An Ulster Development side played an, Ulster based, AIL Select side on a very wet and windy Friday evening at Gibson Park, home of Malone RFC.
Storm Betty made conditions very difficult and it was an error strewn match with play largely concentrated at the top end of the pitch thanks to the prevalent wind. AIL Select played with the wind at their back and they spent most of the first half camped in the Ulster Development half with the Ulster side only able to make sporadic forrays against the elements.
The Ulster defence fought hard but the AIL Select side made their breakthrough midway through the first half with Adam Lamont at the bottom of a pile crashing over after a line out maul. Adam Doherty added the extras to give the AIL side a 0 – 7 lead.
The game continued in a similar vein throughout the half with Bevan Prinsloo adding a second try before the break. Doherty added the extras to give the AIL Select a 0 – 14 lead as the teams changed ends.
conditions continued to worsen in the second half and with the light fading rapidly I only such around for about 20 minutes.
Ulster did make an attempt at a fight back as they now had the conditions behind them though in fairness the AIL side did vernutre out of their half more often than Ulster had managed.
I stayed around long enough to get the score from Ulster captain Lorcan McLaughlin about 15 minutes in after a quick tap and go. No conversion, leaving the score at 5 – 14.
Ulster did get a second try towards the end with Adam Montgomery scoring in the same corner as his captain, but by that time I was half way home to get the equipment dried out ahead of our Saturday coverage.
Ulster Development: Ben McFarlane, Lukas Kenny, James Girvan, Ben Gibson, Ethan Graham, Zach Quirke, Ryan Davis, Jack Boal, Henry Walker, Cameron Doak, James McKillop, Mark Lee, Bryn Ward, Josh Stevens, Lorcan McLaughlin (C). Replacements: Zac Solomon, Jacob Boyd, Flynn Longstaff, Scott Craig, Conor Neary, Adam Montgomery, James Humphreys, Rory Ellerby, Henry Boyle, Josh Eagleson
AIL Select XV: Adam Doherty (Banbridge RFC), Curtis Henry (Ballymena RFC);,Bevan Prinsloo (Instonians RFC), Mark Best (Ballynahinch RFC), Dylan Nelson (City of Armagh RFC), Robbie Johnston (QUB RFC), Rhys O’Donnell (Instonians RFC), David Braden (Omagh RFC), Dan O’Neill (Rainey OB RFC), Joe Charles (Ballynahinch RFC), Adam McNamee (Malone RFC), Robert Sproule (Omagh RFC), Adam Lamont (Ballymena RFC), Dave Cave (Malone RFC), Bradley Luney (Ballynahinch RFC). Replacements: Sam Green (Malone RFC), Lawson Porter (Malone RFC), James Leary (Bangor RFC), John McCusker (Rainey OB RFC), Cameron Steenson (Dungannon RFC), Robin Sinton (Banbridge RFC), Lewis Finlay (City of Armagh RFC), Pierce Crowe (Ballymena RFC), Glen Faloon (City of Armagh RFC), Matthew Montgomery (Dungannon RFC), Ross Taylor (City of Armagh RFC), Mark Keane (Instonians RFC)
Staff: Adam Craig (Ballynahinch RFC); Ian McKinlay (Rainey OB RFC); Josh Pentland (Malone RFC); Rab Logan (Banbridge RFC)
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