It was a case of the proverbial 'game of two halves' as the Ulster Academy team lost to Munster in Thomond Park on Friday evening.
Munster Academy 21 Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy 18
Ulster dominated the first half and led through tries by Aaron Cairns and Adam McBurney with Johnny McPhillips adding two penalties and a conversion. Despite losing two players before the game (since selection on Wednesday), Ulster started much the better. Their set piece was dominant and there was great intensity in defence, with Munster making little headway when they had the ball, largely due to the aggressive, committed tackling of the visitors. In attack, Ulster made good ground and varied the point of attack well. Importantly Ulster controlled the ball, regularly putting the ball in behind Munster to get good field position. The rolling maul operated effectively off the Lineout, leading to McBurney’s score shortly before half time.
The second half was a different story. Straight from the kick-off Munster upped their intensity, but also varied the point of attack. Ulster were not helped by further injuries, losing 4 players in the third quarter, including both props. Munster took full advantage, scoring out wide through their right wing after a number of strong ball carries by their forwards. As the game entered its final quarter, with the score at 18-7, Ulster were reduced to 14 men when McPhillips was yellow carded for not rolling away at the breakdown. The numerical advantage spurred Munster on and they continued to test Ulster’s resolve with a pattern of strong ball carries by their forwards, following which they would spin the ball wide. This pattern led to two further scores by their full back finding space out wide. In the last 8 minutes Ulster threw everything at Munster, but the enforced changes disrupted the cohesiveness of Ulster’s attack and Munster's defence held firm to record a narrow victory. Unusually all 39 points were scored at one end, but without a strong wind to explain this scoring pattern, Ulster were left wondering what has caused an 18-0 half time lead to slip away.
Ulster Scorers:
Tries: Aaron Cairns
Pens: Johnny McPhillips (2)
Conversions: Johnny McPhillips (1)
Yellow card: Johnny McPhillips (62 mins)
1- Michael Lagan (c)
2- Adam McBurney
3- Peter Cooper
4- Alex Thompson
5- john Donnan
6- Nick Timoney
7- Lorcan Dow
8- Marcus Rea
9- Aaron Cairns
10- Johnny McPhillips
11- Ollie Brown
12- Callum Smith
13- Conor Kelly
14- Conor Field
15- Andy Magrath
16- Zac McCall (64mins for Adam McBurney)
17- Tom O'Hagan (50mins for M.Lagan)
18- Craig Trenier (48mins for Peter Cooper)
19- Connor Smyth (62 mins for John Donnan)
20- Zac Jordan
21- Jonny Stewart (67mins for Conor Field)
22- Tom Stapley
23- Lewis Simpson
24- Mattie Rea (40mins for N.Timoney)
---
WEEKEND AGE-GRADE RESULTS:
Munster U19 13 Ulster U19 15
Connacht U18 Clubs 17 Ulster U18 Clubs 10
Munster U18 Schools 19 Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 13
Munster Academy 21 Hughes Insurance Ulster Academy 18
Ulster dominated the first half and led through tries by Aaron Cairns and Adam McBurney with Johnny McPhillips adding two penalties and a conversion. Despite losing two players before the game (since selection on Wednesday), Ulster started much the better. Their set piece was dominant and there was great intensity in defence, with Munster making little headway when they had the ball, largely due to the aggressive, committed tackling of the visitors. In attack, Ulster made good ground and varied the point of attack well. Importantly Ulster controlled the ball, regularly putting the ball in behind Munster to get good field position. The rolling maul operated effectively off the Lineout, leading to McBurney’s score shortly before half time.
The second half was a different story. Straight from the kick-off Munster upped their intensity, but also varied the point of attack. Ulster were not helped by further injuries, losing 4 players in the third quarter, including both props. Munster took full advantage, scoring out wide through their right wing after a number of strong ball carries by their forwards. As the game entered its final quarter, with the score at 18-7, Ulster were reduced to 14 men when McPhillips was yellow carded for not rolling away at the breakdown. The numerical advantage spurred Munster on and they continued to test Ulster’s resolve with a pattern of strong ball carries by their forwards, following which they would spin the ball wide. This pattern led to two further scores by their full back finding space out wide. In the last 8 minutes Ulster threw everything at Munster, but the enforced changes disrupted the cohesiveness of Ulster’s attack and Munster's defence held firm to record a narrow victory. Unusually all 39 points were scored at one end, but without a strong wind to explain this scoring pattern, Ulster were left wondering what has caused an 18-0 half time lead to slip away.
Ulster Scorers:
Tries: Aaron Cairns
Pens: Johnny McPhillips (2)
Conversions: Johnny McPhillips (1)
Yellow card: Johnny McPhillips (62 mins)
1- Michael Lagan (c)
2- Adam McBurney
3- Peter Cooper
4- Alex Thompson
5- john Donnan
6- Nick Timoney
7- Lorcan Dow
8- Marcus Rea
9- Aaron Cairns
10- Johnny McPhillips
11- Ollie Brown
12- Callum Smith
13- Conor Kelly
14- Conor Field
15- Andy Magrath
16- Zac McCall (64mins for Adam McBurney)
17- Tom O'Hagan (50mins for M.Lagan)
18- Craig Trenier (48mins for Peter Cooper)
19- Connor Smyth (62 mins for John Donnan)
20- Zac Jordan
21- Jonny Stewart (67mins for Conor Field)
22- Tom Stapley
23- Lewis Simpson
24- Mattie Rea (40mins for N.Timoney)
---
WEEKEND AGE-GRADE RESULTS:
Munster U19 13 Ulster U19 15
Connacht U18 Clubs 17 Ulster U18 Clubs 10
Munster U18 Schools 19 Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 13