Ulster Rugby v Wasps

ULSTER U18 GIRLS LOSE OUT IN INTER-PRO DECIDER

The Ulster U18 Girls were unable to defend their title, as they lost out to a strong Munster squad 23-12 at Barnhall RFC last Saturday, in the third and final round of the Inter-provincial series.

Going into the final round of games, Munster lead the table on 8 points with Leinster on 6, defending champions Ulster on 5, and Connacht on 1 meaning three Provinces remained in the hunt for silverware. Ulster had a point to prove from the previous week's game against Leinster and did so in great fashion in the first half of this hard-fought game, with prop Emma Kearney crashing over for the first score of the match. Munster tried to contain the eagerness of Ulster's pack, in particular Bethany McDowell and Keelin Brady, for the remainder of the first half, with an excellent display of rugby shown by both sides during this period. However, Munster, with their mass of supporters, came out fighting in the second half. Two quick tries in the space of 15 minutes saw Munster edging closer to lifting the trophy for the first time. Even so, the defending champions refused to give up easily with captain, Grace Shrestha ensuring that Ulster kept their heads in the game until the final whistle, while Ellie Ingram and Lucinda Kinghan countered many of the threats from the Munster back three, keeping the girls in red pinned inside their own half. In the last play of the game, when they knew the match was essentially over, Ulster showed their determination to finish the game on a high with a fantastic score by Mya Alcorn, which Lisa Mullen converted.

ULSTER TEAM (1-8): Emma Kearney (Armagh RFC), Grace Shrestha (Capt) (Dungannon RFC), Ella Garland (Monaghan RFC), Megan Brodie (Virginia RFC), Caolinn McCormack (Virginia RFC), Bethany McDowell (Malone RFC), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC), Keelin Brady (VC) (Virginia RFC) (9-15): Amber Redmond (Virginia RFC), Lisa Mullen (Virginia RFC), Lucinda Kingham (Monaghan RFC), Lucy Turkington (Dungannon RFC), Kelly McCormill (Monaghan RFC), Mya Alcorn (Letterkenny RFC), Ellie Ingram (Enniskillen RFC). REPLACEMENTS Aoife Cahill (Malone RFC), Ava Fannin (Virginia RFC), Tammy Millar (Enniskillen RFC), Sorcha McCormack (Virginia RFC), Ciara Byers (Virginia RFC), Holly Brannigan (Malone RFC), Meabh McAleavey (Armagh RFC), Ruth Gilsenan (Virginia RFC).

ULSTER U18 GIRLS

MANAGEMENT TEAM Backs Coach Zoe Templeton Forwards Coach Charlie Farrell Manager Jemma Jackson Physio Imogen Porter

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