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This was a frustrating season for the Ulster U18
Schools squad with three out of four matches in the
Inter Provincial Championship resulting in defeats of
less than one score. Thanks go to all the staff for their
input to the squad and for their mutual support at
times of personal lows for individual members of the
management. Thanks also to all the parents and family
members who supported the players throughout the
summer to get them to support Newforge and for their
attendance at matches. Thanks also to all the coaches
in schools for their work in developing the players over
the years and for their patience in September when their
best players are not available to their school.
Finally, we offer a big thank you to our sponsors Danske
Bank for their generosity.
ULSTER WOMEN’S XV
Head Coach:
Philip Doyle
Assistant Coach:
Jarret Truscott
Strength & Conditioning:
Paul Heasley
Managers:
Kerry Spence / Adrian Walker
Team Co-ordinator:
Suzanne Hamilton
Preparation for the 2016/17 inter-provincial series began
during the summer with a series of screening weeks
followed by a core training programme once again
based at Portadown RFC.
In mid- August the squad played a warm up game
against Connacht at Enniskillen RFC. The extended
squad saw a number of players being given their first
opportunity at this level. Ulster won this game by 10-5
with tries coming from Kathryn Dane and Jordanne
Booth.
The first inter-provincial saw Ulster take on a very
experienced Munster side at the Kingspan Stadium. For
the majority of the game there was very little between
the sides and it took twenty four minutes for the opening
score of the game with Munster burrowing over from
close range for a try. Ten minutes later Ulster opened
their account through a Jemma Jackson penalty after a
break by centre Claire McLaughlin. Munster extended
their lead with a penalty to put them ahead 8-3 at the
break. Ulster started the second half brightly with
captain Gemma McCutcheon leading from the front,
complemented by some fierce tackling from Ilse Van
Staden and strong carrying by replacement Aishling
O’Connell. While Ulster looked threatening throughout,
they were unable to transfer the pressure to scoreboard
points and it was Munster who scored next, running
in a try in the final play of the game. While the visitors
probably deserved the win, the score-line certainly
didn’t reflect that this had been a very tough contest
between two highly committed sides.
The second game of the series was away to Leinster
at Donnybrook where unfortunately the team fell to a
heavy defeat as the home side ran in seven tries for
a bonus point win. Leinster led 17-0 at half time and
despite some heroic performances by the Ulster team, it
was the experience of the international Leinster players
which made the difference in the end as they ran out
winners by 46-0.
Ulster’s final game of the series saw them make the
trip to Galway. Connacht started the better of the
two teams and led by 22-0 at half time. Both teams
came out fired up at the resumption. Experience
eventually told and Connacht added three more
tries to their total. However, Peita McAlister and Amy
Davis responded for Ulster to complete the scoring,
Jemma Jackson converting McAllister’s effort. Ulster’s
late revival denied Connacht their first Women’s
Interprovincial title, Leinster pipping them to top spot on
points difference. Final score Connacht 39-12 Ulster.
While the results from the three games were
disappointing, the Ulster team showed significant
improvements across the series and with a little more
luck could have registered the win that their efforts
deserved. Most pleasing was the performances of the
younger players, especially the five who had stepped up
from the U18s who had won their Interprovincial series
earlier in the season.
GIRLS’ REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY
Coaching Team:
David Chambers / Zoe Templeton
/ Charlie Farrell
Manager:
Jemma Jackson
This season’s IRFU decision to progress from a round-
robin blitz format to a full Interprovincial Series at U18
Girls’ level was a much-anticipated and very welcome
one. The Ulster U18 girls proved they were ready for
the challenge by winning the inaugural series in Grand
Slam style securing three wins out of three over their
Provincial opponents.
On Saturday 17th September Ulster defeated Leinster
10-5 at Armagh RFC. The Ulster Girls made it two wins
from two as they accrued 34 points to Connacht’s 5 at
Buccaneers RFC on Sunday 25th September. The final
day of the series was played at Westmanstown RFC
in Dublin on Saturday 1st October where Ulster faced
Munster. Our girls completed a clean sweep with a hard
fought 20-8 victory to ensure Ulster was the first name
to be etched into the new silverware.
The squad of twenty four was made up of players from
several clubs throughout Ulster including Armagh,
Ballynahinch, Clogher Valley, Dungannon, Enniskillen,
Malone, Monaghan and Virginia.
Of those twenty four players, Ellie Ingram, Ellie Rix,
Bethany McDowell, Britney Hogan and Claire Boles
have represented the U18 Combined Provinces three
of whom, Ellie Rix, Britney Hogan and Claire Boles
going on to represent Ireland at U18 level. Claire Boles
has since gone on to represent the Ireland Senior 7s
Development Squad who participated in the Dubai
7s in November. Having turned 18 in time to make
them eligible for selection, five of the U18 squad made
their debuts for the Ulster Senior Women’s Squad
in December. The individual progress of Vicky Irwin,
Hannah Beattie, Britney Hogan, Leah McGoldrick and
Storm Cobain, allied to the combined achievements of
the squad in general is the culmination of three years’
hard work by the players and dedicated coaches. The
Ulster Branch would like to thank Jonathan Gillespie,
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IRFU ULSTER BRANCH
ANNUAL REPORT & STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2016/17