Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2016-17

Neill Alcorn, Darren McGuigan and Neal Johnston for their work in previous years as well as the 2016 coaching team of Zoe Templeton, David Chambers, Charlie Farrell and manager Jemma Jackson. Thanks also go to Portadown RFC and Armagh RFC who made their facilities available for squad training sessions and matches. A special word of thanks must also go to the parents of the players who travel far and wide to enable their daughters to train and play. U18 GIRL’S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS AND SCORERS. Round 1: Ulster 10 Leinster 5 Tries: Neve Jones, Kelly McCormill: Round 2: Connacht 5 Ulster 34 Tries: Neve Jones 2, Caoilinn McCormack, Leah McGoldrick. Cons: Lisa Mullen 3. Pen: Lisa Mullen. Round 3: Ulster 20 Munster 8 Tries: Claire Boles, Neve Jones, Brittany Hogan. coach Richard Boyd of Coleraine was given the opportunity to work with the best of the talent in the Kukri Ulster Championship and brought in Michael Ferguson to assist with the forwards and Robert Ford to work with the backs. Six weeks of intensive preparation would test the resolve of the new young playing squad. With as many as twenty one new caps by the end of the campaign, Ulster opened the series at Randalstown RFC on Saturday 29th April against reigning champions Munster, a team who are traditionally renowned for their abrasive and physical style of rugby. The Ulster forwards, led by Captain Chris Nash, imposed themselves on the opposition pack in the first quarter, with the lineout functioning particularly well thanks to great work in the air by Josh Christie and Brian Hughes. The large crowd had to wait twenty eight minutes for the first points of the game. Scrumhalf Allen McCluggage was aware of the space behind the Munster defence, his kick turned their cover and winger Mitchell McComb showed his footballing skills and pace to touch down for an excellent try. McCluggage added the points to give Ulster a well deserved 7-0 lead. Boyd made use of his bench by introducing forwards Alan Ferguson, Toby Mannus and Jason Gilliland as the Ulster forwards continued to dominate their Munster counterparts. However, Munster responded with a penalty, and turned round only four points behind. Despite a swirling wind in the first half, the conditions appeared to favour Ulster as the second half kicked off. Ulster gained the initiative early in the half, with McCluggage kicking two penalties to increase his team’s lead. The Ulster back row of Hughes, Andy McKeen and the formidable Andrew Kelly got through an enormous amount of work both in defence and Con: Lisa Mullen Pen: Lisa Mullen ULSTER JUNIORS Ulster found themselves with an exciting new coaching team for the 2017 Interprovincial Series. New head

attack. With just minutes remaining, Ulster got their reward when second row Christie showed his athleticism to storm in from the 22 metre line for a well- deserved try. McCluggage added the conversion. The forwards laid a great platform for the team to play with a high tempo and with a strong bench of replacements to call upon to maintain that pace and intensity, Munster struggled to match the Ulstermen who won by 20-3. On Saturday 6th May, Ulster travelled to Ballina RFC to play Connacht. Ulster flew out of the blocks and produced a scintillating first half of rugby. Playing against a stiff breeze, Richard Boyd’s side had a twenty four point lead to show for their dominant opening forty minutes. Back row Brian Hughes was on the end of two flowing moves to touch down twice, with Mikey Poskitt converting one of them to give Ulster a 12-0 lead after ten minutes. Not to be outdone, fellow back rower Andy McKeen quickly got in on the try scoring action, again converted by Poskitt. Powerful driving play by the pack and some skilful interplay by the three-quarters was proving too much for Connacht as Ulster won the collisions and took all their opportunities. Out half Bokkie Carstens having scored Ulster’s fourth try, converted by Poskitt and half back partner Ryan Garrett, controlled the game effectively as Ulster continued to make light of the breeze. Ulster showed some sterling defensive qualities leading up to the end of the first period, with Gareth Beattie and Andrew Kelly to the fore. Ulster unfortunately lost fullback Phil Cartmill to injury just before the break but they already had the four try bonus point in the bag with their line intact. Connacht rallied in the second half and came back strongly as they made a number of changes to their starting XV. However, Mikey Poskitt kept the scoreboard ticking over and nudged home another penalty. Out half Carstens scored Ulster’s fifth try of the afternoon, Poskitt again slotting the easy conversion to make it 34-0. Connacht did score a very late consolation try, intercepting the ball close to their own line as Ulster pressed yet again. They very nearly went the full length of the pitch but for the determination of three Ulster covering defenders. Connacht did manage to recycle the ball and score in the corner for an unconverted try, leaving the final score 34-5. The following Saturday, 13th May, Ulster travelled to Longford RFC to play Leinster in the final game of the series. As in their previous two games, Ulster played into a very stiff wind in the first half. The Ulster forwards demonstrated very early in the game that they had complete control in the set piece, with the Ulster front row of Nash, Whitley and Beattie totally dominant in every scrum. The Ulster forwards were also well on top at the lineout, picking off a number of Leinster throws and retaining their own possession. On seventeen minutes a Leinster line-out in the Ulster 22 was under severe pressure but somehow they won very scrappy possession and managed to get over the line for the opening score which went unconverted. Ulster responded straight away, putting huge pressure on the kick-off to regain the football. Eventually, after the ball had gone through a number of hands, Neil Brown scored in the corner. The tough conversion into the wind was missed. On thirty one minutes a huge hit by Ulster just inside the Leinster half saw the ball spill

27 27