The Ulster Schools U18 squad, sponsored by Danske Bank, continued their inter-provincial preparations with a 28-7 win over Sale Sharks Academy U18s on Wednesday.

It had been Ulster’s intention to increase the intensity of their pre-season friendlies and a very big and powerful Sale Sharks Academy team certainly fulfilled that objective.

The game started with both sides playing tentatively but the deadlock was broken when RBAI winger, Robert Lyttle, opened the scoring with a 45m penalty to give his team a 3-0 lead. A great break from the Sharks scrum half from the tail of a lineout, was carried on by their lock and hooker, but sterling defence held the home side out. Winger Lyttle then came to the fore with a try saving tackle to prevent what looked like a certain try for Sale. A penalty inside Ulster’s 22 allowed Sale to convert and bring the scores level 3-3.

On 18 minutes MCB flanker, Conall Boomer, suffered an injury following an awkward fall in a line out and he had to leave the field. James Houston of Sullivan Upper School replaced him. Following a concerted attack on the Sale line, which was initiated by a great turnover won by Josh McIlroy, a penalty was awarded to Ulster for an off the ball tackle and Lyttle converted from wide out on the right to give Ulster a half-time lead of 6-3.

There had been few try scoring opportunities for either side and there was no indication of the explosive nature of Ulster’s second half performance.

Sale kicked off and, following an Ulster scrum, the ball squirted out awkwardly and the Sale scrum half made a telling break into Ulster’s 22m area. A period of pressure on the Ulster line ensued, only to be broken when MCB out half, Conor Kelly, ran the ball out from 5 metres from the Ulster try line. Full back Jacob Stockdale of Wallace HS continued the attack in the narrow 5 metre channel and great interplay between him and Sullivan winger, Angus McCartney, resulted in the Wallace speedster going in behind the Sale posts to touch down for a try which was easily converted by Lyttle to extend Ulster’s lead to 13-3.

An injury to Regent House lock Jonny Harris resulted in Ulster deciding to bring on a raft of substitutes. Jordan Hylton BRA, Cameron Fulton CAI, Peter Cooper SUS, Ben Pentland WHS and Mark Adair SUS came on after 15 minutes of the second half. Such was the energy of this Ulster side that their commitment never waned and, after a particularly feisty period of play, Ulster shipped another injury to fly half Conor Kelly. This resulted in the return to the pitch of Sullivan winger, Angus McCartney. Little did he know how this incident would shape the next 20 minutes of this game.

Following the arrival of Portora RS prop, John Clarke, another period of Sale pressure resulted in winger McCartney intercepting a wayward Sale pass and sprinting 75 metres to score under the Sale posts. Again Lyttle knocked over the conversion to give the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team a 20-3 lead over the Sale Sharks Academy team.

Ulster’s confidence was growing and outhalf, Mark Adair, spotted space on the right wing and placed a perfect crosskick for his Sullivan colleague Angus McCartney to race in under the posts. The try was converted by Robert Lyttle to ensure he maintained his 100% kicking record and to increase the Ulster Schools’ lead to 27-3.

Close to the end of the game an uncharacteristic Ulster defensive mistake, following the concession of a strike against the head, allowed the Sale left wing the opportunity to run in the corner for an unconverted try to leave the final score reading Sale Sharks 8-27 Danske Bank Ulster Schools.

This was a much improved performance from Ulster’s defeat at Cardiff Blues the week before. This standard of opposition is the kind of test that Ulster needs to enter their Interprovincial Schools’ Championship. The coaches know that there is still much work to be done but that this side has the undoubted potential to achieve a lot.

The Management and squad will now look forward to the next match against Connacht in the first of this season’s Schoolboy Inter-provincial games at Ravenhill on Saturday 7th September. This game is scheduled to kick off at 1.30pm.

It was a busy day for Danske Bank Ulster Schoolboy players, and a major boost for the Management teams, as another team travelled to Broughton Park to play Lancashire Schools U18s in an eagerly anticipated game. This team put on a first class display before losing out to two tries, one of which was converted by the hosts, in the final few minutes of the game which saw the Ulster Schools’ visitors lose the game by 22-16.

Danske Bank Ulster Schools U18 Squad v Sale Sharks Academy U18s, Wednesday 28th August 2013:
15 Jacob Stockdale (Wallace HS)
14 Robert Lyttle (RBAI)
13 Zach Bertenshaw (Sullivan Upper School)
12 Andrew Magrath (Ballymena Academy)
11 Angus Macartney (Sullivan Upper School)
10 Conor Kelly (Methodist College)
9 Cameron Stewart (Campbell College)
1 Conor McIlmurray (Campbell College)
2 Andrew Shaw (Bangor GS)
3 Elliott Boyd (Campbell College)
4 Harry Cleland (RBAI)
5 Jonny Harris (Regent House)
6 Conall Boomer (Methodist College)
7 Josh McIlroy (Ballymena Academy)
8 Duncan Maguire (Ballymena Academy)

16 Ben Pentland (Wallace HS)
17 Peter Cooper (Sullivan Upper School)
18 John Clarke (Portora RS)
19 James Houston (Sullivan Upper)
20 Matthew McKinney (Methodist College)
21 Max Trouton (Wallace HS)
22 Cameron Fulton (Coleraine AI)
23 Mark Adair (Sullivan Upper School
24 Jordan Hylton (BRA)

Coaches: Richard Hedley & John Andrews
Academy Schools Coach: Brian McLaughlin
Strength & Conditioning coach: Amy Davis
Physiotherapist: Cat Ferguson
Chairman Schools Committee: Ian Graham

Danske Bank Ulster Schools U17 Squad v Lancashire Schools U18s, Wednesday 28th August 2013:
Nathan Gibson (Down HS)
Philip Matthews (RS Armagh)
Saul Herdman (Methody)
Daniel Kealey (Campbell College)
Benjamin O'Reilly (Methody)
Richard McNeill (Banbridge Academy)
Robin Sinton (RS Armagh)
Jonathon McKeown (Ballymena Academy)
Jack Magee (Ballyclare HS)
Andrew Thompson (RBAI)
Daniel Coulter (Methody)
Alexander Clarke (Ballymena Academy)
Jack Barry-Glendinning (Campbell College)
Jonathan Stewart (Wallace HS)
Callum Jeffrey (Sillivan Upper)
Matthew McDowell (Ballyclare HS)
Marcus Rae (Ballymena Academy)
Zachary Jordan (Methody)
Benjamin Finlay (Wallace HS)
Jack Howard (Campbell College)
Conor Field (RBAI)
Adam McCallum (Wallace HS)
Matthew McSorley (RS Armagh)
Christopher Jordan (Sullivan Upper)
Philip Hylands (Wallace HS)
Nathan Graham (Regent House)
Joel McBride (Belfast HS)
Patrick Ferguson (Wallace HS)

MANAGEMENT TEAM:
Allen Clarke
James Topping
David Minion
Mark McDowell
Richard Boyd
David Barnett

Ulster Schools U18s beat Sale Sharks 28-7

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