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ULSTER U18 SCHOOLS
With Munster having picked up 5 points from their 4
games, Ulster and Leinster go into Saturday’s final
game on 9 and 10 points respectively.
ROUND 1
MUNSTER 10-9 ULSTER
MONDAY 28TH AUGUST
THOMOND PARK
Following two preparation games against Saracens
and Gloucester, the Danske Bank Ulster Schools
squad travelled to Limerick for the opening game of
the Inter-Provincial series.
Munster took an early 3-0 lead with a successful
fourth minute penalty, before Nathan Doak levelled
the score at 3-3 with a penalty of his own two minutes
later. On 12 minutes the Ulster team spurned a
golden try scoring opportunity when the ball was
spilled with the Munster try line at their mercy. Four
minutes later Doak gave the Ulster team a 6-3 lead
when he converted a penalty opportunity. Just before
the interval a loose Ulster pass was intercepted by
Munster who finished off with a converted try to give
the home team a 10-6 lead just before the interval.
The second half was another evenly contested affair
with Doak converting his third penalty of the game to
reduce the Ulster arears to 10-9 with just nine minutes
of the game remaining. Ulster piled on the pressure in
the remaining minutes and had opportunities to win
the game, however, the Munster defence remained
intact and the home team celebrated their hard
earned 10-9 victory when the final whistle sounded.
ROUND 2
ULSTER 18-17 LEINSTER
SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER
CAMPBELL COLLEGE
The Ulster Schools’ team started their Round 2 game
against Leinster in positive fashion, putting the visiting
defence under pressure in the early stages. The
Leinster defence was well-organised but eighteen
minutes into the game the Ulster team took a 5-0 lead
when full back, Ben McCaughey, finished off a flowing
move with an unconverted try. Continued pressure
from the home team forced the visitors into conceding
a penalty, which Nathan Doak converted, but Leinster
responded with a Mick O’Gara penalty to reduce their
arrears to 8-3. The Ulster lead was increased to 11-3
when Doak was successful with another penalty kick.
On the stroke of half-time Ulster’s flying winger, Aaron
Sexton, scorched in for a try which Doak converted
for an 18-3 lead at the break.
The second half proved to be closely contested
with the Leinster team working hard to improve
their situation. Fifteen minutes after the restart they
got some reward for their enterprise when Cian
Prendergast touched down for a try, converted by
O’Gara, to make it 18-10. Ten minutes later their
impressive scrum half, Ben Murphy, ran in for a
try, once again converted by O’Gara, to leave the
minimum between the sides at 18-17. With just five
minutes of the game remaining the Leinster team
threw everything at the Ulster team, however, Ulster
captain, John McKee, ensured his players maintained
their discipline and defensive skills to ensure a hard
earned, but ultimately well-deserved, 18-17 win.
ROUND 3
ULSTER 16-12 MUNSTER
SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
OSBORNE PARK
Last Saturday, the Ulster Schools’ team avenged their
narrow opening round loss to Munster with a 16-12
win in the return fixture at Osborne Park, in what was
an absorbing contest.
Nathan Doak gave the Ulster team a 3-0 lead in the
early stages of the game when he converted a penalty
opportunity. Four minutes later the Munster team drew
level when Cian Whooley converted a penalty kick
of his own. On 9 minutes Doak edged Ulster back
into the lead with his second penalty of the game.
The Ulster team had a lot of possession throughout
the remainder of the half but the Munster defence
remained solid, restricting Ulster to just one more
Doak penalty just before half-time to make it 9-3.
Early Munster pressure after the restart was rewarded
when Whooley notched successive penalties to level
the sides at 9-9. Midway through the half a clever
kick from Robbie Armstrong saw the Ulster team
take opposition just outside the Munster 22m area.
From the Munster throw Ulster regained possession
and finished some great hard yards work with a try
from Kevin McNaboe. Doak added the conversion to
establish a 16-9 lead. Back came Munster and seven
minutes from the end Whooley was successful with
his fourth penalty of the game to reduce the Munster
deficit to 16-12. Ulster then went on the attack and
denied Munster any real territory or possession in the
final few minutes of the game, to secure the valuable
win.
The Danske Bank Ulster U18 Schools squad will travel to Donnybrook on
Saturday afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm) knowing that a win over Leinster would
secure the U18 Schools Inter-Provincial series title.
ULSTER U18 SCHOOLS SET FOR INTER-PRO
DECIDER WITH LEINSTER
ROUND 4
LEINSTER V ULSTER
SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER
DONNYBROOK AT 2.30PM