40 / 56
www.
ULSTERRUGBY
.com
38
ULSTER JUNIORS
JUNIOR INTER-PROVINCIAL SERIES
ROUND 1:
ULSTER 20-3 MUNSTER
Following six weeks of intensive preparation
under the guidance of new Head Coach Richard
Boyd along with Michael Ferguson and Robert
Ford, Ulster Juniors hosted reigning champions
Munster at Randalstown RFC in the opening
series game on Saturday 29th April.
The large crowd had to wait 28 minutes for the
first points of the game. Having spotted space
behind the Munster defence, scrum-half Allen
McCluggage’s kick turned their cover and winger
Mitchell McComb showed his footballing skills
and pace to touch down for an excellent try.
McCluggage added the extra two points to give
Ulster a well deserved 7-0 lead.
The Ulster forwards were dominating their
Munster counterparts, however, the visitors
responded when out-half John Lillis converted
one of two penalty attempts to bring the score
to 7-3.
Ulster gained the initiative early in the second
half, with McCluggage kicking two penalties to
increase his team's lead to 13-3 after 50 minutes.
The Ulster back row of Hughes, Andy McKeen
and the formidable Andrew Kelly at number 8, got
through an enormous amount of work, and with
just minutes remaining, Ulster got their reward
when second row Christie showed his athleticism
to brush aside Munster centre Eoin O'Dwyer
and storm in from the 22 metre line for a well-
deserved try, which McCluggage converted.
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, recording a solid opening win for
the Ulstermen.
JUNIOR INTER-PROVINCIAL SERIES
ROUND 2:
CONNACHT 5-34 ULSTER
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 to set the foundations for a comfortable
win.
Playing against a stiff breeze, Richard Boyd's
side had a 24 point lead to show for a dominant
opening 40 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 10 minutes. Not
to be outdone, fellow back rower Andy McKeen
quickly got in on the try scoring action, again
converted by Poskitt.
Out-half Bokkie Carstens 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.
Connacht rallied in the second half and came
back strongly as they made a number of changes
to their starting XV. However, Poskitt kept the
scoreboard ticking over and nudged over 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, almost running the
full length before recycling the ball to score an
unconverted try in the corner.
JUNIOR INTER-PROVINCIAL SERIES
ROUND 3:
LEINSTER 34-15 ULSTER
Ulster travelled to Longford RFC on Saturday
13th May to play Leinster in the final game of the
series, knowing that a point would be enough to
reclaim the series title.
As in their previous two games, Ulster played
into a very stiff wind in the first half, but the Ulster
forwards demonstrated early in the game that
they had complete control in the set piece, both
in the scrum and at lineouts.
Leinster opened the scoring on 17 minutes when
second row Ronan Costello was on hand to pick
and go from close range, following a penalty
which gave the home side a lineout within the
Ulster 22.
Ulster responded straight away, putting huge
pressure on the restart to regain the football.
Ulster went through a series of plays, moving the
ball around well, eventually getting it to right wing
Ulster Juniors secure second Inter-Pro series title in three years!
CONGRATULATIONS ULSTER JUNIORS