Dan Green’s late penalty earned Ulster a deserving 22-21 win over a strong Eailing/Brunel University Under 23 select at Affidea Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Having spent much of the second half on the back foot, captain Green’s penalty from just inside the opposition’s half, earned the Ulster Academy boys a hard-fought win.
Green’s kicking throughout the 80 minutes was on the money, while the Ulster coaches would’ve taken great heart from the performance of the scrum. Ulster’s defence was also asked many questions, and their doggedness in defence would have also delighted the coaches.
Keen to put last week’s defeat to Connacht Eagles behind them, Ulster started with the purpose of a team with a point to prove and they deservedly opened the scoring in the 14th minute.
Great pressure at the breakdown from Charlie Hargy saw Ulster win a penalty which Dan Green kicked into the corner.
Ulster won the lineout and set off for the Eailing line, and with the maul be stopped in its tracks a metre out, flanker Shane McGuigan broke free to go over for the first try.
Gavin Hogg’s side then suffered a blow when centre Jonny Scott was forced off injured with Owen O’Kane coming into the backline in his place.
Ulster kept up the pressure and try number two arrived four minutes later when prop Tyrese Abolarin powered over.
Green added the extras to give Ulster a healthy 12-point lead after 18 minutes.
After taking their time to settle, Eailing started to make headway into the Ulster 22, and in the 22nd minute number 8 Low caught the home defence off-guard with a quick tap-penalty to go over for the visitors first try.
It was all Eailing now and they took the lead just short of the half hour when captain Smart got the all-important touchdown from the back of a maul.
Gregory’s second conversion helped the West Londoners to a narrow lead with half-time approaching.
With time almost up, Ulster put together their best play of the half, and they were rewarded with their third try of game.
Slick passing through the backs saw O’Kane break through the Eailing midfield and touchdown under the posts.
Green’s conversion pushed Ulster’s lead out to five-points; a lead which they took into the changing rooms at the break.
Half-time: Ulster 19-14 Eailing/Brunel University
Ulster welcomed Scott back to the field of play for the start of the second half, but they were dealt a further blow when Abolarin was show a yellow card for an infringement at the breakdown.
Eailing went on to enjoy a great spell of possession and territory, but a combination of indiscipline and stout Ulster defence meant that the at the end of the third quarter, Ulster five-point lead remained intact.
Ulster’s resilience was eventually broken after the hour mark and it was all down to a moment of brilliance from prop Suleman, and the lighting pace of winger Rockley.
Suleman show and go allowed him to break through a tackle and he released Rockley down the Eailing left. The winger still had a lot of work to do, but there was no catching the Eailing speedster as he raced clear to level the scores.
Gregory’s last act before being called ashore was to successfully add the conversion to make the scoreline 19-21 in favour of the visitors.
Eailing almost got over for a fourth try when centre Harding made a daring run for the Ulster line, but full back Jed Findlay was there to hold the ball up when a try was about to be scored.
Then came Green’s penalty to edge Ulster back in front with only three minutes remaining.
Eailing launched one final assault on the Ulster line, but the home defence stood tall to win a turnover and kick to touch for a deserving one-point win.
Full-time: Ulster 22-21 Eailing/Brunel University
Scorers:
Ulster:
Tries: McGuigan, Abolarin, O’Kane,
Cons: Green (2),
Pens: Green
Eailing/Brunel University:
Tries: Low, Smart, Rockley,
Cons: Gregory (3),
Teams:
Ulster: 15. Jed Findlay, 14. Ollie Topping, 13. Connor Patton, 12, Jonny Scott, 11. Josh Gibson, 10. Dan Green (C), 9. Connor McVicker, 1. Tyrese Abolarin, 2. Charlie Hargy, 3. Angus Graham, 4. Jayden Irwin, 5. Mahon Ronan, 6. Shane McGuigan, 7. Jon Rodgers, 8. Adam Boyd.
Replacements: 16. Conor Magee, 17. Lewis Robinson, 18. Blake McLean, 19. Adam Montgomery, 20. James Anderson, 21. Callum Soper, 22. Owen O’Kane, 23. Callum Largey.
Eailing/Brunel University: 15 Lewtas, 14. Dunne, 13. Harding, 12. Nicklin, 11. Rockley, 10. Gregory, 9. Pengilly, 1. Allyene, 2. Smart (C), 3. Rabuka, 4. Swanepoel, 5. Moss, 6. Anayene, 7. Plessis, 8. Low.
Replacements: 16. Keasey, 17. Suleman, 18. Rigiste, 19. Hansen, 20. TJ Fanolua, 21. Lamb, 22. Burlingham, 23. W Jones.