Ulster Under 18 Schools fell to defeat in their final game of this year’s Interprovincial Championship as Leinster delivered a devastating second half performance in Banbridge to all but wrap up another interpro title for the eastern province.
After a keenly contested opening 35 minutes, only two-points separated the sides. Indeed, many among the crowd at Rifle Park were predicting a second draw between the sides in as many weeks.
But the second period belonged to Leinster as the light blues ran in six tries to Ulster’s one as they powered their way to a deserving win.
The opening try of the day arrived after just two minutes.
Leinster number 8 Lucas Hill was first to Matthew McKenna’s chip behind the Ulster defence, and he off-loaded to winger Matias Quaglia to race home under the posts.
Ulster received a further blow minutes later when hooker Dylan Armstrong was shown a yellow card for a high tackle.
But the home side steadied the ship and the deservedly drew level in the 13th minute when flanker James Flanagan powered over after breaking off from an Ulster maul.
Captain Jonnie Kennedy confidently drilled over the conversion to level the tie at 7-all.
Leinster quickly responded when flanker Ronan McCann went over for his side’s second try in the 18th minute. McKenna again was successful with the conversion as Leinster opened a seven-point lead.
Helped by the kicking of Jack Best and an opportunistic 50:22 from flanker Elliot Magowan, Ulster lay siege to the Leinster 22, but they found the visitors defence a tough nut to crack.
Eventually, Ulster got the score their dominance deserved when fly-half Jack Best broke through the Leinster rearguard for Ulster’s second try. Kennedy was narrowly off target with the conversion, but Ulster remained on top as half-time approached.
Trailing by two-points and in the final play of the half, Kennedy could only look on in agony as his penalty struck the top of the post. Leinster quickly regathered themselves to see the ball into touch and take a slender lead into the changing rooms at the break.
Half-time: Ulster 12-14 Leinster
Ulster went close to taking the lead at the start of the second half, but another great defensive moment from the visitors denied Ulster just when they were about to dot the ball down.
The turning point arrived in the 46th minute when Leinster’s Rónán O’Neill, won a turnover. The hooker showed a great turn of pace before spinning the ball left to scrumhalf Victor Chauvire who raced clear down the right wing for Leinster’s third try of the game.
With their tails up, Leinster started to dominate and in the space of nine second half minutes, they added a further four tries through Quaglia, Chauvire, Adam Smyth and Rowan Balamash.
McKenna delivered a textbook display of goalkicking by converting all four tries, and in the dying minutes he brought his tally for the day to seven when he converted Sam Dunne’s effort.
The last word though was left to Ulster.
Full back Dylan Gray’s beautifully flighted cross field kick found Zach Thompson, and the Campbell College winger raced home unopposed, for a third Ulster try.
The final whistle sounded minutes later to confirm an away win, and a disappointing end to Ulster’s season.
Full-time: Ulster 17-54 Leinster
Scorers:
Ulster:
Tries: Flanagan, Best, Z. Thompson
Cons: Kennedy
Leinster:
Tries: Quaglia (2), McCann, Chauvire (2), Smyth, Balamash, Dunne
Cons: McKenna (7)
Teams:
Ulster Rugby:
15. Dylan Gray, 14. Zac Topping, 13. Will Rogers, 12. Jonnie Kennedy, 11. Zach Thompson, 10. Jack Best, 9. Rocco Steen, 1. Adam Crone, 2. Dylan Armstrong, 3. Reuben Gibson 4. Will Downey, 5. Oscar Eddis, 6. Elliot Magowan, 7. James Flannagan, 8. James Reid.
Replacements:
16. Issac Crawford, 17. Matthew Watkins, 18. Conor McKinney, 19. Elijah Fitzpatrick, 20. Ben Ellis, 21. Alex Turkington, 22. Lucas McKeown, 23. Jack Thompson.
Leinster:
15. Finn Brennan, 14. Myles Carroll, 13. Tommy Smyth, 12. Sam Dunne, 11. Quaglia, 10. Matthew McKenna, 9. Victor Chauvire, 1. Hugo Ivers McCormick, 2. Rónán O’Neill, 3. Eoghan Rowlands, 4. Hugh Keaney, 5. Phillip Kenny, 6. Ronan McCann, 7. George Eggers, 8. Lucas Hill.
Replacements:
16. Rowan Balamash, 17. Aodhán Carroll, 18. Borja Salto Galdon, 19. Saul Brewster, 20. Sam Kennedy, 21. Ryan O’Sullivan, 22. Adam Smyth, 23. Mark McNally.