We caught up with the second match in the representative series between Ulster Hockey Boys and Wessex Spartans on Saturday morning at Jordanstown with Ulster represented by their U18 side.
The first quarter was a close affair with both side having chances though Wessex probably enjoying the bulk of territory and possession.
Just as it looked like it was going to be goalless up popped Adam McKee to give Ulster a 1 – 0 lead right at the end of the quarter.
There was a feast of goals in the second quarter. John Cunningham got on the end of a back-flick from McKee minutes after the restart to put Ulster 2 – 0 up and, in a golden spell for the home side, Cunningham and McKee picked up another each, to take the score to 4 – 0 as they ran the Wessex defence ragged.
Wessex regrouped towards the end of the half with Will Harvey caught the Ulster defence flat footed to pull one back to take the score to 4 – 1 in Ulster’s favour as the teams changed ends.
Goals from McKee and Cunningham pushed Ulster’s lead to 6 – 1 by the end of the third quarter and it looked as though the game intensity might drop as the home side surged ahead.
The visitors had other ideas and they had Ulster on the back foot for most of the remainder of the game.
Jonty Friend connected in style with a loose ball at a penalty corner to take the score to 6 – 2 and minutes later a similar but less spectacular finish from Harvey pulled it back to 6 – 3.
The Spartans’ tails were up as but Ulster found their composure in the closing minutes and the game ended with Ulster recording a 6 – 3 win to tie the series.
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