I caught up with Ulster U18 Schools in their final Interprovincial match as they hosted Leinster at Newforge on Sunday afternoon.
Ulster started full of energy and they were soon 5 – 0 in the lead thanks to a try from Dromore High’s Matthew Heasley who bundled over in the corner.
The high octane start from the home side appeared to rattle Leinster who coughed up the ball frequently, as much to poor passing as to Ulster steals at the breakdown.
Ulster should have done more in the opening quarter but they were too eager to go into contact, making every yard a hard one. However, a period of sustained pressure in the Leinster 22 did end with some smart play from Frank Davis (BRA) who split a prop and a second row to send Ryan Halpin (Down High) over for their second try. Quinn Armstrong (Wallace High) converted and Ulster led 12 – 0 after 14 minutes.
Unfortunately Ulster’s high energy approach had a limited life and Leinster started to work their way back into the game as their handling improved and they started to ride the Ulster tackles. A series of close range offloads sent second row Joe Elliott over for their first try, Connor O’Shaughnessy’s conversion taking the score to 12 – 7 after 22 minutes.
A penalty from Ulster’s Armstrong pushed the score out to 15 – 7 before Leinster ominously pulled it back to a one point game with another well worked try from Jack Deegan on the stroke of half time, O’Shaughnessy converting to take the score to 15 – 14 as the teams changed ends.
Leinster dominated the bulk of the second half which they opened up with a nice series of offloads down the left which was finished off by Deegan for his second try to put Leinster in front 15 – 19.
The visitors should have had another score before Deegan crossed for his hat trick 7 minutes later, converted by O’Shaughnessy who stepped up to slot over a penalty to push the scoreline out to 15 – 29.
Ulster looked to regroup and they enjoyed long periods of possession in the final quarter. Unfortunately it was all hard yard stuff from the home side until a couple of kicks saw them in the Leinster 22 for a line out.
A good catch and drive saw replacement Adam Boyd (RBAI) stretch for the crowded line for a try to take the score to 22 – 29, ater Armstrong’s conversion.
There were only a couple of minutes left and Leinster closed it out to claim the Interprovincial Championship with 3 bonus point wins against their provincial rivals.
ULSTER: Josh Gibson (RBAI), Henry Ralston (CCB), Fraser Cunningham (RBAI), Quinn Armstrong (Wallace), Reuben Allen (Ballymena), Frank Davis (BRA), Callum Soper (RBAI), Tyrese Abolarin (MCB), James Clark (RBAI), Blake McClean (MCB), Ryan Halpin (Down), Harry Thallon (Sullivan), Matthew Heasley (Dromore), Thomas Dougan Capt (RSA), Callum McKinney (CCB). Replacements: Jed Dornan (CCB), Zak Molyneaux (RBAI), Rio McDonagh (Wallace), Zack McCartney (Coleraine), Adam Boyd (RBAI), Callum Irvine (Ballymena), Oliver Berry (MCB), James Kerr (RBAI).
LEINSTER: Charlie Moloney (Blackrock), Johnny O’Sullivan (Blackrock), Ethan Black (St Michael’s), Jack Deegan (CCR), Ross Adams (CWC), Conor O’Shaughnessy (Blackrock), James O’Dwyer (Gonzaga), Ed McLaughlin (St Michael’s), Luke McLaughlin (Gonzaga), Duinn Maguire (St Michael’s), Joe Elliott (St Michael’s), Donncha McGuire Capt (Blackrock), Charlie Kennedy (Gonzaga), Ben Blaney (Terenure), Dylan McNeice (CUS). Replacements: Lee Fitzpatrick (CCR), Max Doyle (CWC), Sami Bishti (Blackrock), Dermot Collins (CWC), Charlie Meagher (CBC Monkstown), Fionn Carney (CCR), Charlie Hempenstall (Wesley), Charlie McConnell (St Michael’s).
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