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Ulster strike late to beat Munster as Leinster Schools excite in UL

All the action from the first game day in the Schools inter-pros at UL.

Below are reports from the first day of Schools games at the IRFU U18 inter-provincial festival. Check out reports from the Clubs games here

Munster Schools 6
Ulster Schools 12

ULSTER STRUCK FOR two tries in three minutes by hooker Tom Stewart and fullback Conor Rankin to stun Munster in the U18 Schools inter-provincial series at the University of Limerick yesterday.

Ulster players celebrate Ulster Schools started with a win yesterday. Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Munster will wonder how they lost a game they controlled for long periods against opportunistic Ulster on the first game day of the U18 Schools inter-pros.

The home side enjoyed most of the early possession with their dangerous left wing Aaron Leahy twice foiled when a try looked on the cards. They had to be content with a penalty from centre Jack Delaney in the eighth minute.

The missing link between owning the ball and not making it tell on the scoreboard was down to Ulster’s tigerish defence in which captain Tom Stewart and number eight Reuben Crothers led the line of resistance.

The inability of Munster to overcome a stonewall defence led Delaney to strike a penalty for 6-0 in the 33rd minute.

On the restart, the stop-start nature of the game continued as Ulster finally began to put some constructive rugby together, using the maul as a driving force for change.

Ulster also started to get their hands on the ball without really doing enough damage to warrant the penalties Munster gave away.

Daniel Okeke is tackled by Reuban Crothers and Riley Westwood Munster's Daniel Okeke makes a carry. Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Slowly, the far bigger Ulster boys grew into the game and struck for two tries in three minutes from hooker Stewart, off the back of a maul, which was converted by scrum-half Nathan Doak, and fullback Rankin on the other side of the pitch to lead 12-6 in the 63rd minute.

Munster scorers:

Penalties: Jack Delaney [2]

Ulster scorers:

Tries: Tom Stewart, Conor Rankin
Conversions: Nathan Doak [1]

Munster’s best:

Jack Delaney – The Crescent centre had the Eye and leg speed for an outside break allied to a keen sense of what was required when space was at a premium.

Ulster’s best:

Reuben Crothers – The number eight played a main part in keeping Munster in check in the first-half, one crucial poach reliving pressure.

Munster:

15. Killian Dineen (Ardscoil Ris);
14. Conor Sheahan (St Munchin’s)
13. Harry O’Riordan (CBC Cork)
12. Jack Delaney (Crescent)
11. Aaron Leahy (CBC Cork)
10. Cian Whooley (CBC Cork)
9. Mark O’Connor (CBC Cork)

1. Mark Donnelly Capt (CBC Cork)
2. Billy Kingston (CBC Cork)
3. Craig Finn (St Munchin’s)
4. Will O’Callaghan (Ardscoil Ris)
5. John Forde (PBC Cork)
6. Jack Kelleher (PBC Cork)
7. Jack Ward Murphy (Ardscoil Ris)
8. Daniel Okeke (Ardscoil Ris)

Replacements:

16. Ronan O’Sullivan (CBC)
17. Donagh Hyland (Glenstal Abbey)
18. Corey Hanlon (CBC)
19. Luke Obersby(Midleton College)
20. Niall Queally (Glenstal Abbey)
21. Jake Connolly (Crescent)
22. Will Twomey (Glenstal Abbey)
23. Daniel Hurley (PBC)
24. Michael Hand (PBC)

Ulster:

15. Conor Rankin (Campbell College)
14. Luke Pollock (Dalriada)
13. Robin McIlveen (RBAI)
12. Ben Moxham (Larne HS)
11. Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI)
10. Greg Hutley (Down HS)
9. Nathan Doak (Wallace HS)

1. Adam Hanna (Banbridge Academy)
2. Tom Stewart (BRA, captain)
3. Patrick McAlpine (Campbell College)
4. Will Hopes (Regent House)
5. Rile Westwood (Bangor GS)
6. Jack Gamble (Ballyclare HS)
7. Jonathan Agnew (RS Armagh),
8. Reuben Crothers (Wallace HS)

Replacements:

16. Joel Dundas (Wallace HS)
17. George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper)
18. Oscar Egan (Coleraine GS)
19. Matthew Sands (St Colman’s College)
20. Gareth Wells (Bangor GS)
21. Jude Roberts (RS Armagh)
22. Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper)
23. Jack Harte (Friends School)
24. Ben Carson (Wallace HS)
25. Luke Graham (Methodist College)
26. Brandon Hassan (BRA)

____________________

Leinster Schools 35
IQ Rugby 24

LEINSTER CENTRE CHRIS Cosgrave notched up 15 of their points in a thoroughly entertaining 35-24 win over a solid Irish-Qualified Rugby, formerly known as the Exiles, in the U18 Inter-provincial Series yesterday.

