Ulster Juniors have began the defence of their Inter-Provincial title with a 33-20 win over Connacht in Enniskillen RFC on Saturday 30th April.
Ulster Captain Toby Mannus won the toss of the coin and decided to play up the slope and into the elements on a bright and breezy day at Enniskillen RFC. Connacht however made a fast start, putting early pressure on the Ulster XV in their 22 after Ulster failed to gather the kick off. The Ulster defence held strong but conceded an early penalty, which Ross Keller converted.
Ulster responded immediately, moving the ball well from touchline to touchline. After a number of quick phases and good hands, Ryan Bailey found himself with a run in down the left touchline to dot down Ulster’s first score. Chris Cousens nailed the conversion to make it 7-3.
Ulster only had themselves to blame for Connacht’s opening try. A long kick towards the Ulster 22 was returned but with a lack of urgency and in trying to force an offload, Connacht Number 8 Lorcan Laheen gratefully accepted an intercept to stroll home under the posts making the conversion easy for Keller 7-10.
Ulster responded well again, controlling much of the possession but failing to capitalise on a number of good opportunities to score. On 36 minutes with Connacht under pressure in their 22 a loose kick, which failed to find touch was gathered by the left touchline by Phil Cartmill. He moved the ball swiftly across the pitch to Cousens, who then found right wing Ryan Purvis who took on the first defender and beat him comfortably. He then chipped the covering man and diving forwards, he dotted the ball down for a fantastic solo effort. Cousens again coverted, this time from the right touchline to make it 14-10 at the break.
Ulster started the second half on the front foot. Just like Ulster failed to gather the first kick off, Connacht knocked the ball on from the restart, giving Ulster a good position for an attacking scrum. The Ulster eight shoved the Connacht men backwards at a rate of knots, resulting in a penalty, which Ulster fly half Stewart Paul kicked into the corner. From the resultant lineout, the Ulster pack mauled Connacht backwards and over the line for a score to David Bradford. Chris Cousens again with the conversion, 21-10 to Ulster after 43 minutes.
Connacht kept in touch with a penalty from Keller on 47 minutes, making the score 21-13. Much of the next 15 minutes of the game was played between the 22’s with Connacht having much of the possession but Ulster comfortable in defence and never really looking in trouble. A decisive moment in the match came on 64 minutes with Ulster pressing hard for a turnover just inside the Conancht half. The referee awarded Ulster the penalty for Connacht holding on to the ball on the ground. A sharp piece of thinking from replacement scrum half, Ryan Garrett, saw him take a quick tap. He weaved his way past a number of defenders who were not back the required 10 metres before beating a couple of tackles and offloading to the supporting David Bradford, who ran in his second try of the afternoon. Unusually for Cousens, he missed this conversion. 26-13.
At this stage, Connacht had to throw some caution to the wind if they were to get anything out of the game. They came close to scoring down the left wing but some excellent cover tackling bundled them into touch, giving Ulster the lineout and chance to clear their lines. As Connacht built another attack on their left hand side, Phil Cartmill pounced on a loose ball to make the intercept. He turned the covering defender inside out and went to take the last man on the outside. He had great support on the inside from Mikey Poskett and duly fed the ball back inside, taking the last defender out of the game and giving Poskett a free run to the line, securing the 4 try bonus point and leaving Cousens with a simple conversion under the posts. This made the score 33-13 after 77 minutes with the job all but done.
Connacht did score a fantastic late try under the posts with the last play of the game, through centre David McDonagh, converted by Sean Tobin to leave the final score Ulster 33 Connacht 20.
Ulster will travel to Clonakilty RFC to play Munster this Saturday 7th May, kick-off 2.30pm.
Ulster Captain Toby Mannus won the toss of the coin and decided to play up the slope and into the elements on a bright and breezy day at Enniskillen RFC. Connacht however made a fast start, putting early pressure on the Ulster XV in their 22 after Ulster failed to gather the kick off. The Ulster defence held strong but conceded an early penalty, which Ross Keller converted.
Ulster responded immediately, moving the ball well from touchline to touchline. After a number of quick phases and good hands, Ryan Bailey found himself with a run in down the left touchline to dot down Ulster’s first score. Chris Cousens nailed the conversion to make it 7-3.
Ulster only had themselves to blame for Connacht’s opening try. A long kick towards the Ulster 22 was returned but with a lack of urgency and in trying to force an offload, Connacht Number 8 Lorcan Laheen gratefully accepted an intercept to stroll home under the posts making the conversion easy for Keller 7-10.
Ulster responded well again, controlling much of the possession but failing to capitalise on a number of good opportunities to score. On 36 minutes with Connacht under pressure in their 22 a loose kick, which failed to find touch was gathered by the left touchline by Phil Cartmill. He moved the ball swiftly across the pitch to Cousens, who then found right wing Ryan Purvis who took on the first defender and beat him comfortably. He then chipped the covering man and diving forwards, he dotted the ball down for a fantastic solo effort. Cousens again coverted, this time from the right touchline to make it 14-10 at the break.
Ulster started the second half on the front foot. Just like Ulster failed to gather the first kick off, Connacht knocked the ball on from the restart, giving Ulster a good position for an attacking scrum. The Ulster eight shoved the Connacht men backwards at a rate of knots, resulting in a penalty, which Ulster fly half Stewart Paul kicked into the corner. From the resultant lineout, the Ulster pack mauled Connacht backwards and over the line for a score to David Bradford. Chris Cousens again with the conversion, 21-10 to Ulster after 43 minutes.
Connacht kept in touch with a penalty from Keller on 47 minutes, making the score 21-13. Much of the next 15 minutes of the game was played between the 22’s with Connacht having much of the possession but Ulster comfortable in defence and never really looking in trouble. A decisive moment in the match came on 64 minutes with Ulster pressing hard for a turnover just inside the Conancht half. The referee awarded Ulster the penalty for Connacht holding on to the ball on the ground. A sharp piece of thinking from replacement scrum half, Ryan Garrett, saw him take a quick tap. He weaved his way past a number of defenders who were not back the required 10 metres before beating a couple of tackles and offloading to the supporting David Bradford, who ran in his second try of the afternoon. Unusually for Cousens, he missed this conversion. 26-13.
At this stage, Connacht had to throw some caution to the wind if they were to get anything out of the game. They came close to scoring down the left wing but some excellent cover tackling bundled them into touch, giving Ulster the lineout and chance to clear their lines. As Connacht built another attack on their left hand side, Phil Cartmill pounced on a loose ball to make the intercept. He turned the covering defender inside out and went to take the last man on the outside. He had great support on the inside from Mikey Poskett and duly fed the ball back inside, taking the last defender out of the game and giving Poskett a free run to the line, securing the 4 try bonus point and leaving Cousens with a simple conversion under the posts. This made the score 33-13 after 77 minutes with the job all but done.
Connacht did score a fantastic late try under the posts with the last play of the game, through centre David McDonagh, converted by Sean Tobin to leave the final score Ulster 33 Connacht 20.
Ulster will travel to Clonakilty RFC to play Munster this Saturday 7th May, kick-off 2.30pm.