Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ v Saracen’s Academy U18’s Wednesday 17th August 2016
Having worked hard over the summer period the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 squad and Management team travelled to Felsted School where they stayed in preparation for the game against the Saracen’s RFC U18’s. This game was seen as vital in terms of preparation for the forthcoming Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ Inter Provincial games when they will play their Munster and Leinster Schools’ U18 counterparts on a home and away basis at the end of August and during September.
The full list of Inter Provincial matches is as follows:
Friday 26th August – Munster at home at Pirrie Park, Kick Off 4.00pm
Saturday 3rd September – Leinster away at Donnybrook, Kick Off 3.00pm
Saturday 10th September – Munster away at Cork CIT, Kick Off 1.00pm
Saturday 17th September – Leinster at home at Pirrie Park, Kick Off 1.00pm
The following players travelled to England for the game with a number of other players missing out due to non-availability or injury.
Agnew Scott Ballymena Academy
Allison Azur (Captain) Ballymena Academy
Armstrong Niall RBAI
Baillie Max Coleraine GS
Field Ethan RBAI
Finlay Lewis Down HS
Gilpin Tom BRA
Houston Bruce Ballymena Academy
Hunter Jonny Wallace HS
Jordan Oisin Ballymena Academy
Kernohan Angus Ballymena Academy
Kiernan Oisin St Clare’s College, Cavan
Lewis Jack Ballyclare HS
Macartney Jamie Campbell College
Manderson Jamie Wallace HS
Martin Tiarnan Ballymena Academy
McKee John Campbell College
Milligan Claytan Down HS
Mooney Matthew Coleraine GS
Pringle George Friends’ School
Rutledge Jack Portora RS
Savage Ben Ballymena Academy
Savoury Tim Ballymena Academy
Sexton Aaron Bangor GS
Smyth Callum Sperrin Integrated College
Stewart Ross Friends’ School
Storey Jules Sullivan Upper
Thompson Mark Ballymena Academy
Webb Ben Campbell College
Team Management:
- Head Coach: James Topping
- Assistant Head Coach: Bryan Young
- Assistant Coaches: Gavin Murray and Chris Nash
- Strength and Conditioning coach: Matt Maguire
- Physiotherapist: David Minion
- Resources Manager: Andy Weir
- Manager: Richard Clingan
The game turned out to be an excellent game from which the Ulster team emerged as 36-34 winners following 3×30 minutes sessions.
Saracen’s started the game strongly and took an early 5-0 lead when they ran in an unconverted try in the corner. The Ulster team responded quickly to the early setback by pressurising the opposition into conceding a number of penalties. The Ulster team set up a driven maul close to the Saracen’s line following a lineout. The maul was effectively managed and finished off when Tom Gilpin scrambled over for a try. Mark Thompson was successful with the conversion to put his team into a 7-5 lead. The Saracen’s team then displayed a degree of ill-discipline at a ruck which led to a penalty in front of their posts. Mark Thompson obliged with his kick to see the Ulster team into a 10-5 lead. This became 13-5 when Mark Thompson converted another penalty kick when Saracen’s were penalised at another ruck. Jamie Manderson then broke away from an Ulster ruck and made the most of some slack opposition defence. He outwitted three defenders before off-loading to Aaron Sexton. The Bangor GS winger needed no second invitation before he scorched in for an unconverted try to increase the Ulster lead to 18-5. In the final minutes of the first period of play the Saracen’s team almost took advantage of a poor Ulster box kick when they fielded the ball in space and nearly finished off but for some effective Ulster scramble defence. This ensured the Ulster team finished the first third of the game with their 18-5 lead intact.
Good Ulster pressure from the start of the second period of play, allied to a strong set piece, led to another penalty in front of the Saracen’s posts. This time Bruce Houston converted the kick to see the Ulster team into a 21-5 lead. Saracens rallied from this and kicked into the Ulster 22m area for a line out. After a driven maul was turned over by Ulster, who were then turned over straight away, the Saracen’s team managed to score a try in the corner. The conversion attempt was successful and the score now read 21-12in favour of Ulster. From the restart the Ulster team took play deep into the Saracen’s “Red Zone”. An effective set piece laid the platform for Callum Smith to score a try in the corner. Bruce Houston added the conversion to increase the Ulster lead to 28-12 after an hour of play.
The third session saw Ulster create early pressure inside the Saracen’s 22m area. However, Saracens turned over the ball under the posts after an Ulster player was isolated and then shipped the ball quickly to their winger who scored a good try under the posts. A successful conversion reduced the deficit to 28-19. A couple of minutes later another pen for offside was awarded to Ulster and converted by Bruce Houston to increase the Ulster lead to 31-19. Saracens mounted something of a revival with their No 8 running in for an unconverted try to reduce the arrears to 31-24. Saracens then scored two unconverted tries through a prop and a winger which saw them into a 34-31 lead with only minutes of the game remaining. From the restart Ulster gained a penalty inside the Saracen’s half. They decided to play for the win rather than kick for a draw. They opted to kick to the corner and take the lineout. The lineout ball was secured and mauled to create pressure which led to a great score off the next phase from Jonny Hunter. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the final whistle blew and the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team had secured a hard-earned, but ultimately well-deserved, 36-34 win.
This was a great win for the Ulster team who have worked hard at Newforge over the last six weeks with their coaching staff. Hopefully this win will engender confidence as the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ squad sets about finalising their preparations for the forthcoming Inter pro series.
