Ulster Age Grade Round Up Week Ending 30th August 2014
There were three Ulster Age Grade teams playing games away from home during the week. These were the final games played in preparation for the forthcoming Inter Provincial games which start on Friday 5th September.
An Ulster U20 squad travelled on Thursday 28th August to Sunbury to take on the might of the London Irish Academy squad. The game proved to be an excellent work out for the Ulster U20 squad with the players putting on an excellent performance before losing out by 27-24 against a very physical and aggressive London Irish Academy team.
The London Irish team scored three converted tries, two from well-orchestrated driven mauls following lineouts, and one from a series of Pick and Jams close to the Ulster line. The London Irish kicker contributed a further six points from penalty kicks.
The two Ulster tries came from team plays with Conor Young and Andrew McGrath finishing with the touchdowns. Josh Bingham weighed in with two penalty kicks while Jack Milligan contributed two penalties and one conversion.
The Ulster boys’ can take a lot of positives from the game despite losing narrowly. The Management team will have some difficult decisions to make before selecting the 23 players required for the opening Inter-Provincial game to be played on Friday 5th September against Connacht U20’s at the Kingspan Stadium.
Meanwhile the Ulster U19 Squad broke new ground when they travelled on Thursday 28th to Ruthin Rugby Club in Wales to take on a North Wales WRU U19 team.
This proved to be a very positive outing for the Ulster U19 players who had opened up a 21-7 lead at the interval before going on to win the game by 36-7.
The Ulster under 19s travelled to North Wales to take on the regional North Wales RFU U19 team at Ruthin Rugby Club. The two teams were unknown quantities to each other and it was the local team that started in a very determined manner. However, the Ulster team soon overcame the effects of an early start, flight to Manchester and coach journey to North Wales. They countered the strong Welsh start with some good phase play which delivered quick ball for the backs to stretch the Welsh defence. This paid off with Jonny Rosborough touching down for the first of the game following some impressive attacking play from Gareth Millar. Gareth converted the try to put the Ulster U19 team into a 7-0 lead.
The Welsh team responded in a very positive manner and produced some quality possession which afforded their back division the opportunity to attack the Ulster defence on a number of occasions. Eventually, the Welsh endeavours were rewarded with a converted try to draw the scoreline level at 7-7.
The Ulster lads lifted their game once again and pushed straight back into the Welsh territory. From a lineout, the ball was moved to a forward set for them to drive into the mid field. The ensuing ruck again gave quick ball for outhalf Gareth Millar, and his backs, to stretch the ball wide. Good Welsh defence hauled down Paddy Wright just short of their line. The Ulster support players put a couple of close driven attacks together before Paddy Wright popped up outside a ruck to go through and score under the posts. The Gareth Millar conversion left the score reading 14-7 for Ulster.
From the kick off Ulster collected the ball and Gareth Millar kicked his team deep into Welsh territory. Pressure from the chasing Ulster players won a lineout and, from this lineout, Ulster maintained their momentum. Jonny Rosborough made a clean break to storm through for his second try of the game. Once again, Gareth Millar was successful with his conversion to put the Ulster U19 team into a 21-7 lead at the interval.
At the start of the second half it was the Welsh who came out stronger pushing to get some more points on the board. However, they were met with resilient defence from an Ulster team that had worked hard on that aspect of the game since their last outing.
Jonny Rosborough broke clear from his 22m area and was bundled into touch by an almost despairing Welsh defence close to the Welsh line. Ulster stole the Welsh lineout and moved the ball wide to stretch the North Wales defence. They then created a couple of phases before going wide with Ryan Spence squeezing in for a try in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Ulster team had increased their lead to 26-7.
One area that Ulster was pleased about was their attacking scrum and it was from this platform that they controlled possession for their backs in the second half. Following some attacking plays, with both forwards and backs displaying some deft handling skills, it was that man, Jonny Rosborough, who capped a fine personal performance when he finished off a flowing attack to run in for his third try of the game. The conversion unsuccessful but the Ulster team had increased their lead to 31-7.
By the end of the game the high tempo Ulster was maintaining ensured the Welsh team were struggling to hold on. Towards the end of the game, Conall Boomer scored an unconverted try following good work from his pack. This secured a well-deserved 36-7 victory for the Ulster U19 team.
This was the final preparation game for the Ulster U19 players who will be keen to maintain their recent run of good form when they meet Connacht in the first of their U19 Interprovincial games on Saturday 6th September. This game is scheduled to take place at Belfast Harlequin’s RFC.
On Friday 29th an Ulster Schools’ U18 squad travelled to play their Glasgow counterparts at Marr Rugby Club in Troon on the West Coast of Scotland. The Ulster boys had to dig deep in horrendous conditions before emerging as narrow 15-14 winners.
The Ulster team had taken an early 3-0 lead when Robert Lyttle converted a penalty kick opportunity after just two minutes of play. Six minutes later the Ulster team increased their lead to 8-0 when Jack Magee took full advantage of good work from the Ulster pack following a lineout to touch down for an unconverted try. Midway through the first half the Ulster lead increased to 15-0 when winger, Conor Field, rounded his opposite number to run in for a splendid try. Robert Lyttle converted the try.
This seemed to spur the home team into action with the Glasgow team now making better use of any possession they had. Their right winger rounded the Ulster defence to run in for a try which was converted to reduce the arrears to 15-7. Both team attacked at every opportunity but the adverse weather conditions were starting to impact on the game and there were no further scores in the first half.
The weather conditions deteriorated dramatically in the second half forcing the Ulster team into giving away a series of penalties. Fortunately, the home team was unable to take any real advantage of the Ulster mistakes and the score remained at 15-7 to Ulster for most of the second period. With the final play of the game it was the Glasgow team that got some reward for their endeavours when they scored a converted try.
This ensured the Ulster team came away with a hard earned, but well deserved, 15-14 win and with it a positive attitude. The entire Management team and squad of players can now look forward to the first of the Schools’ Inter Provincial games which will take place against Connacht Schools’ at Ballinasloe on Saturday 6th September.
On Saturday 30th August the Royal School, Armagh senior squad entertained the Ulster Clubs’ Youth squad in a controlled run out. Both Management teams used their extended squads to assist in the identification of areas of both strength and weakness. The exercise proved very useful for both squads of players.
Barney McGonigle.
