The Italy U20 team has been on a tour in Ireland, lasting almost three weeks, and had defeated Munster and Connacht U19 teams, and drawn with Leinster U19s, before arriving in Belfast.
Ulster started strongly and took the game to the Italians. Their determined approach saw them take a 3-0 lead when Rory Campbell was successful with a penalty opportunity five minutes into the game.
The Italians came back strongly following this early setback and took play deep into Ulster territory. Following a mix up in the Ulster in-goal area, the Italian loose head prop, Paulo Buonfiglio, pounced on the ball dropped by an Ulster player and was awarded a try. Scrum half, Simone Parisotto, was successful with his conversion kick to put Italy into a 7-3 lead.
The Italians took a lot of confidence from this try and made the Ulster defence work hard. The back row of Daniel Dass, Dave Cave and Ross Todd, ably assisted by the midfield trio of Conor Shiels, Campbell and Jordan Garford, got through a lot of good work and managed to ensure the Ulster line was not crossed.
The Ulster team did manage to scramble out of defence on occasions and might have reduced the arrears when they were awarded a penalty after twenty six minutes. However, the kick was narrowly missed which ensured the score remained at 7-3 in favour of the visitors at the interval.
Playing with the wind in their backs in the second half Italy continued to pressurise the Ulster defence for large parts of the game. Ulster soaked up a lot of pressure but rarely managed to get a great deal of quality possession from which to launch any worthwhile attacks.
With just ten minutes of the game remaining, Ulster eventually found themselves close to the Italian 22m area. The visitors were penalised and a quickly taken penalty found the ball in the hands of the inspirational Ulster captain, Ross Todd. Todd blasted his way over the Italian try line to touch down for a try. Campbell was successful with his conversion kick to put the Ulster U19 team into a 10-7 lead.
Both teams took every opportunity to attack the opposition in the final few minutes but there were no further scores ensuring the Ulster team recorded an extremely hard-earned 10-7 victory against a very determined and skilful Italy U20 side.
The victory completed an excellent week for the Ulster age grade teams with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools team winning against a Sale Sharks Academy U18 team, an Ulster Schools U17 team losing narrowly against Lancashire Schools U18s and the U20s defeating Irish Exiles U20s.
The U19s will open their inter-provincial campaign when they host Munster at Deramore Park, home of Belfast Harlequins RFC, on Saturday 7th September (kick off 3.00pm).
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools team will host Connacht in the first game of their series: Ravenhill, Saturday 7th September, 1.30pm.
Meanwhile, the Ulster U20 team will play Munster in their inter-provincial opener at Ravenhill on Friday 6th September at 7.00pm.
Support at all these games would be welcomed!