Ulster Rugby Annual Report 2015 - 2016

The next game was away to Connaught in Galway. In the game Ulster set the early pace and had established a 19-3 lead at half-time. The second half saw Ulster show just what they were capable of with excellent play by both forwards and backs. A further four tries were scored with Ulster running out winners by 45-11. The last game was away to Leinster at Donnybrook. This was a very evenly contested game with very little between the sides. A score on the half-time whistle saw Leinster go in 16-8 in front. However, an Ulster score early in the second half reduced the deficit to 16-13. With defences on top there was no further scores until the last minute. Ulster looked to have scored but lost the ball over the goal line. From the resulting drop out, Leinster secured possession and went the length of the pitch to score a converted try and secure the win by 23-13. While the team finished the series in third place, it did not do justice to them as a squad and the hard work carried out the summer. The games with both Munster and Leinster could have gone either way and the Inter- provincial series could have been won. There are fine margins between winning and losing in this competitive age group and the Ulster team found that one or two mistakes can cost a team a game. 24

ULSTER UNDER 18 CLUB XV

Head Coach Jonathan Gillespie Assistant Coach Jonathon Graham Manager Liam Eastwood Strength & Conditioning Matthew Godfrey Doctor Gavin McClean Physio Bebhinn Flaherty Resources Manager Eamon McCormick

With an initial squad of some 50 boys, winter training was held at the Meadowbank Stadium in Magherafelt. A programme of games was arranged against a number of school and college sides including Wallace HS. Ballyclare HS, Limavady GS, Coleraine GS, Cambridge House, Omagh Academy and Belfast Metropolitan College. This programme was new and proved very helpful in both identifying and developing the talent in the squad. By May, the squad was reduced to 38 players for a more Intensive summer season involving two sessions per week in June and July and then three in August and September. Sessions were held at Meadowbank and Rainey OBRFC. Two warm-up games were played prior to the Inter- provincial series. The first against the Irish Exiles U18s at Newforge was a closely contested affair showing

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