Ulster Rugby : Ulster Schools’ Inter Provincials v Leinster Schools’

Ulster Schools U19s v Leinster Schools U19s

Ulster Schools’ Inter Provincials v Leinster Schools’

25 October 2007, 9:07 am

By Paula Gunn

The final games of the 2007 Schools’ Interprovincial series took place at Dungannon Rugby Club yesterday 24th October with both teams only just missing out to Leinster.

The Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 and U19 squads were both playing in excellent conditions in front of a good crowd of enthusiastic supporters. The U18 team had to defend vigorously in the opening stages of their game as Leinster laid siege to the Ulster line. The Ulster defence, with centres Luke Marshall and Nevin Spence playing leading roles, held firm and eventually the Ulster team started to gain some territory. On 20 minutes Campbell College outhalf James Mc Kinney broke the deadlock when he converted a penalty to give Ulster a 3-0 lead. Mc Kinney had two further opportunities to extend Ulster’s lead but he was unfortunate to miss narrowly with both attempts. Just before half time a mix up in the Ulster defence following a speculative kick saw Leinster full back Darren Hudson score a try. This try was converted by outhalf Noel Reid to give Leinster a 7-3 lead going into half time. 5 minutes after the restart Leinster extended their lead when Noel Reid cut inside the Ulster defence to score a try which he converted himself to give the visitors a 14-3 lead.
Ulster stormed back and Leinster had to defend for long periods to keep their line intact. However, on 26 minutes Ulster eventually found a way through the visitor’s defence when Grosvenor GS right wing Mark Atkinson popped up on the left to finish off a flowing move to score a deserved try. James Mc Kinney added the conversion to reduce the arrears to 14-10. Leinster restarted and forced Ulster to give away a penalty which Noel Reid converted to take the Leinster lead to 17-10. The Ulster team now attacked at every opportunity and were unfortunate not to have scored with both Nevin Spence and Luke Marshall going close. However, it was not to be and it was a relieved Leinster team which heard the final whistle with the score at 17-10 to in their favour.

Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ U18 team Leinster Schools’ U18’s

Mark O’ Connor  Limavady GS                                            Darren Hudson
Patrick Irwin  RBAI                                                             Ben Woods
Nevin Spence  Wallace HS                                                 Ross Williamson
Luke Marshall  Ballymena Academy                                    David Mc Sharry
Mark Atkinson  Grosvenor GS                                            Ray Crotty
James Mc Kinney  Campbell College                                   Noel Reid
Jason Bloomfield  Coleraine AI                                         John Cooney
Angus Warwicker  Coleraine AI                                        Keelan Mc Kenna
Paul Pritchard  Ballymena Academy ©                              Richard Bent
Blair Nangle   Belfast Royal Academy                                Dominic Ryan
Adam Stinson  RS Dungannon                                          Ben Marshall
Jonathan Heron  Sullivan Upper                                       Michael Cawley ©
Andrew Warwick  Ballymena Academy                             Martin Moore
Niall Annett   Methodist College                                        Robin O’Sullivan
Jonathan Simpson  Banbridge Academy                           Jack O’Connell

Replacements

Gareth Gracey  Ballymena Acad                                       Tim Parsons
Ryan Maybin   Larne GS                                                    Cathal Barry
David Mc Farland  Omagh Acad                                        Ian Campbell
Josh Christie  Coleraine AI                                                Rory Ivers
Andrew Moore  Limavady GS                                            Peter Du Toit
Ryan Bentley   Banbridge Acad                                        Simon Malone
James Edgar  Portadown College                                     Brian Kingston

Management

Coach Jonny Lowe
Asst Coach Brian Leslie
Advisor David Mc Master
Physio David Rainey
Doctor Dr Nigel Pollock
Manager Stephen Graham

The Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ U19’s took to the pitch immediately after the U18’s game. Leinster Schools’ U19’s started strongly and went ahead within 5 minutes with a try from their fullback Michael Keating. This try was converted by outhalf Ian Mc Kinley to put the visitors 7-0 ahead. The Ulster U19 team struggled to get to grips with the big Leinster pack, a pack which contained three players from last season’s successful Irish Schools’ squad. Leinster increased their lead to 10-0 when Mc Kinley kicked a penalty after 10 minutes. However, Ulster immediately gained territory after the restart and Leinster were penalised for an offside. Outhalf Paul Galbraith made no mistake with his kick and the Ulster team was now back in the game. With a consistent supply of ball Ulster started to create chances through their backline and after 16 minutes centre Jonny Shields maintained his impressive scoring record throughout the series when he touched down for a well deserved Ulster try. Paul Galbraith converted the try to take the score to 10-10. An Ulster mistake shortly after the restart allowed Ian Mc Kinley the opportunity to put Leinster ahead once more when he converted a penalty leaving the visitors 13-10 in the lead. Once again the Ulster team came straight back attacking a fragile looking Leinster defence. With a good supply of quality ball following a quick lineout, Ulster right wing was put into space and he made no mistake by going through to score a well taken try which was converted to put Ulster ahead by 17-13 at half time. 3 minutes after the restart Ulster extended their lead when 2nd row Jeff Allen crashed over for a well constructed try to put the home side 22-13 ahead. 4 minutes later, Leinster right wing Neil Hanratty scored a try which was converted by Ian Mc Kinley to bring the score to 22-20. On 14 minutes Hanratty scored his 2nd try of the game to put Leinster ahead by 25-22. An injury to Ulster prop Mark Hood delayed the game for a time but Ulster attacked at every opportunity when the game restarted. Richard Reaney went close with a long range penalty attempt and No 8 Tom Patton had a try disallowed after the Ulster pack appeared to have driven him over the Leinster line. Despite the best efforts of the Ulster team the Leinster defence held firm enabling them to win this very exciting game by 25-22. All four teams who played at Dungannon displayed all that is good about schools rugby and spectators were treated to a marvellous afternoons sport.

Northern Bank Ulster Schools’ U19’s Leinster Schools’ U19’s

Ricky Andrew  Ballymena Academy ©                         Michael Keating
Andrew Bryans  RBAI                                                  Neil Hanratty
Richard Reaney  RS Armagh                                       Gary Foley
Jonny Shields  Coleraine AI                                         Peter Finnegan
Ashley Finlay  Portora RS                                            Gavin Greene
Paul Galbraith  Portora RS                                           Ian Mc Kinley
Andrew Semple  Foyle College                                    Michael Mc Loughlin
Tom Patton   Foyle College                                         Michael Noone ©
Ben Mc Donnell  Campbell College                              Eoin Cremen
David Gilkinson  Wallace HS                                        Steve Boucher
Craig Mc Kervill  Ballymena Academy                         Luke Mangan
Jeff Allen   RS Armagh                                               Shane Granell
Mark Hood   Portora RS                                              Nermin Lovic
Michael Boyd  Ballymena Academy                             Tom Sexton
Thomas Dennison  Ballymena Academy                      Jack Mc Grath

Replacements

Nathan Watt  RBAI                                                   Tom Mahoney
Kenny Calladine  RBAI                                              Simon Schuster
Paul Mc Feely  Foyle College                                     Michael Collis
John Burns   Foyle College                                       Neil Delahunty
Nick Dempsey  RBAI                                                 Gary Flanagan
Philip Lunn   Campbell College                                   Chris Wade
Sean Conway   Methodist College                            Karl Jenkinson

Management

Coach  Chris Campbell
Asst Coach Neil Doak
Advisor Keith Patton
Physio  Rachel Mc Ilduff
Doctor Dr Nigel Pollock
Manager Barney Mc Gonigle