The Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools team and Hughes Insurance sponsored U18 Clubs team played their final Inter-Provincial game on Saturday afternoon against Leinster opposition.
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 10-21 Leinster U18 Schools
Saturday 17th September at Pirrie Park
Having lost their three previous outings in the competition by just one score hopes were high the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team would achieve a degree of the success their hard work over the summer period deserved. Sadly, it was not to be. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team lost their game against Leinster by 21-10 having fought back, at one stage, from 11-0 down to 11-10. It was in the final quarter of the game that Leinster scored twice to ensure their 21-10 win.
The Leinster scrum half, Elliott Ryan, gave his team a 3-0 lead in the fourteenth minute when he converted a penalty opportunity. Five minutes later that lead was extended to 8-0 when the Leinster team launched an attack from midfield which finished when Sam Berry touched down for an unconverted try in the corner. The Ulster team pressurised the Leinster defence on a number of occasions towards the end of the first half with Stewart Moore and George Pringle to the fore. However, lack of accuracy with the final pass ensured the Leinster line remained intact and the visitors took their 8-0 lead into the break.
Three minutes into the second half the Leinster lead was extended to 11-0 when Elliott Ryan kicked his second penalty of the game. Ulster responded with a Bruce Houston penalty to reduce the deficit to 11-3. Stewart Moore then latched on to a loose Leinster pass inside his 22m area. He won the race to the line and touched down for a try. Bruce Houston added the conversion to bring the Ulster team back into the game with the Leinster lead reduced to one point with the scoreboard reading 10-11. A long delay then ensued with medical staff attending to an injured player. When the game restarted the Leinster team scored an unconverted try through David Hawkshaw to see the visitors into a 16-10 lead. The Leinster Schools’ team sealed their 21-10 victory when David Ryan touched down for an unconverted try with the last play of the game.
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools team v Leinster:
1. Ben Savage (Ballymena Academy)
2. Tim Savoury (Ballymena Academy)
3. Scott Agnew (Ballymena Academy)
4. JJ McKee (Antrim GS)
5. Oisin Kiernan (Campbell College)
6. Matthew Crowther (Captain, Campbell College)
7. Tom Gilpin (BRA)
8. Jamie Macartney (Campbell College)
9. Lewis Finlay (Down HS)
10. Robin Wilson (Down HS)
11. Jamie Manderson (Wallace HS)
12. George Pringle (Friends’ School)
13. Stewart Moore (Dalriada School)
14. Tiarnan Martin (Ballymena Academy)
15. Jack Lewis (Ballyclare HS)
Replacements:
16. Bryn Davies (Rainey ES)
17. John McKee (Campbell College)
18. Ben Crangle (Methodist College)
19. Max Baillie (Coleraine GS)
20. Jack Rutledge (Enniskillen Royal GS)
21. Ethan Field (RBAI)
22. Niall Armstrong (RBAI)
23. Bruce Houston (Ballymena Academy)
24. Angus Kernohan (Ballymena Academy)
25. Aaron Sexton (Bangor GS)
26. Ben Webb (Campbell College)
Team Management:
Head Coach: James Topping
Assistant Head Coach: Bryan Young
Assistant Coaches: Gavin Murray and Chris Nash
Strength and conditioning coach: Matthew Maguire
Physiotherapist: Jason Patton
Doctor: Ryan Hamilton
Resources Manager: Adrian Walker
Manager: Richard Clingan
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Leinster U18 Clubs 35-5 Ulster Clubs U18s
Saturday 17th September at Donnybrook
The game kicked off with perfect playing conditions, and both teams determined to get a win, but after 5 minutes Ulster were 3-0 in arrears from a Leinster penalty off the boot of number 12 Frank O’Dea. Ulster came back but unfortunately missed a kickable penalty. Ulster were beginning to settle and play some constructive rugby and from a scrummage crossed the opposition line, only for the referee to deem the ball had been knocked on. At this stage both teams were probing for opposition weaknesses and play was mainly restricted to between the two 22 metre lines. Early in the second quarter Leinster went in for a try by No 8 Martin Maloney, converted by O’Dea to make it 10-0. This was followed ten minutes later with an unconverted try by number 11 Morgan Purcell. Ulster replied with moving the ball out wide to the right wing for Matthew Faulkner to make a great break and kick ahead who was denied a try but got a 5 metre scrummage. Unfortunately Ulster came away with no points and the first half coming to an end, Leinster leading 15-0.
