Ulster's Under 18 Club team fell to defeat against Munster by the narrowest of margins following a rip-roaring interpro clash in Virgin Media Park on Saturday afternoon.
Despite scoring five-tries, the young Ulstermen couldn’t quite get their noses in front at the right time as they left themselves too much to do after going in 10-points in arrears at the break.
Despite this setback, the players and management will take heart from a great comeback that almost saw them come home with a win, which at one-point looked highly unlikely.
Munster took the lead after just seven minutes when Thomas Buckley got the Reds on the board thanks to some great work by the forwards.
The lead however was short-lived when Corbin Marsden scored a try from a maul following an Ulster lineout. Joel Clarke’s sideline conversion then sailed over the bar for the visitors.
But Munster came roaring back.
A clever kick in behind was gathered and touched down by Josh Devlin in the corner to go 10-7 ahead.
Munster went on to dominate the remainder of the half but were finding the Ulster defence a tough nut to crack.
Their persistence eventually paid off when Sean O’Sullivan scored a vital try minutes before half-time. Tadhg Bane converted to give his side a 10-point advantage at the break.
Half-time: Munster 17-7 Ulster
Ulster wasted no time in clawing their way back into the game at the start of the second half.
Ayrton Pienaar went over for the visitors after a spell of pressure in the Munster half, with Joel Clarke adding the extras.
Minutes later the Ulstermen struck again. A phase of play starting deep in their own half resulted in Jacob Ennis-McManus speeding down the left wing, out of the reach of the Munster defence to fire Ulster into the lead.
The lead didn’t last long as Munster’s maul play was rewarded when Harry O’Dwyer crossed the whitewash, and the extras were provided by Bane via the post.
The hosts’ kicking game provided the next try.
A cross-field kick by Bane which was gathered by the rushing Josh Devlin. The Newportman’s offload found Harry O’Donoughue who dived over the tryline.
It was followed by an instant response from Ulster who scored almost directly from the restart through Ryan Mitchell. Clarke was again accurate from the tee to close the gap on Munster to three points.
But it wasn’t long before Munster reestablished their advantage on the scoreboard as Fionn O’Donovan went over out wide on the left wing. The Clonakilty native struck again with just minutes remaining to further strengthen Munster grasp on the game.
But again, Ulster came fighting back. Jed Poutney’s quick tap and go allowed him to run 30-metres through the Munster defence and in for a try. Clarke’s conversion put just one point between the sides in favour of the home team.
The Ulstermen had just one last chance from the restart but a great tackle from Josh Devlin put Jacob Ennis-McManus into touch and the referee blew his whistle for the final time.
Full-time: Munster 34-33 Ulster
Scorers:
Munster:
Tries: Thomas Buckley, Josh Devlin, Seán O'Sullivan, Harry O'Dwyer, Harry O'Donoghue, Fionn O'Donovan.
Cons: Tadhg Bane (2)
Ulster:
Tries: Corbin Marsden, Ayrton Pienaar, Jacob Ennis-McManus, Ryan Mitchell, Jed Poutney.
Cons: Joel Clarke (4)
MUNSTER U-18 CLUBS: Tadhg Bane (Ennis RFC); Josh Devlin (Newport RFC), Harry O'Donoghue (Ennis RFC), Ewan Knowles (Clonakilty RFC), Ruben O'Riordan (Youghal RFC); Davyn Maher (Old Christians RFC), Ryan O'Neill (Newport RFC); Thomas Buckley (Bruff RFC), Harry O'Dwyer (Old Crescent RFC), Peter O'Brien (Midleton RFC), Patrick Cooke (Clane RFC), Flynn Cooke (UL Bohemian RFC), Seán O'Sullivan (Kinsale RFC), Caolan Johnston (Waterpark RFC), Alex Reddin (Waterpark RFC) (capt).
Replacements: Nikolas Przewozniak (Bandon RFC), Ivor O'Riordan (Kinsale RFC), Calum Fitzgerald (Carrigaline RFC), Kenneth O'Brien (Dungarvan RFC), Christopher O'Flynn (Old Christians RFC), Rua Clancy (Waterpark RFC), Fionn O'Donovan (Clonakilty RFC), Oscar Flanagan (Waterpark RFC).
ULSTER U-18 CLUBS: Reuben Nicholl (Coleraine Grammar School/Coleraine RFC), Niall Kelly (Foyle College/Rainey RFC), Isaac Neil (Royal School Dungannon/Dungannon RFC), Ayrton Pienaar (Virginia RFC), Jacob Ennis-McManus (Rainey Endowed School/Rainey RFC); Joel Clarke (Royal School Dungannon/Dungannon RFC), Freddy Harris (Down High School/Ballynahinch RFC); Joe Baillie (Down High School/Ballynahinch RFC), Corbin Marsden (Larne Grammar School/Carrickfergus RFC) (capt), Ben Ledie (Larne Grammar School/Larne RFC), Ewan Morrison (Belfast High School/Belfast High School Former Pupils RFC), James Fullerton (Rainey Endowed School/Rainey RFC), Joey Carson (Regent House School/Ards RFC), Logan Cooke (Omagh Academy/Strabane RFC), Joe Rice D'Cruze (Friends' School Lisburn/Lisburn RFC).
Replacements: Joel Marrion (Dungannon RFC), Aydan Byrne (Dungannon RFC), Ryan Mitchell (Omagh Academy/Omagh Academicals RFC), Alexander Courtney (Dungannon RFC), Matthew Laird (Limavady Grammar School/Limavady RFC), Jed Poutney (Regent House School/Bangor RFC), Rhys Johnston (Carrickfergus RFC), Evan Prior (Belfast High School/Belfast High School Former Pupils RFC).