The Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ team recovered from their disappointing loss to Leinster Schools a week ago when they travelled to play Connacht Schools’ at the Sportsground in Galway on Wednesday 12th September. The game was played in windy overhead, but good underfoot, conditions.
The Ulster Schools squad had worked hard with the coaching staff as well as having sessions with Brian McLaughlin. The players and management were determined to sort out the problems that had arisen against Leinster Schools’ and their hard work paid off.
Playing with the wind in the first half, Ulster Schools’ took an early 6-0 lead with two penalties from Campbell College full back, Jack Owens. Despite losing key players such as Mark Gilkinson, Andrew McGrath and Mark Lagan to injury in the course of the first period of play, the attacking mind set of the Ulster XV was not disrupted. With Connor Shields displaying great game management skills, the Ulster team continued to control the game in terms of possession and territory. It was Connor who showed his class with a well taken try a well taken try just before the interval to put his team into an 11-0 lead. Jack Owens added the extras to see the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ team into a relatively comfortable 13-0 half time lead.
Playing with the wind the Connacht XV started the second half strongly and took play deep into Ulster territory. However, they found the Ulster defence to be well-organised and determined not to concede any points. The Ulster Schools’ team weathered the storm and went on to score two second half tries. The first of these came from Connor Shields and the second came from the blistering pace of Rory Campbell who outpaced the home defence to run his try in from sixty metres. Neither try was converted but it was the Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ team that celebrated at the final whistle with their hard earned but well-deserved 23-0 victory.
The Ulster Schools’ team will now prepare for their only home fixture of the Schools’ Inter Provincial series when they take on the might of Munster Schools at Ravenhill on Saturday 22nd September.
Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ team:-
15. Jack Owens (Campbell College)
14. Thomas Gaston (Ballymena Academy)
13. John McClure (RBAI)
12. Rory Bell (RBAI)
11. Rory Campbell (RBAI)
10. Conor Shiels (Coleraine AI)
9. Josh Fullerton (Campbell College)
1. Michael Lagan (Methodist College)
2. Max Montgomery (Bangor GS)
3. Aaron Gilkinson (Wallace HS)
4. Lewis Benson (Belfast HS)
5. Thomas Donnan (Down HS)
6. Daniel Dass (BRA)
7. Andrew McGrath (RBAI)
8. Daryl Morton (Captain, RS Armagh)
Replacements:
16. Andrew Shaw (Bangor GS)
17. Rory Squires (Limavady GS)
18. Conor McIlmurray (Campbell College)
19. Alexander Thompson (Methodist College)
20. James Gallagher (Methodist College)
21. Peter Kidd (Coleraine AI)
22. James McCallan (Wallace HS)
23. Connor McKee (Methodist College)
Coaches: Richard Hedley and John Andrews
Ulster Rugby Coach: Brian McLaughlin
Strength and conditioning coach: Chris Shields
Doctor: Dr Gavin McLean
Physiotherapist: Andrew McMullan
Manager: Richard Clingan
