Report | Five try Ulster edge out Munster U18 Schools

Ulster U18 Schools 33 – 26 Munster U18 Schools

It wasn’t to be for the Munster U18 Boys Schools as the side suffered a narrow defeat to Ulster in Belfast Saturday afternoon.

Munster were out of the blocks quickly through Bandon Grammar’s Alex Bramoulle, but were caught short by the Ulster defence preventing the score.

But it wasn’t long before they were rewarded for their positive start.

From a lineout inside Ulster’s 22, the pack flexed their muscles to power over for the game’s opening try in the 5th minute with Leo Carmen claiming the vital touchdown.

Matthew McCarthy made no mistake with the conversion to take an early lead.

Ulster fought back to level the game in the 15th minute as James Reid crashed over from close range.

Jonnie Kennedy drilled over the conversion that followed.

Ulster were in again just four minutes later as David Nelson touched down for their second try of the day.

Luck was not on our side as after the concession of several penalties, number eight Ronan Dillon was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Ulster soon made use of their numerical advantage in the 27^th minute when Will Downey claimed Ulster’s third try. Sending the home side into the sheds with a 14-point lead at the break.

Lucas McKeown crossed the whitewash for Ulster’s fourth try at the beginning of the second half.

But Munster finally got back on the score board shortly after as Adam Bennett charged down an Ulster clearance, regathered and ran in to give the side their second try of the game. McCarthy added the extras to bring it to 26-14.

Just three minutes after Bennett’s try, Munster fly-half Conal Rowen kicked a 50:22. And just like in the first half, the Munster pack powered their way towards the Ulster line.

The momentum was now beginning to swing, and some lovely approach play down the left saw them rewarded with try number four.

Bennett made the initial break, and he was supported by scrumhalf Tiernan Murphy.

Murphy showed some great footwork to evade the Ulster defence before passing to William Powell who stormed over to level the tie at 26-all with 15 minutes still to play.

But it wasn’t to be for the boys in red as Ulster lodged one final push as full back Dylan Gray crashed over for a converted try to bring the final score to 33-26.

Teams

Ulster U18 Boys Schools: Dylan Gray; Harry Wells, Lucas McKeown, Will Rogers, Jack Thompson; Jonnie Kennedy, Rocco Steen; Adam Crone, David Nelson, Conor McKinney; Will Downey, Oscar Eddis; Elliot Magowan, James Flannagan; James Reid.

Replacements: Issac Crawford, Matthew Watkins, Reuban Gibson, Elijah Fitzpatrick, Ben Ellis, Alex Turkington, Jack Best, Zach Thompson.

Munster U18 Boys Schools: Hugh Downey; Alex Bramoulle, Matthew McCarthy, Jack Hayes, Adam Bennett; Conal Rowen, Tiernan Murphy; William Powell, Leo Carmen, Kyle Yoxall; David Fitzpatrick, Mark Whelton; Sean Ryan, Robert Carrigan; Ronan Dillon.

Replacements: Oisin Gleeson, Jay Walsh, Bobby Meagher, Jacob Sweetnam, Connor Ryan, Oliver Cantrell, Jos Keating, Gearoid Hickey.