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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.
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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