Ulster A, sponsored by CD Group, scored 24 unanswered points to secure victory over Scarlets Premiership Select in the opening round of the British & Irish Cup at Banbridge RFC on Saturday afternoon.
The Ulster men started the game with some good early possession but it was the visitors who struck first with a well taken try by winger Tom Prydie on the break after 10 minutes. Two minutes later the Scarlets added another try, this time it was the impressive number 8 Jack Condy who benefitted from a lineout maul inside the Ulster 22.
Having skewed his two previous conversion attempts, Scarlets out-half Rhys Jones fired his side into a 0-13 lead on 20 minutes with a 30 metre penalty in front of the posts.
That score seemed to spark Ulster into life and just two minutes later, following smart offloads by forwards Joe Dunleavy and Ross Kane, Man of the Match Aaron Cairns rounded the last defender to touch down. Within four minutes Ulster crossed the whitewash again when Dunleavy bustled over from close range. Johnny McPhillips converted both tries to put Ulster into a lead that they would not relinquish.
Six minutes before the break McPhillips fired over a penalty from the 10m line to give his side a 17-13 lead at half-time.
There was very little in the way of scoring chances in the third quarter of the game, as Scarlets replacement Jack Maynard missed a penalty opportunity on 57 minutes.
On 62 minutes Ulster A full-back Jack Owens got the crucial score of the game, bursting through the Scarlets rearguard to touch down near the posts – the extra 2 from McPhillips making it 24-13.
As the clock ticked towards 80 minutes, Scarlets piled on the pressure in search of a losing bonus point and their endeavor was rewarded when lock Josh Helps got over in the right corner.
Next up for Ulster is an away trip to play the Cornish Pirates next Sunday 22nd October.
Ulster A Scorers:
Tries: Aaron Cairns, Joe Dunleavy, Jack Owens. Cons: Johnny McPhillips (3) Pens: Johnny McPhillips (1)
Scarlets Premiership Select:
Tries: Tom Prydie, Jack Condy, Josh Helps. Pens: Rhys Jones (1).
Ulster A Team:
(1-8): Andy Warwick, Adam McBurney, Ross Kane (Capt), Jack Regan, Peter Browne, Caleb Montgomery, Aaron Hall, Joe Dunleavy;
(9-15): Aaron Cairns, Johnny McPhillips, Angus Kernohan, Rory Butler, Callum Patterson, David Busby, Jack Owens.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Michael Cromie, Matthew Dalton, Greg Jones, Jonny Stewart, Brett Herron, Michael Lowry.
Scarlets Premiership Select Team:
(1-8): Rhys Fawcett, Evan Yardley, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Jack Jones, Stuart Worrall, Shaun Evans, Jack Condy;
(9-15): Declan Smith, Rhys Jones, Ryan Conbeer, Steff Hughes (Capt), Ioan Nicholas, Tom Prydie, Morgan Williams.
Replacements: Matthew Moore, Steff Thomas, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Dan Davis, Alex Schwarz, Jack Maynard, Billy McBryde.
Ulster A’s British & Irish Cup Pool Stage Games 2017/18
Round 1: Ulster A 24-18 Scarlets Premiership Select, Saturday 14th October at Banbridge RFC (2.30pm)
Round 2: Cornish Pirates v Ulster A, Sunday 22nd October at Mennaye Field, Penzance (2.30pm)
Round 3: Hartpury RFC v Ulster A, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College (2.30pm)
Round 4: Ulster A v Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC (2.30pm)
Round 5: Ulster A v Cornish Pirates, 12-14th January at Shaws Bridge (TBC)
Round 6: Scarlets Premiership Select v Ulster A, Saturday 20th January at Llandovery RFC (3.00pm)
The Ulster men started the game with some good early possession but it was the visitors who struck first with a well taken try by winger Tom Prydie on the break after 10 minutes. Two minutes later the Scarlets added another try, this time it was the impressive number 8 Jack Condy who benefitted from a lineout maul inside the Ulster 22.
Having skewed his two previous conversion attempts, Scarlets out-half Rhys Jones fired his side into a 0-13 lead on 20 minutes with a 30 metre penalty in front of the posts.
That score seemed to spark Ulster into life and just two minutes later, following smart offloads by forwards Joe Dunleavy and Ross Kane, Man of the Match Aaron Cairns rounded the last defender to touch down. Within four minutes Ulster crossed the whitewash again when Dunleavy bustled over from close range. Johnny McPhillips converted both tries to put Ulster into a lead that they would not relinquish.
Six minutes before the break McPhillips fired over a penalty from the 10m line to give his side a 17-13 lead at half-time.
There was very little in the way of scoring chances in the third quarter of the game, as Scarlets replacement Jack Maynard missed a penalty opportunity on 57 minutes.
On 62 minutes Ulster A full-back Jack Owens got the crucial score of the game, bursting through the Scarlets rearguard to touch down near the posts – the extra 2 from McPhillips making it 24-13.
As the clock ticked towards 80 minutes, Scarlets piled on the pressure in search of a losing bonus point and their endeavor was rewarded when lock Josh Helps got over in the right corner.
Next up for Ulster is an away trip to play the Cornish Pirates next Sunday 22nd October.
Ulster A Scorers:
Tries: Aaron Cairns, Joe Dunleavy, Jack Owens. Cons: Johnny McPhillips (3) Pens: Johnny McPhillips (1)
Scarlets Premiership Select:
Tries: Tom Prydie, Jack Condy, Josh Helps. Pens: Rhys Jones (1).
Ulster A Team:
(1-8): Andy Warwick, Adam McBurney, Ross Kane (Capt), Jack Regan, Peter Browne, Caleb Montgomery, Aaron Hall, Joe Dunleavy;
(9-15): Aaron Cairns, Johnny McPhillips, Angus Kernohan, Rory Butler, Callum Patterson, David Busby, Jack Owens.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Michael Cromie, Matthew Dalton, Greg Jones, Jonny Stewart, Brett Herron, Michael Lowry.
Scarlets Premiership Select Team:
(1-8): Rhys Fawcett, Evan Yardley, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Jack Jones, Stuart Worrall, Shaun Evans, Jack Condy;
(9-15): Declan Smith, Rhys Jones, Ryan Conbeer, Steff Hughes (Capt), Ioan Nicholas, Tom Prydie, Morgan Williams.
Replacements: Matthew Moore, Steff Thomas, Lewis Ellis-Jones, Dan Davis, Alex Schwarz, Jack Maynard, Billy McBryde.
Ulster A’s British & Irish Cup Pool Stage Games 2017/18
Round 1: Ulster A 24-18 Scarlets Premiership Select, Saturday 14th October at Banbridge RFC (2.30pm)
Round 2: Cornish Pirates v Ulster A, Sunday 22nd October at Mennaye Field, Penzance (2.30pm)
Round 3: Hartpury RFC v Ulster A, Saturday 9th December at Hartpury College (2.30pm)
Round 4: Ulster A v Hartpury RFC, Saturday 16th December at Ballymena RFC (2.30pm)
Round 5: Ulster A v Cornish Pirates, 12-14th January at Shaws Bridge (TBC)
Round 6: Scarlets Premiership Select v Ulster A, Saturday 20th January at Llandovery RFC (3.00pm)