Ulster U18 Girls collected their first ever Inter-Provincial title at this level, with a hard fought win over their Munster counterparts at Westmanstown on Saturday afternoon.

Ulster U18 Girls 20-8 Munster U18 Girls
Saturday 1st October at Westmanstown

With the first ever Inter-Provincial title on the line, both sides started the game in nervous fashion. Munster had the first opportunity to make an impression on the scoreboard after five minutes but were unable to convert the penalty.

Munster continued to put the Ulster defence under sustained pressure, and it took a try saving tackle from Vicky Irwin on the Munster centre to keep the game scoreless.

With the Ulster girls confined within their own 22, another penalty was conceded for a high tackle. This time Munster opted to kick for the corner, but Ulster won the line out and were able to run the ball out, and eventually make it out of their own half after 15 minutes of play.

On 25 minutes Ulster were penalised again for holding on, and this time Munster made no mistake in slotting over the penalty to open a 3-0 lead.

The Ulster girls responded in impressive fashion with the pack moving into the Munster 22 for the first time. Captain Neve Jones was leading by example and she managed to win a penalty, but Lisa Mullen’s kick dropped just short from 30m out.

By this stage Ulster were putting together some sustained pressure but all too often their final touch was letting them down. Just before the break came the high point of the half for Ulster as their scrum forces a penalty, which they decide to tap and go with Claire Boles touching down for the only try of the half to leave the score Ulster 5 Munster 3 at the interval.

Ulster began the second half with the wind at their backs. In the early exchanges a thumping tackle by the Munster centre on Ellie Rix typified the intensity and abrasiveness of the game.

Having been forced back into their 22, Munster try to clear their lines but a great kick return from Ciara Browne resulted in an Ulster penalty for holding on. Mullen’s kick narrowly missed but good recovery by the Ulster forwards led to another. A decision to tap instead of kicking seemed hasty but after a few scrappy phases Neve Jones piled over to touch down. Mullen added the conversion to make it Ulster 12 Munster 3.

Ulster continued to put their opponents under sustained pressure but were unable to get any real patterns of play going. Another Ulster penalty extended their lead to 15-3, but Munster responded strongly and caught Ulster sleeping with a dangerous break, forcing Ciara Browne to make an excellent tackle to prevent a certain try.

A lineout lost by Ulster gave Munster the opportunity to keep the ball for a few phases, which they switched back to the blind side to allow their winger to touch down in the corner to close the deficit to 7 points, Ulster 15 Munster 8.

Munster indiscipline at the breakdown led to an Ulster penalty with Mullen again opting to take a quick tap. Ulster were now able to string together a number of phases to win a scrum on the Munster 5m line. A nervous knock on by Ulster follows but they redeemed themselves by charging down the Munster clearance kick.

Leah McGoldrick was now beginning to run some great running lines, keeping the Munster defence on their toes. The persistence was now beginning to pay off and a scrum to Ulster was fed out to centre Brittany Horgan who made a strong straight line to run to force her way over for a try. Vicky Irwin hit the post with the conversion attempt, leaving the score at 20-8 in Ulster’s favour.

In the final frantic few minutes Ulster managed to hold on to record a famous victory and spark scenes of jubilant celebration.

This success is the culmination of three years’ hard work and dedicated coaches input. Ulster Rugby would like to thank Jonathan Gillespie, Neill Alcorn, Darren McGuigan, Neal Johnston and lastly the excellent coaching team of 2016; Zoe Templeton, David Chambers, Charlie Farrell and manager Jemma Jackson.

Ulster U18 girls team v Munster:

1. Emma Kearney
2. Sara Whitley
3. Neve Jones
4. Storm Cobain
5. Caolinn McCormack
6. Keelin Brady
7. Katie Hetherington
8. Claire Boles
9. Lisa Mullen
10. Vicky Irwin
11. Kelly McCormill
12. Brittany Hogan
13. Leah McGoldrick
14. Ellie Ingram
15. Ciara Browne

16. Megan Brodie
17. Grace Shresthra
18. Tammy Millar
19. Natalie Kinghan
20. Bethany McDowell
21. Carla Rafferty
22. Lucinda Kinghan
23. Ellie Rix

Ulster U18 Girls win first ever Inter-Pro title

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