From the start of the second half Ulster appeared to be more composed having made some injury and positional changes at half time, and from a back play Michael O’Neill made a penetrating run to the oppositions 22 metre line. Play continued and from a penalty gained ground close to the opposition line only to knock on in the line out and let them off the hook. Injured full back Jac Lloyd Evans was replaced by Rory McParland, Ulster then came back into the game with an unconverted try by Ben Heath 15-5. However, moving Into the final quarter Leinster were now playing and controlling the game and in the final 12 minutes of the game Ulster conceded four unconverted tries, two by Darragh Kelly and one each by Dan Egan and Jordan Fitzpatrick to run out comfortable winners.
Congratulations to Leinster on a fine win, whilst Ulster competed and stayed in the game for long periods came off second best in the engagements, losing by 35 points to 5 points.
Ulster U18 Clubs team v Leinster:
1 Aaron Kennedy (VC) (Armagh RFC)
2 Paul McGookin (Ballyclare RFC)
3 Callum Smyth (Rainey RFC)
4 Ryan Morton (Armagh RFC)
5 Conor McMenamin (Letterkenny RFC)
6 Ben Heath (Dromore RFC)
7 Charlie Clarke (Rainey RFC)
8 Andrew Foster (Ballynahinch RFC)
9 Lee Culbertson (Ballymoney RFC)
10 John Cooke (Virginia RFC)
11 Tyler Millar (Enniskillen RFC)
12 Evin Crummie (VC) (Armagh RFC)
13 Michael O'Neill (C) (Rainey RFC)
14 Matthew Faulkner (Letterkenny RFC)
15 Jac Lloyd Evans (Rainey RFC)
16 Eoin McDonald (Randalstown RFC)
17 Jack McIntosh (Rainey RFC)
18 Aaron Michaelides (City of Derry RFC)
19 Joshua Fulton (Letterkenny RFC)
20 Sam Murray (Armagh RFC)
21 Rory McParland (Newry RFC)
22 Niall McKeating (Malone RFC)
23 Niall McKevitt (Newry RFC)
Team Management:
Michael Black: Age Grade Manager
Johnnie Gillispie: Head Coach
Johnny Graham: Coach
Gavin Dunlop: S & C Coach
Bebhinn Flaherty: Physio
Eamon McCormick: Resources
Gavin McLean: Doctor
Willie Latimer: Manager
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools 10-21 Leinster U18 Schools
Saturday 17th September at Pirrie Park
Having lost their three previous outings in the competition by just one score hopes were high the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team would achieve a degree of the success their hard work over the summer period deserved. Sadly, it was not to be. The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team lost their game against Leinster by 21-10 having fought back, at one stage, from 11-0 down to 11-10. It was in the final quarter of the game that Leinster scored twice to ensure their 21-10 win.
The Leinster scrum half, Elliott Ryan, gave his team a 3-0 lead in the fourteenth minute when he converted a penalty opportunity. Five minutes later that lead was extended to 8-0 when the Leinster team launched an attack from midfield which finished when Sam Berry touched down for an unconverted try in the corner. The Ulster team pressurised the Leinster defence on a number of occasions towards the end of the first half with Stewart Moore and George Pringle to the fore. However, lack of accuracy with the final pass ensured the Leinster line remained intact and the visitors took their 8-0 lead into the break.
Three minutes into the second half the Leinster lead was extended to 11-0 when Elliott Ryan kicked his second penalty of the game. Ulster responded with a Bruce Houston penalty to reduce the deficit to 11-3. Stewart Moore then latched on to a loose Leinster pass inside his 22m area. He won the race to the line and touched down for a try. Bruce Houston added the conversion to bring the Ulster team back into the game with the Leinster lead reduced to one point with the scoreboard reading 10-11. A long delay then ensued with medical staff attending to an injured player. When the game restarted the Leinster team scored an unconverted try through David Hawkshaw to see the visitors into a 16-10 lead. The Leinster Schools’ team sealed their 21-10 victory when David Ryan touched down for an unconverted try with the last play of the game.
Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools team v Leinster:
1. Ben Savage (Ballymena Academy)
2. Tim Savoury (Ballymena Academy)
3. Scott Agnew (Ballymena Academy)
4. JJ McKee (Antrim GS)
5. Oisin Kiernan (Campbell College)
6. Matthew Crowther (Captain, Campbell College)
7. Tom Gilpin (BRA)
8. Jamie Macartney (Campbell College)
9. Lewis Finlay (Down HS)
10. Robin Wilson (Down HS)
11. Jamie Manderson (Wallace HS)
12. George Pringle (Friends’ School)
13. Stewart Moore (Dalriada School)
14. Tiarnan Martin (Ballymena Academy)
15. Jack Lewis (Ballyclare HS)
Replacements:
16. Bryn Davies (Rainey ES)
17. John McKee (Campbell College)
18. Ben Crangle (Methodist College)
19. Max Baillie (Coleraine GS)
20. Jack Rutledge (Enniskillen Royal GS)
21. Ethan Field (RBAI)
22. Niall Armstrong (RBAI)
23. Bruce Houston (Ballymena Academy)
24. Angus Kernohan (Ballymena Academy)
25. Aaron Sexton (Bangor GS)
26. Ben Webb (Campbell College)
Team Management:
Head Coach: James Topping
Assistant Head Coach: Bryan Young
Assistant Coaches: Gavin Murray and Chris Nash
Strength and conditioning coach: Matthew Maguire
Physiotherapist: Jason Patton
Doctor: Ryan Hamilton
Resources Manager: Adrian Walker
Manager: Richard Clingan
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Leinster U18 Clubs 35-5 Ulster Clubs U18s
Saturday 17th September at Donnybrook
The game kicked off with perfect playing conditions, and both teams determined to get a win, but after 5 minutes Ulster were 3-0 in arrears from a Leinster penalty off the boot of number 12 Frank O’Dea. Ulster came back but unfortunately missed a kickable penalty. Ulster were beginning to settle and play some constructive rugby and from a scrummage crossed the opposition line, only for the referee to deem the ball had been knocked on. At this stage both teams were probing for opposition weaknesses and play was mainly restricted to between the two 22 metre lines. Early in the second quarter Leinster went in for a try by No 8 Martin Maloney, converted by O’Dea to make it 10-0. This was followed ten minutes later with an unconverted try by number 11 Morgan Purcell. Ulster replied with moving the ball out wide to the right wing for Matthew Faulkner to make a great break and kick ahead who was denied a try but got a 5 metre scrummage. Unfortunately Ulster came away with no points and the first half coming to an end, Leinster leading 15-0.
From the start of the second half Ulster appeared to be more composed having made some injury and positional changes at half time, and from a back play Michael O’Neill made a penetrating run to the oppositions 22 metre line. Play continued and from a penalty gained ground close to the opposition line only to knock on in the line out and let them off the hook. Injured full back Jac Lloyd Evans was replaced by Rory McParland, Ulster then came back into the game with an unconverted try by Ben Heath 15-5. However, moving Into the final quarter Leinster were now playing and controlling the game and in the final 12 minutes of the game Ulster conceded four unconverted tries, two by Darragh Kelly and one each by Dan Egan and Jordan Fitzpatrick to run out comfortable winners.
Congratulations to Leinster on a fine win, whilst Ulster competed and stayed in the game for long periods came off second best in the engagements, losing by 35 points to 5 points.
Ulster U18 Clubs team v Leinster:
1 Aaron Kennedy (VC) (Armagh RFC)
2 Paul McGookin (Ballyclare RFC)
3 Callum Smyth (Rainey RFC)
4 Ryan Morton (Armagh RFC)
5 Conor McMenamin (Letterkenny RFC)
6 Ben Heath (Dromore RFC)
7 Charlie Clarke (Rainey RFC)
8 Andrew Foster (Ballynahinch RFC)
9 Lee Culbertson (Ballymoney RFC)
10 John Cooke (Virginia RFC)
11 Tyler Millar (Enniskillen RFC)
12 Evin Crummie (VC) (Armagh RFC)
13 Michael O'Neill (C) (Rainey RFC)
14 Matthew Faulkner (Letterkenny RFC)
15 Jac Lloyd Evans (Rainey RFC)
16 Eoin McDonald (Randalstown RFC)
17 Jack McIntosh (Rainey RFC)
18 Aaron Michaelides (City of Derry RFC)
19 Joshua Fulton (Letterkenny RFC)
20 Sam Murray (Armagh RFC)
21 Rory McParland (Newry RFC)
22 Niall McKeating (Malone RFC)
23 Niall McKevitt (Newry RFC)
Team Management:
Michael Black: Age Grade Manager
Johnnie Gillispie: Head Coach
Johnny Graham: Coach
Gavin Dunlop: S & C Coach
Bebhinn Flaherty: Physio
Eamon McCormick: Resources
Gavin McLean: Doctor
Willie Latimer: Manager