’s touchline conversion put Ulster 7-3 in front, and they would not relinquish that lead for the remainder of the game.
Ulster added to their tally immediately from the restart as Jack Owens, then Aaron Cairns both made breaks, before the ball was recycled for hooker John Andrew to run in an easy finish.
Four minutes before the break May landed another penalty to reduce the deficit to 12-6 at half-time.
Once again, it was the Pirates who came out of the blocks faster in the second half, and winger Alex O’Meara neatly collected his own grubber kick to touch down just 3 minutes after the restart, to leave the minimum between the sides.
However, Ulster responded immediately, as replacement hooker Zack McCall charged down an attempted box kick, before gathering and finishing off.
The Pirates pack then turned the screw once again, piling on sustained pressure inside the Ulster 22, which saw several offensive scrums on the 5m line. However, the young Ulster forward unit defended their try line manfully, restricting the Pirates to just another 3 pointer.
5 minutes from time Lyttle got the crucial score of the game. From a lineout on the Pirates 22, Ulster switched play from left to right, with Lyttle darting in for his second, and his sides fourth, try.
In the remaining time, as the visitors once again ploughed forward in search of a score to secure a losing bonus point, the Ulster rearguard once again remained resolute, standing firm and denying the Pirates any reward from the game.
Speaking after the game, Ulster coach Kieran Campbell heaped the praise on his young team:
“For a group of young men to perform like that tonight was exceptional. You’ve got guys there who are literally just out of school, and the resilience and resolve they showed, was something they should be proud of personally, and in terms of our Academy, we’re really proud of. Particularly at the end of the game, it would’ve been easy for them to give up a bonus point that would be very important for Pirates in terms of their qualification hopes. They’ve worked exceptionally hard over the past couple of weeks, knowing it was a must win game, so to deal with that pressure tonight is very impressive.”
Next up for the Ulster A team is an away trip to Scarlets Premiership Select in the final pool stage game next Saturday, in the knowledge that a point would be enough to top the pool.
SCORERS
Ulster A Scorers:
Tries: Rob Lyttle (2), John Andrew, Zack McCall
Cons: Peter Nelson
Pens: Rob Lyttle
Cornish Pirates Scorers:
Tries: Alex O’Meara
Pens: Laurence May (3)
TEAMS
Ulster A Team:
(1-8): Tommy O’Hagan, John Andrew (Capt), Tom O'Toole, Peter Browne, Clive Ross, Caleb Montgomery, Matthew Agnew, Marcus Rea;
(9-15): Jonny Stewart, Peter Nelson, Aaron Cairns, Rory Butler, Callum Patterson, Rob Lyttle, Jack Owens.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, John McCusker, Azur Allison, Michael Stronge, Chris Swash, Angus Kernohan.
Cornish Pirates Team:
(1-8): Marlen Walker, Sam Matavesi, Jack Andrew, Toby Freeman, Brett Beukeboom, Josh Caulfield, Tom Lawday, Tom Duncan (Capt);
(9-15): Alex Day, Laurence May, Dan Koster, Harry Strong, Pete Laverick, Alex O'Meara, Kyle Moyle.
Replacements: Christian Judge, Billy Keast, Chris Morgan, Rupert Cooper, Mike Pope, Will Cargill, Nicolas Coronel.
British & Irish Cup Pool Stage Fixtures:
Round 1: Ulster A 24-18 Scarlets Premiership Select, Saturday 14th October at Banbridge RFC (2.30pm)
Round 2: Cornish Pirates 23-14 Ulster A, Sunday 22nd October at Mennaye Field, Penzance (2.30pm)
Round 3: Hartpury RFC 24-29 Ulster A, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College (2.30pm)
Round 4: Ulster A 27-19 Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC (2.30pm)
Round 5: Ulster A 25-14 Cornish Pirates, Friday 12th January at Shaw’s Bridge (5.00pm)
Round 6: Scarlets Premiership Select v Ulster A, Saturday 20th January at Llandovery RFC (3.00pm)
British & Irish Cup Pool 5
Going into the Round 5 clash, both Ulster A and the Pirates were sitting top of Pool 5 on 14 points, meaning the Ulster men’s win now puts them in pole position to top the group and book their place in the playoffs.
The Pirates started the game the brightest, with their forwards using their considerable bulk to force Ulster deep into their own territory. An infringement at the breakdown presented the Pirates with the opening scoring opportunity on 12 minutes and out-half Laurence May confidently dispatched the goal kick.
The home side played their way into the game and winger Rob Lyttle showed superb speed and footwork to beat the Pirates cover and dive over in the right corner on 22 minutes. Peter Nelson’s touchline conversion put Ulster 7-3 in front, and they would not relinquish that lead for the remainder of the game.
