Ulster U18 XV Schools – 8 Connacht U18 XV Schools – 11
Report below and links to 100s of pictures.
InTouch TV highlights to follow next ~ Enjoy!
The Ulster U18 Schools side commenced their Inter-Provincial campaign when they hosted Connacht Schools at Dungannon Rugby Club
Early morning rain gave way to much fairer conditions for the duration of the match with Ulster playing into the slight breeze in the first half.
Connacht opened the scoring in the 5th minute when they were awarded a penalty one metre inside their own half which winger Colm Egan kicked with surprising ease.
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When Ulster failed to find touch after 18 minutes, Connacht counter attached by moving the ball left and when the ball was grubber kicked through, Colm Egan won the race for the touchdown in the left corner. The conversion attempt was missed.
Ulster were then awarded a series of penalties and Connacht had a player sent to the sin bin. Although Ulster pressurised the Connacht line with a series of driving mauls from lineouts they could not breech the visitor’s defence.
Connacht extended their lead after 33 minutes when Colm Egan added his second long distance penalty, this time from the half way line to see the visitors lead 11 – 0 at the interval.
Early in the second half two penalty attempts by Ulster were wide of the posts before a period of pressure resulted in an Ulster lineout on the Connacht 22m line. The ball was moved wide to left wing Neil Burns who made some ground before the ball was recycled and moved back to the right where David Busby was on hand to run in for an unconverted try.
Further Ulster pressure resulted in a series of penalties and Connacht had another player sent to the sin bin. Ulster narrowed the deficit after 17 minutes when Justin Rea kicked a penalty from 20m in front of the posts.
Ulster finished the game strongly with two handling movements threatening the Connacht defence but they were called back for forward passes and the Connacht defence was put under more pressure when Ulster took three scrums in succession against the head.
However the Connacht defence held firm as they achieved a narrow but deserved win.
Next Wednesday Ulster Schools play Leinster Schools at Ravenhill when the kick off is 2.00pm.
Ulster Schools Team
15. Rob Haldane (Campbell College)
14. Neil Burns (Foyle & Londonderry College)
13. John McClure (RBAI)
12. Nathan Brown (RBAI)
11. David Busby (Portadown College)
10. Justin Rea (Down HS)
9. Conor Wright (RS Armagh)
1. Michael Hoey (RS Armagh)
2. Adam Kerr (Ballymena Academy)
3. Sebastian McBrien (Campbell College)
4. Jonathan Darling (Ballyclare HS)
5. Jack Cooke (Captain, Campbell College)
6. Ben Alexander (RBAI)
7. David Marshall (Wellington College)
8. Patrick Anderson (RBAI)
Replacements:
16. Max Montgomery (Bangor GS) for Adam Kerr, 67 mins
17. Jonathon Craig (Ballyclare HS) for Michael Hoey, 49 mins
18. Ross Kane (Methodist College) for Sebastian McBrien, 49 mins
19. Daniel Dass (BRA) for Patrick Anderson, 49 mins
20. Peter Weir (Wallace HS) for Conor Wright, 58 mins
21. Alastair Wright (RS Armagh) Justin Rea, 62 mins
22. Mark Best (Campbell College) for Nathan Browne, 44 mins
Connacht Schools’ Team
15. Reuben Pepperhobbs (Wilsons Hospital)
14. Colm Egan (Sligo Grammar)
13. Andrew McAleer (Rice College)
12. Matthew Mellotte (Cistercian College)
11. Cormac Langan (Marist College)
10. Ben Carty (Marist College)
9. Enda Gavin (Sligo Grammar)
1. Jacob Walsh (Garbally College)
2. Scott Flannagan (Marist College)
3. Saba Mehagueria (Marist College)
4. Shane Boyle (Sligo Grammar)
5. Diarmuid O’Dowd-Hill (Sligo Grammar)
6. Eddie Connell (Sligo Grammar)
7. Ross Mooney (Cistercian College)
8. Sean O’Brien (Calasanctious)
Replacements:
16. Paul O’Donnell (Calasanctious)
17. Dan McCardle (Calasanctious) for Saba Mehagueria, 35 mins (blood)
18. James O’Hehir (Sligo Grammar) for Ross Mooney 61 mins
19. Sam McCormack (Cistercian College)
20. Ruardhri Doolen (Gallen CS)
21. Ciaran Gaffney (Cistercian College) for Ben Carty, 61mins
22. Dwayne Corcoran (Rice College)
