Ulster Under 18 Schools were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after a Leinster fightback saw a pulsating PwC Interprovincial clash finish all 24-all at Energia Park on Sunday afternoon.
Heading down the straight, Daryl Maxwell’s side were 10-points to the good, but a penalty try for the hosts saw the game finish all square.
It was Ulster who were asking all the early questions and they were rewarded for their positive start when hooker David Nelson touched down for the games first try with only 4 minutes on the clock.
Captain Jonnie Kennedy converted to allow his side to enjoy an early 7-0 lead.
Leinster though refused to allow that early setback get on top of them and hit back in the 7th minute Ronan O’Neill.
It was to get better for the hosts when Saul Brewster was rewarded for his quick thinking.
The number eight took a quick tap penalty following a scrum to power over and put his team in front for the first time.
Matt McKenna converted to help Leinster to a 12-7 lead.
Leinster second row Hugh Keaney was sinned binned as hosts penalty count continued to rise, and the visitors took full advantage to grab a second try.
Full back Dylan Gray charged through the Leinster midfield and his pass put Zach Thompson away in the corner.
Kennedy landed a second conversion and with half-time approaching, Ulster were back in front 14-12.
There was still time for Ulster to launch another attack.
Zac Topping made a surging run, cutting in from the right wing and into the heart of the Leinster defence, and he was supported by Thompson who raced clear of the Leinster defence for his second try of the game.
Again, Kennedy was successful from the tee, and at the break Ulster held a healthy 9-point lead.
Half-time: Leinster 12-21 Ulster
A Kennedy penalty pushed Ulster’s lead out to 10-points four minutes into the second half, but any thoughts of an away victory were quickly dispelled when Matias Quaglia squeezed home in the corner for Leinster’s third try in the 54th minute.
McKenna’s successful conversion made it a one-score game.
A rejuvenated Leinster were enjoying great spells of possession and in the 62nd minute their pressure paid-off when following a collapsed maul, they were awarded a penalty try to level the game at 24-all.
The large crowd at Energia Park were treated to a nail-biting final quarter as both sides went in search of a late winner, and with the final kick of the game, Ulster thought they had done enough, but Kennedy’s penalty was just off target.
The referee’s final whistle then sounded, and both sides had to be content with the draw.
Full-time: Leinster 24-24 Ulster
Scorers:
Leinster:
Tries: O’Neill, Brewster, Quaglia, Penalty try.
Cons: McKenna.
Ulster:
Tries: Nelson, Z Thompson (2),
Cons: Kennedy (3).
Pens: Kennedy.
Teams:
Leinster: 15. Myles Carroll, 14. Hugo Doyle, 13. Sam Dunne, 12. Adam Smyth, 11. Mark McNally, 10. Matt McKenna, 9. Tommy Smyth, 1. Hugo Ivers McCormack, 2. Rónán O’Neill, 3. Eoghan Rowlands, 4. Hugh Keaney, 5. Phillip Kenny, 6. Reonan McCann, 7. Rob Flaherty, 8. Saul Brewster.
Replacements: 16. Rowan Balamash, 17 Borja Salto Galdon, 18. Aodhan Carroll, 19. Josh Leeson, 20. George Eggers, 21. Victor Chauvire, 22. Naoise Hillery Nolan, 23. Matias Quaglia.
Ulster: 15. Dylan Gray, 14. Zac Topping, 13. Harry Wells, 12. Will Rogers, 11. Zach Thompson, 10. Jonnie Kennedy (C), 9. Alex Turkington, 1. Adam Crone, 2. Davis Nelson, 3. Conor McKinney, 4. Will Downey, 5. Oscar Eddis, 6. Elliot Magowan, 7. James Flanagan, 8. James Reid.
Replacements: 16. Issac Crawford, 17. Matthew Watkins, 18. Reuben Gibson, 19. Elijah Fitzpatrick, 20. Ben Ellis, 21. Rocco Stein, 22. Jack Best, 23. Jack Thompson.