The Ulster A team has been named to face Ospreys A in Round 6 of the Celtic Cup on Friday evening (kick-off 5.00pm at Malone RFC).
With just two games remaining, four bonus point wins from the opening five games have given Kieran Campbell and Willie Anderson’s charges a great chance of securing one of the top two places that will determine the Celtic Cup finalists.
The Ulster A coaches have made five personnel changes to the starting XV that recorded a thrilling 31-43 away victory over Dragons last weekend. Five of those changes come in the pack with Adam McBurney, Peter Cooper, David O’Connor, Joe Dunleavy and Azur Allison all drafted in. The other change sees Angus Curtis named at inside centre.
McBurney and Cooper join Callum Reid in the front row, with O’Connor partnering Jack Regan in the engine room. Dunleavy and Allison make up the back row along with captain David McCann.
Behind the scrum, Nathan Doak and Bruce Houston continue at half back, with Curtis paired with Hayden Hyde in midfield. Angus’s brother, Graham Curtis, starts on the left wing, with last week’s hat-trick hero Ross Adair on the right and Ethan McIlroy at fullback.
Zack McCall, Tommy O’Hagan, Paul Mullen, Matthew Dalton and Marcus Rea offer the forward cover from the bench, with Lewis Finlay, Luke Pollock and Conor Rankin named as the backline reinforcements.
Ulster A team to play Ospreys A, Celtic Cup Round 6, Friday 27 September 2019 at Malone RFC (kick-off 5.00pm):
(15-9): Ethan McIlroy; Ross Adair, Hayden Hyde, Angus Curtis, Graham Curtis; Bruce Houston, Nathan Doak;
(1-8): Callum Reid, Adam McBurney, Peter Cooper, David O’Connor, Jack Regan, Joe Dunleavy, David McCann (Capt), Azur Allison.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Tommy O’Hagan, Paul Mullen, Matthew Dalton, Marcus Rea, Lewis Finlay, Luke Pollock, Conor Rankin.
Ulster A’s Celtic Cup 2019/20 Fixtures & Results:
Scarlets 32 Ulster A 35 – Saturday 24th August, 2.30pm at Llandovery RFC
Ulster A 32 Cardiff Blues 5 – Saturday 31st August, 7.30pm at Malone RFC
Ulster A 33 Connacht 13 – Friday 6th September, 4.00pm at Ballymena RFC
Leinster 55 Ulster A 24 – Saturday 14th September, 3.00pm at Energia Park, Donnybrook
Dragons 31 Ulster A 43 – Saturday 21st September, 2.30pm at Venue TBC
Ulster A v Ospreys – Friday 27th September, 5.00pm at Malone RFC
Ulster A v Munster – Friday 4th October, 5.00pm at Shaw’s Bridge
Celtic Cup Final – Saturday 12th October
Celtic Cup Standings:
| TEAM |
PL |
W |
D |
L |
PF |
PA |
DIFF |
TF |
TA |
TB |
LB |
PTS |
| LEINSTER A |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
253 |
109 |
144 |
39 |
17 |
5 |
0 |
25 |
| ULSTER A |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
167 |
136 |
31 |
23 |
19 |
5 |
0 |
21 |
| CONNACHT EAGLES |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
135 |
114 |
21 |
16 |
15 |
2 |
0 |
18 |
| SCARLETS A |
5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
155 |
154 |
1 |
21 |
22 |
3 |
2 |
13 |
| DRAGONS A |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
152 |
157 |
-5 |
23 |
21 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
| MUNSTER A |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
106 |
148 |
-42 |
14 |
22 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
| OSPREYS A |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
106 |
174 |
-68 |
15 |
25 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
| CARDIFF BLUES A |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
85 |
167 |
-82 |
13 |
23 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
