Ulster Schools' (U18's) Squad for Representative Matches played in August

Rob Haldane Campbell College
Marc Best Campbell College
Neil Burns Foyle and Londonderry College
John Creighton Campbell College
Christopher Farrell Campbell College
Glenn Baillie Campbell College
Robbie Magowan Royal School Armagh
Ryan Martin Methodist College
Jonny McLaughlin Dalriada School
Stuart Olding Belfast Royal Academy
Rory Scholes Campbell College
David Scott Wallace High School

On a wet evening at Clogher Valley Rugby Club, the UIster Schools' Under 18 squad produced an inefficient, yet ultimately effective performance against their 'Clubs' counterparts. Dominating most aspects of the game, a 21-0 half-time lead was achieved through three converted tries. Although the home side became more prominently involved as the second half unfolded, scoring a good break away try, four further unconverted tries by the Schools' squad brought their final tally to 41 points.

Won: 41-7

This was the first match in a four day rugby festival. Kicking off at 130pm, the squad produced a very comprehensive winning performance against a Yorkshire side blessed with size in their forwards and backs whose power and pace had the potential to ask many questions of the Ulster Squad.
From our perspective, the performance was firmly based upon three key elements; a really solid and dynamic set piece, the overall quality and consistency of defence and the capacity to convert scoring opportunities into points. Although Yorkshire dominated first half field position, when opportunities presented themselves, Ulster took them. Three tries, two from excellent driven line-out plays and one clinical mid-field move saw Jack Cooke, David Scott and Jaz Andress cross the line, while Stuart Olding was successful with the three conversions and with one penalty. Immediately after the half-time, our 24-0 lead was reduced by seven as the opposition backs broke through to score under our posts and although possession continued to be shared between the two sides, Yorkshire failed to advance their score while Ulster were successful on four further occasions with two tries from Rory Scholes, one by Glenn Baillie and one by Stuart Olding, who was also successful with two further conversions.
Some excellent defence in the last 15 minutes helped to consolidate our victory.

Won: 48-7

From the kick-off, Lancashire demonstrated that they had prepared well for this challenge and throughout the seventy minutes played in a physical and committed manner. In the first half, Ulster's dominanted possession and field position, but our play demonstrated impatience and imprecision. As a consequence, we were unable to convert this pressure into points. As so often happens in such circumstances, when one team does not take advantage of their dominance, the team under pressure breaks out of their one half and scores. Lancashire did exactly that and went into the half-time break with a five to nil lead.
It is to the Ulster boys great credit that the second half saw a considerable improvement on all fronts. Increased patience and efficiency in attack, a powerful scrummage platform and some strong attacking mid-field running lines created scoring opportunities. Four tries came as a consequence, the first being an excellent diving reception by David Scott following a Robbie Magowan cross field kick. Wingers Neil Burns and Rob Haldane provided fine finishes for the other three scores, with Burns crossing the line twice. A Rory Scholes conversion took the final score to 22-5.

Won: 22-5