ULSTER U-18 CLUBS 19 LEINSTER U-18 CLUBS 33
Leinster Rugby’s ability to get out of the blocks quickly served them well for a five-try, bonus-point victory for a second-place finish to champions Connacht in the scorching Saturday sunshine.
The Clubs turned their first meaningful possession into a maximum return when forwards Luke Fagan and Joshua Chukwuemeka made ground ahead of Hugh Greany executing an overlap to Mike Branagan for Daragh Farrell to convert.
Then, prop Evan Shelley latched onto an overthrown Ulster lineout to barge over from short range for Farrell’s conversion to double the advantage.
The forward pack was really on fire, driving the home side backwards in contact for Farrell to add a third conversion to his try for 21-0 on just 13 minutes.
Ulster were in danger of being embarrassed unless they began to hold onto the ball and use it smartly.
Their big men delivered a powerful maul for hooker Aaron Caldwell to ground the ball, Chris McVicker converting.
A strong carry by openside Branagan almost did the trick before slick hands sent number eight Fagan hurtling in at the corner, Farrell converting for 26-7 at the break.
Ulster replicated their effective maul to engineer a second try for hooker Caldwell in the 40th minute.
Their failure to clear the ball safely came back to haunt them when Stephen Hendy countered superbly to send Cathal Kehoe in at the corner flag, Farrell striking the extras in the 51st minute.
From there, the Northern Province came on strong, Sam McElroy moving into space and replacement prop Toby Newman claiming the try for Danny Guy to convert.
SCORERS – Ulster: A Caldwell 2 tries; T Newman try; C McVicker, D Guy con each. Leinster: D Farrell try, 4 cons; M Branagan, E Shelley, L Fagan, C Kehoe try each.
ULSTER
15. James Orr (Ballymena RFC)
14. Ryan McDowell (Larne RFC)
13. Tom Bell (Ards RFC )
12. Cameron Cummings (City of Armagh RFC)
11. Joel Barron (Dromore RFC)
10. Owen O’Kane (Rainey Old Boys RFC)
9. Connor McVicker (Academy RFC)
1. Justin Mark (Ballymena RFC)
2. Aaron Caldwell (Academy RFC)
3. Josh Dobbin (Ballymena RFC)
4. Oliver Hughes (Coleraine RFC)
5. Noah Bell (Dromore RFC, Capt)
6. Harry McIlwaine (Omagh Accies RFC)
7.Bobby Newell (Portadown RFC)
8. Ryan Hanna (Dromore RFC)
Replacements.
16. Killian Brolly (Limavady RFC)
17. Toby Newman (Enniskillen RFC)
18. Tom McGilloway (Strabane RFC)
19. Dylan Fox (Malone RFC)
20. Rossa Bell (Rainey Old Boys RFC)
21. Danny Guy (Portadown RFC)
22. Sam McElroy (Banbridge RFC)
23. Ethan Spratt (Ards RFC).
LEINSTER
15. Cathal Kehoe (Enniscorthy RFC)
14. Callum Mulligan (Mullingar RFC)
13. Harley Fagan Harold (Balbriggan RFC)
12. Daragh Farrell (Athy RFC, Capt)
11. Oisin O’Hara (Mullingar RFC)
10. Jack Litchfield (Skerries RFC)
9. Stephen Hendy (Gorey RFC)
1. Conan Gartland (MU Barnhall)
2. Hugh Greany (Kilkenny RFC)
3. Evann Shelley (Skerries RFC)
4. Conor Butler (Naas RFC)
5. Sean Walsh (North Kildare RFC)
6. Joshua Chukwuemeka-Ohagwa (Navan RFC)
7. Mike Branagan (Skerries RFC)
8. Luke Fagan (Skerries RFC)
Replacements:
16. Harry Dunne (Naas RFC)
17. John King (Athy RFC)
18. Ciaran Scott (Navan RFC)
19. Will Hook (St. Mary’s College RFC)
20. Eoin O’Doherty (Wexford Wanderers RFC)
21. Paidi Gorman (Edenderry RFC)
22. Daniel Norval (Wexford Wanderers RFC)
