The Hughes Insurance sponsored Ulster U19 team claimed the U19 Inter Provincial Championship when they defeated a spirited Connacht U19 team by 66-7 at Osborne Park on Saturday afternoon.
Ulster U19 66-7 Connacht U19
Saturday 17 September at Osborne Park
It was a superb team performance by the Ulster U19 team who ran in nine tries in the process. The Ulster team took an early 7-0 lead when Tom Stapley cut through the Connacht defence to score a try with less than one minute on the clock. Callum Smith added the conversion. After fourteen minutes Jonny Stewart cut through to score from a scrum, with Callum Smith adding the extras, to increase the Ulster lead to 14-0. This became 17-0 five minutes later when Callum Smith converted a penalty opportunity. Callum then scored a try, which he converted, to put the rampant Ulster team into a 24-0 lead. On the stroke of half time, having mounted a series of attacks, the Connacht team got some reward for their endeavours when Colm O’Flagherty scored a try, converted by Niall Gray, to leave Ulster with a 24-7 lead at the interval.
The Ulster team started the second half with another try in the first minute. Joe Finnegan touched down for the try, which was converted by Callum Smith, to put the Ulster team ahead by 31-7. Four minutes later Mark Keane ran in for a try, converted by Callum Smith, to increase the Ulster lead to 38-7. Joe Finnegan then scored his second try of the game, again converted by Callum Smith, to put Ulster into a 45-7 lead. Mark Keane then capped a fine display with his second try of the game. Callum Smith added the extras and Ulster now had a 52-7 lead. The Ulster team continued to play their fluent brand of rugby and Ali Burke got in for a try. Callum Smith converted the try to secure a 59-7 lead for the Ulster team. Connacht never lost their commitment to the game and with time running out were on the attack in the Ulster 22m area. A loose pass was intercepted by James Hume who showed a clean pair of heals to the opposition before touching down for the try. Callum Smith maintained his 100% kicking record in the game when he converted the ninth Ulster try of the game. The final whistle blew and it was the Ulster U19 team that celebrated their impressive 66-7 victory and, with it, the IRFU U19 Interprovincial Championship.
Ulster U19 team v Connacht:
1/Callum Reid Royal Belfast Academical Institution
2/James Boyle Bangor RFC
3/Tom O’Toole Campbell College, Belfast (Captain)
4/John McCusker Rainey RFC
5/Alistair Burke Ballyclare High School
6/Aaron Hall Ballynahinch RFC
7/Matthew Agnew Bangor Grammar School
8/Joe Dunleavy Letterkenny RFC
9/Jonny Stewart Queen’s University RFC
10/Michael Lowry Royal Belfast Academical Institution
11/Joe Finnegan Royal Belfast Academical Institution
12/Tom Stapley Exiles
13/James Hume Royal Belfast Academical Institution
14/Mark Keane Royal Belfast Academical Institution
15/Callum Smith Malone RFC
16/Claytan Milligan Down High School (Replacement Hooker)
17/Tyler Arnold Belfast High School (Replacement Loose Head Prop)
18/Corrie Barrett Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Replacement Tight Head Prop)
19/James Nelson Campbell College, Belfast
20/Jack Barry Glendinning Campbell College, Belfast
21/Rhys O Donnell Royal Belfast Academical Institution
22/Cormac Fox Armagh RFC
23/Michael Stronge Ballymena Academy
Ulster U19 Management team:
Head Coach: Kieran Campbell
Assistant Coaches: Willie Anderson, John Creighton, David Creighton
Age Grade Manager: Michael Black
S&C Coach: Amy Davis
Video Analyst: Bryan Young
GPS Analyst: Simon MacLeod
Kit Manager: Tim Morton
Physiotherapist: Ritchie Johnston
Doctor: Dr Ryan Hamilton
Manager: Barney McGonigle
Ulster U19 66-7 Connacht U19
Saturday 17 September at Osborne Park
It was a superb team performance by the Ulster U19 team who ran in nine tries in the process. The Ulster team took an early 7-0 lead when Tom Stapley cut through the Connacht defence to score a try with less than one minute on the clock. Callum Smith added the conversion. After fourteen minutes Jonny Stewart cut through to score from a scrum, with Callum Smith adding the extras, to increase the Ulster lead to 14-0. This became 17-0 five minutes later when Callum Smith converted a penalty opportunity. Callum then scored a try, which he converted, to put the rampant Ulster team into a 24-0 lead. On the stroke of half time, having mounted a series of attacks, the Connacht team got some reward for their endeavours when Colm O’Flagherty scored a try, converted by Niall Gray, to leave Ulster with a 24-7 lead at the interval.
The Ulster team started the second half with another try in the first minute. Joe Finnegan touched down for the try, which was converted by Callum Smith, to put the Ulster team ahead by 31-7. Four minutes later Mark Keane ran in for a try, converted by Callum Smith, to increase the Ulster lead to 38-7. Joe Finnegan then scored his second try of the game, again converted by Callum Smith, to put Ulster into a 45-7 lead. Mark Keane then capped a fine display with his second try of the game. Callum Smith added the extras and Ulster now had a 52-7 lead. The Ulster team continued to play their fluent brand of rugby and Ali Burke got in for a try. Callum Smith converted the try to secure a 59-7 lead for the Ulster team. Connacht never lost their commitment to the game and with time running out were on the attack in the Ulster 22m area. A loose pass was intercepted by James Hume who showed a clean pair of heals to the opposition before touching down for the try. Callum Smith maintained his 100% kicking record in the game when he converted the ninth Ulster try of the game. The final whistle blew and it was the Ulster U19 team that celebrated their impressive 66-7 victory and, with it, the IRFU U19 Interprovincial Championship.
Ulster U19 team v Connacht:
1/Callum Reid Royal Belfast Academical Institution
2/James Boyle Bangor RFC
3/Tom O’Toole Campbell College, Belfast (Captain)
4/John McCusker Rainey RFC
5/Alistair Burke Ballyclare High School
6/Aaron Hall Ballynahinch RFC
7/Matthew Agnew Bangor Grammar School
8/Joe Dunleavy Letterkenny RFC
9/Jonny Stewart Queen’s University RFC
10/Michael Lowry Royal Belfast Academical Institution
11/Joe Finnegan Royal Belfast Academical Institution
12/Tom Stapley Exiles
13/James Hume Royal Belfast Academical Institution
14/Mark Keane Royal Belfast Academical Institution
15/Callum Smith Malone RFC
16/Claytan Milligan Down High School (Replacement Hooker)
17/Tyler Arnold Belfast High School (Replacement Loose Head Prop)
18/Corrie Barrett Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Replacement Tight Head Prop)
19/James Nelson Campbell College, Belfast
20/Jack Barry Glendinning Campbell College, Belfast
21/Rhys O Donnell Royal Belfast Academical Institution
22/Cormac Fox Armagh RFC
23/Michael Stronge Ballymena Academy
Ulster U19 Management team:
Head Coach: Kieran Campbell
Assistant Coaches: Willie Anderson, John Creighton, David Creighton
Age Grade Manager: Michael Black
S&C Coach: Amy Davis
Video Analyst: Bryan Young
GPS Analyst: Simon MacLeod
Kit Manager: Tim Morton
Physiotherapist: Ritchie Johnston
Doctor: Dr Ryan Hamilton
Manager: Barney McGonigle