Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2016-17

reduce Ulster’s lead to 14-13. Unfortunately in the final ten minutes of the game Ulster conceded two penalties and lost 14-19. The second game was against Connacht at the Sportsground, Galway. Ulster kicked off into a very strong wind and were controlling the game by keeping the ball tight and quickly contesting rucks and mauls with the backs up early to the tackle line. However, it was Connacht who took a 10-0 lead at half time. The second half saw Ulster play with a lot of determination which was rewarded by an early try, reducing the deficit to 10-5. However, Connacht weathered the storm and scored again before Ulster got a late try leaving the score at 17-10 to Connacht. The final match was against Leinster at Donnybrook in Dublin. Both teams were out to prove a point having lost both of their previous games. Ulster were finding it difficult getting into the game and the opposition took full advantage of their indecision to go ahead in the first half with a penalty before crossing for two tries. Ulster had their chances and were unfortunate that a push- over try was disallowed due to knock-on in the in-goal area. Trailing 15-0 at the break, Ulster started well in the second half and reduced the deficit to ten points, but unfortunalely fell away in the last fifteen minutes to lose 5-35. ULSTER U18 (SCHOOLS) Head Coach: James Topping Assistant Head Coach: Bryan Young Assistant Coaches: Chris Nash / Gavin Murray Lineout coach: Franco van de Merve Strength & Conditioning: Matthew Maguire Doctor: Ryan Hamilton Physio: David Minion / Katie Lannon / Jason Patton Resource Managers: Dan Carson / Adrian Walker / Andy Weir

A squad of up to thirty six players took part in the eleven week programme which included thirty three sessions or matches. Training was based at Newforge and took place on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. A squad of twenty nine players travelled to Felsted School in mid-August to take part in a three day camp culminating with a three session match against Saracens Academy. The lead alternated between the two sides with the Ulster team showing great character to score at the end of the game to seal the win by 36- 34. This was a good opportunity for the players to get to know each other well. The first Inter-pro was against Munster at Pirrie Park. An early Ulster score was not built on as Munster led 8-13 early in the second half before an Ulster try brought the scores level, but Munster sealed an 18-15 victory with a driven lineout. Opportunities to kick for goal following penalty awards were turned down in favour of going for lines-out in the corner, but these were not converted into scores. In the second match of the series in Donnybrook, two tries by Leinster in the first half sealed the game. Ulster, frustrated by missed opportunities, finally scored late in the match after a red card saw Leinster reduced to fourteen men, but Leinster secured a 10-5 win. Against Munster at the Cork Institute of Technology, Ulster lead match 8-7 after seventeen minutes but two tries late in the half saw Munster lead 8-19 at half time. In the second half Ulster dominated the territorially, with the majority of the play being in the home side’s half of the pitch, but Ulster were unable to seize opportunities that came their way until an injury time try brought a losing bonus point, going down 13-19. In the fourth and final match, against Leinster at Pirrie Park, Ulster fought back from 11-0 down to be only a point behind. However the Leinster players responded to score two further tries to win by 21-10. The Inter Provincial Championship was won by Leinster.

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