22' TRY Ulster A! Winger @Rob_Lyttle beats the cover to dive over in right corner and @PeterNelson_15 adds this conversion... (7-3) pic.twitter.com/6CmHuLYTcF
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) January 12, 2018
Ulster added to their tally immediately from the restart as Jack Owens, then Aaron Cairns both made breaks, before the ball was recycled for hooker John Andrew to run in an easy finish.
Four minutes before the break May landed another penalty to reduce the deficit to 12-6 at half-time.
Once again, it was the Pirates who came out of the blocks faster in the second half, and winger Alex O’Meara neatly collected his own grubber kick to touch down just 3 minutes after the restart, to leave the minimum between the sides.
However, Ulster responded immediately, as replacement hooker Zack McCall charged down an attempted box kick, before gathering and finishing off.
The Pirates pack then turned the screw once again, piling on sustained pressure inside the Ulster 22, which saw several offensive scrums on the 5m line. However, the young Ulster forward unit defended their try line manfully, restricting the Pirates to just another 3 pointer.
5 minutes from time Lyttle got the crucial score of the game. From a lineout on the Pirates 22, Ulster switched play from left to right, with Lyttle darting in for his second, and his sides fourth, try.
In the remaining time, as the visitors once again ploughed forward in search of a score to secure a losing bonus point, the Ulster rearguard once again remained resolute, standing firm and denying the Pirates any reward from the game.
Speaking after the game, Ulster coach Kieran Campbell heaped the praise on his young team:
“For a group of young men to perform like that tonight was exceptional. You’ve got guys there who are literally just out of school, and the resilience and resolve they showed, was something they should be proud of personally, and in terms of our Academy, we’re really proud of. Particularly at the end of the game, it would’ve been easy for them to give up a bonus point that would be very important for Pirates in terms of their qualification hopes. They’ve worked exceptionally hard over the past couple of weeks, knowing it was a must win game, so to deal with that pressure tonight is very impressive.”
Next up for the Ulster A team is an away trip to Scarlets Premiership Select in the final pool stage game next Saturday, in the knowledge that a point would be enough to top the pool.
Congratulations to Tom O'Toole @CD_Group Man Of The Match for @ulsterrugby A vs @CornishPirates1 at Shaw's Bridge #SUFTUM pic.twitter.com/J7jhnkrrZd
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) January 12, 2018
SCORERS
Ulster A Scorers:
Tries: Rob Lyttle (2), John Andrew, Zack McCall
Cons: Peter Nelson
Pens: Rob Lyttle
Cornish Pirates Scorers:
Tries: Alex O’Meara
Pens: Laurence May (3)
TEAMS
Ulster A Team:
(1-8): Tommy O’Hagan, John Andrew (Capt), Tom O'Toole, Peter Browne, Clive Ross, Caleb Montgomery, Matthew Agnew, Marcus Rea;
(9-15): Jonny Stewart, Peter Nelson, Aaron Cairns, Rory Butler, Callum Patterson, Rob Lyttle, Jack Owens.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Eric O’Sullivan, John McCusker, Azur Allison, Michael Stronge, Chris Swash, Angus Kernohan.
Cornish Pirates Team:
(1-8): Marlen Walker, Sam Matavesi, Jack Andrew, Toby Freeman, Brett Beukeboom, Josh Caulfield, Tom Lawday, Tom Duncan (Capt);
(9-15): Alex Day, Laurence May, Dan Koster, Harry Strong, Pete Laverick, Alex O'Meara, Kyle Moyle.
Replacements: Christian Judge, Billy Keast, Chris Morgan, Rupert Cooper, Mike Pope, Will Cargill, Nicolas Coronel.
British & Irish Cup Pool Stage Fixtures:
Round 1: Ulster A 24-18 Scarlets Premiership Select, Saturday 14th October at Banbridge RFC (2.30pm)
Round 2: Cornish Pirates 23-14 Ulster A, Sunday 22nd October at Mennaye Field, Penzance (2.30pm)
Round 3: Hartpury RFC 24-29 Ulster A, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College (2.30pm)
Round 4: Ulster A 27-19 Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC (2.30pm)
Round 5: Ulster A 25-14 Cornish Pirates, Friday 12th January at Shaw’s Bridge (5.00pm)
Round 6: Scarlets Premiership Select v Ulster A, Saturday 20th January at Llandovery RFC (3.00pm)
British & Irish Cup Pool 5
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Bonus Pts | Points | |
| Ulster A | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 19 |
| Cornish Pirates | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| Scarlets PS | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| Hartpury RFC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 |