The Ulster U20’s started the defence of their Inter-Provincial crown with a game against Munster U20’s which was played at Ravenhill on the evening of Friday 6th September.
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The young Ulster team had to dig deep and display great character before they were able to emerge as 17-14 winners of an exciting contest. The Munster team started well with their impressive captain, Jack O’Donoghue, Dan Goggins and David Johnston all asking questions of the Ulster defence. A penalty opportunity, after only four minutes of the game, was missed by the Munster outhalf. Munster continued to control possession but could not break down the resolute Ulster defence.
Twelve minutes into the first half the Ulster team took play deep into Munster territory and, from a clever cross field kick from Josh Bingham, it looked as if a try was on. Unfortunately, the ball was knocked on by an Ulster player in-goal and the opportunity for points was lost. The Ulster team continued to pressurise the Munster defence with Ross Haldane, Mark Best, David Busby and Jacob Knight all combining well but unable to find a way through. Eventually, the Ulster team got good possession following a scrum and Mark Campbell stretched far enough to touch down for a try. The conversion attempt from Rob Haldane was successful to put Ulster U20’s into a 7-0 lead.
Munster then gained sufficient possession following the restart to take play into Ulster territory. They failed with a second penalty attempt on twenty six minutes. Two minutes later the Munster full back, David Johnston, must have felt he was through for a try only to be scythed down by a brilliant cover defence tackle from David Busby.
Following a series of scrums close to the Ulster line, Ulster had a player sent to the “bin” after thirty two minutes. The Munster team took advantage of the situation and Darragh Moloney barged his was over the Ulster line to touch down for a try. Shane Airey was successful with the conversion kick to take the score to 7-7.
Just before the interval David Johnston broke through a static Ulster defence to run in for a try. Once again, Shane Airey was successful with his conversion to give his Munster team a 14-7 lead at halftime.
The second half saw the Ulster team control possession for most of the time. The Munster defence was well-organised and gave very little away. The Ulster team came close to the Munster line on a number of occasions only to see the wrong option being taken or the ball knocked on.
However, the determination of the Ulster team shone through in the closing stages of the game. The Munster team won comfortable possession from a lineout and decided to run the ball from deep. The Ulster defence pressurised the Munster ball carrier who threw a pass which was intercepted by the Ulster winger, Jacob Knight. Jacob did not need any invitation and ran in strongly for a try. Mark Best stepped up to coolly convert the try and take the score to 14-14.
With the game now in injury time and the result looking like a draw, the Ulster pack pressurised the Munster pack at the breakdown. The Munster forwards infringed, the referee awarded Ulster the penalty and up stepped that man, Mark Best, once again, to convert the kick into points and give his team a 17-14 lead. The Ulster team remained focused and played out the remaining minutes of the game to record a hard earned, but well-deserved, 17-14 win at the no-side whistle.
The final whistle was greeted with delight by the Ulster players and Management. However, they will all know there is still work to be done before they travel to Galway where the team will play Connacht in the Sportsground on Friday 13th September in a game which is scheduled to kick off at 3-00pm.