Chris Cosgrave scores a try Chris Cosgrave scored 15 points for Leinster [file photo]. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

This was the sort of opening match Leinster Schools could use to find their feet in the U18 Rugby Festival.

When they settled into a rhythm and did not force the ball, the passing between backs and forwards was fluid.

Hooker Lee Barron was agile in his drive to the line and prop Sam Illo soon followed up in more muscular fashion, centre Chris Cosgrave converting on both occasions.

It was no coincidence that their next two tries came from Cosgrave and wing Arthur Henry as Leinster’s confidence soared, Cosgrave flawless with the conversions to build a lead after half an hour.

The Exiles were unable to build pressure but Zach Kavanagh’s superb individual effort rescued the difference to 28-5 at the break.

Leinster tighthead Levi Vaughan picked off the fifth converted try before IQ out-half Michael Cooke’s educated left foot put fullback Sean Bundy over for Cooke to convert in the 43rd minute.

Sam Illo Wesley's Sam Illo scored a try for Leinster [file photo]. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

They came again for number eight Albert Dwan to crash home for 35-17 in the 55th minute.  It didn’t stop there, replacement Benedict Quinn skinning Leinster for Cooke to make it three-in-a-row.

Leinster scorers:

Tries: Chris Cosgrave, Lee Barron, Sam Illo, Arthur Henry, Levi Vaughan
Conversions: Chris Cosgrave [5]

IQ Rugby scorers:

Tries: Zach Kavanagh, Sean Bundy, Albert Dwan, Benedict Quinn
Conversions: Michael Cooke [2]

Leinster’s best:

Aaron Coleman – The Belvedere blindside will not be beaten for work rate, devouring the ground in a display of consistently effective effort and impact.

IQ Rugby’s best:

Zach Kavanagh – The tall left wing showed real evasion and pace to produce the standout moment of the match, turning the last defender inside out right on half-time.

Leinster:

15. Tim O’Brien (Clongowes Wood)
14. Arthur Henry (Gonzaga)
13. Chris Cosgrave (St Michael’s)
12. Simon O’Kelly (St Michael’s)
11. Josh Pyper (Pres Bray)
10. Niall Carroll (St Michael’s)
9.   Ben Murphy (Pres Bray)

1.   Sam Illo (Wesley)
2.   Lee Barron (St Michael’s)
3.   Levi Vaughan (Terenure)
4.   Jack Guinane (St Michael’s)
5.   Alex Soroka (Belvedere)
6.   Aaron Coleman (Belvedere)
7.   Tom Gilheany (Clongowes Wood)
8.   Will Hickey (St Michael’s, captain)

Replacements:

16. Calum Dowling (Clongowes Wood)
17. Barry Dooley (Clongowes Wood)
18. Hugo O’Malley (Blackrock)
19. Jonathan Fish (St Michael’s)
20. Jack Barry (Gonzaga)
21. Rob Gilsenan (St Michael’s)
22. David Wilkinson (Clongowes Wood)
23. Ed Kelly (St Michael’s)
24. Justin Leonard (Belvedere)
25. Matthew Grogan (Belvedere)
26. Gavin Meagher (Cistercian, Roscrea)

IQ Rugby:

15. Sean Bundy (St Joseph’s, Ipswich)
14. Matthew Ward (Park View School)
13. Dan Aldwinckle (RGS Guildford)
12. Niall McGann (Whitgift School)
11. Zach Kavanagh (SGS Filton)
10. Michael Cooke (Sedburgh School)
9. Jacob Whelan (Wimbledon College)

1. Liam Bishop (Doncaster Knights Academy)
2. Owen Chaplin (Durham Johnston)
3. Joe Keohane (Burnham GS)
4. Darragh Gleeson (Freemans School)
5. David Coleman (Blue Coat School)
6. Raef Murphy (St John’s School)
7. Oliver Norris (Whitgift School)
8. Albert Dwan (Wellington College)

Replacements:

16. James McCormick (Ulster)
17. Monty Royston (Hartpury College)
18. Ollie Newey (Christ College, Brecon)
19. Tomas Donnellan (Hills Road College)
20. Caleb Douglas (Ellesmore College)
21. Tom Durkan (Newhall School)
22. Alastair Merrill (St Ambrose College)
23. George Addington (Epsom College)
24. Benedict Quinn (St Peter’s, York)
25. Shane Cawley (Munster)
26. Shane Buckley (Munster)

 

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