Ulster strike late to beat Munster as Leinster Schools excite in UL
Below are reports from the first day of Schools games at the IRFU U18 inter-provincial festival. Check out reports from the Clubs games here.
Munster Schools 6
Ulster Schools 12
ULSTER STRUCK FOR two tries in three minutes by hooker Tom Stewart and fullback Conor Rankin to stun Munster in the U18 Schools inter-provincial series at the University of Limerick yesterday.
Ulster Schools started with a win yesterday. Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO
Munster will wonder how they lost a game they controlled for long periods against opportunistic Ulster on the first game day of the U18 Schools inter-pros.
The home side enjoyed most of the early possession with their dangerous left wing Aaron Leahy twice foiled when a try looked on the cards. They had to be content with a penalty from centre Jack Delaney in the eighth minute.
The missing link between owning the ball and not making it tell on the scoreboard was down to Ulster’s tigerish defence in which captain Tom Stewart and number eight Reuben Crothers led the line of resistance.
The inability of Munster to overcome a stonewall defence led Delaney to strike a penalty for 6-0 in the 33rd minute.
On the restart, the stop-start nature of the game continued as Ulster finally began to put some constructive rugby together, using the maul as a driving force for change.
Ulster also started to get their hands on the ball without really doing enough damage to warrant the penalties Munster gave away.
Munster’s Daniel Okeke makes a carry. Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO
Slowly, the far bigger Ulster boys grew into the game and struck for two tries in three minutes from hooker Stewart, off the back of a maul, which was converted by scrum-half Nathan Doak, and fullback Rankin on the other side of the pitch to lead 12-6 in the 63rd minute.
Munster’s best:
Jack Delaney – The Crescent centre had the Eye and leg speed for an outside break allied to a keen sense of what was required when space was at a premium.
Ulster’s best:
Reuben Crothers – The number eight played a main part in keeping Munster in check in the first-half, one crucial poach reliving pressure.
Munster:
15. Killian Dineen (Ardscoil Ris);
14. Conor Sheahan (St Munchin’s)
13. Harry O’Riordan (CBC Cork)
12. Jack Delaney (Crescent)
11. Aaron Leahy (CBC Cork)
10. Cian Whooley (CBC Cork)
9. Mark O’Connor (CBC Cork)
1. Mark Donnelly Capt (CBC Cork)
2. Billy Kingston (CBC Cork)
3. Craig Finn (St Munchin’s)
4. Will O’Callaghan (Ardscoil Ris)
5. John Forde (PBC Cork)
6. Jack Kelleher (PBC Cork)
7. Jack Ward Murphy (Ardscoil Ris)
8. Daniel Okeke (Ardscoil Ris)
Replacements:
16. Ronan O’Sullivan (CBC)
17. Donagh Hyland (Glenstal Abbey)
18. Corey Hanlon (CBC)
19. Luke Obersby(Midleton College)
20. Niall Queally (Glenstal Abbey)
21. Jake Connolly (Crescent)
22. Will Twomey (Glenstal Abbey)
23. Daniel Hurley (PBC)
24. Michael Hand (PBC)
Ulster:
15. Conor Rankin (Campbell College)
14. Luke Pollock (Dalriada)
13. Robin McIlveen (RBAI)
12. Ben Moxham (Larne HS)
11. Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI)
10. Greg Hutley (Down HS)
9. Nathan Doak (Wallace HS)
1. Adam Hanna (Banbridge Academy)
2. Tom Stewart (BRA, captain)
3. Patrick McAlpine (Campbell College)
4. Will Hopes (Regent House)
5. Rile Westwood (Bangor GS)
6. Jack Gamble (Ballyclare HS)
7. Jonathan Agnew (RS Armagh),
8. Reuben Crothers (Wallace HS)
Replacements:
16. Joel Dundas (Wallace HS)
17. George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper)
18. Oscar Egan (Coleraine GS)
19. Matthew Sands (St Colman’s College)
20. Gareth Wells (Bangor GS)
21. Jude Roberts (RS Armagh)
22. Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper)
23. Jack Harte (Friends School)
24. Ben Carson (Wallace HS)
25. Luke Graham (Methodist College)
26. Brandon Hassan (BRA)
____________________
Leave A Comment