Ulster Under 19’s closed out their PwC Interprovincial Championship with a deserving and hard-fought win over Connacht at Affidea Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The win arrived following a blistering start to the game which yielded two tries for Ricky Andrew’s side, before a strong Connacht comeback tested the sides mental fortitude in the closing stages.
In the end, Ulster stood tall as they claimed a deserving five-point win.
Ulster set their stall out straight from kick-off, and after only 93 seconds they were celebrating their first try of the game.
From a lineout in the opposition 22, the Ulster pack made a relentless drive towards the Connacht line where hooker Charlie Reaney got the all-important touchdown.
A good start became a great start in the 14th minute when Ulster went over for their second try.
Connacht were struggling to live with Ulster’s intensity and after several phases of play across the Connacht line, the visitor’s resistance was broken when centre Paul Henry powered his way through the Connacht defence to further tighten Ulster’s grip on the game.
McCaughey’s conversion made the score 14-0 in Ulster’s favour.
Connacht grew into the game in the second quarter, but a combination of handling errors, and a watertight home defence was to be their undoing.
Ulster’s second row pairing of Archie Graham and Charlie Best led the Ulster defensive charge from the front.
After Best stole a Connacht lineout deep in the Ulster 22, Graham was on hand to a vital turnover penalty close to the Ulster line when it finally looked like Connacht were going to claim their first score of the day.
After a dominate attacking display in the first quarter, a strong defensive one in the second helped Ulster to a deserving lead at the break.
Half-time: Ulster 14-0 Connacht
Connacht wasted no time in bringing themselves back into contention.
Only three second half minutes had elapsed when Cathal Moffatt managed to get himself over the whitewash after a pick and go from close range.
Dylan Curran was narrowly off target with the conversion, but suddenly, the westerners were playing with more physicality and intensity.
Connacht continued pressure brought with it several penalties, and the referee’s patience finally snapped in the 51st minute when he sent Ulster’s Graham to the sinbin.
Connacht wasted no time in making their advantage count when from the next phase of play, captain Ruben Flynn went over for a second Connacht try.
Curran kicked a successful conversion to leave just two-points separating the sides as the game entered the final quarter.
Ulster’s play had become the mirror image of Connacht’s in the first half as they struggled to bring any momentum into their game, but a 59th minute McCaughey penalty steadied the ship as Ulster stretched their lead out to five-points.
McCaughey’s penalty relaxed the Ulster team and five minutes later they crossed the line for the third time.
Again, the foundation for the score came from the set piece. A lineout in Connacht’s 22 was followed by a driving maul which allowed Josh McColgan to touchdown for a much-needed Ulster score.
McCaughey made it four from four off the tee, and going into the closing stages, Ulster led by double scores, 24-12.
But any ideas that the game was over as a contest were quickly dispelled.
From the restart Connacht’s backrow forward Leo Anic caught everyone off guard, and he surged into the Ulster 22 before offloading to Tom Walsh who sprinted in for a third Connacht try.
Kaylum Curran’s conversion set up a potentially nervous finish, but Ulster’s game good game management saw them comfortably close out the game for a much-welcomed win.
Full-time: Ulster 24-19 Connacht
Scorers:
Ulster:
Tries: Reaney, Henry, McColgan
Cons: McCaughey (3),
Pens: McCaughey
Connacht:
Tries: Moffatt, Flynn, Walsh
Cons: D. Curran, K Curran.
Teams:
Ulster: 15. Alfie Clarke, 14. Aaron Lowey, 13. Paul Henry, 12. Isaac Hatch, 11. Ryan Hamilton, 10. Josh McCaughey, 9. Sam Harper, 1. Elias Agbonkpolar, 2. Charlie Reaney, 3. Noah Carson, 4. Charlie Best, 5. Archie Graham, 6. Theo Scott, 7. Jayden Irwin (C), 8. Cian McClean.
Replacements: 16. Josh McCologan, 17. Reuben Edmondson, 18. Dylan Byrne, 19. James Lennon, 20. Jacob McKeown, 21. Ollie Larkin, 22. Ollie Worth, 23. James McMillan.
Connacht: 15. Cian Hynes, 14. Brian McCulloch, 13. Oisin O’Donoghue, 12. John Brendan McDonnell, 11. Daniel Kelly, 10. Dylan Curran, 9. Luke Molloy, 1. Reuben Galvan, 2. Hugh Og Arnold, 4. Emmanuel Albert, 5. JJ Phillips, 6. Barry Gavin, 7. Alastair Hewson, 8. Ruben Flynn (C).
Replacements: 16 Felix Zeray, 17. James Siva, 18. Cathal Moffatt, 19. Leo Anic, 20. Michael Walsh, 21. Tom Walsh, 22. Kaylum Curran, 23. Shane Lally.