David McIlwaine (Doncaster) and Chris Cochrane (Ulster) feature in this Friday's British and Irish Cup clash
Ravens coach Gary Longwell has named an experienced team to take on Doncaster in their opening British & Irish Cup game on Friday evening at Deramore Park.
Eleven of the starting XV have played for the senior team in a competitive fixture, while the other four were all involved in pre-season friendly against Neath.
Callum Black is named at loosehead prop as he continues his efforts to return to the senior squad following a neck injury earlier in the season. He is joined by experienced hooker Nigel Brady and 22 year old development prop Adam Macklin. Neil McComb will partner Tim Barker in the second row, while Ali Birch, Mike McComish and Robbie Diack will combine in a dynamic back row.
Ballymena’s Blane McIlroy and Dungannon’s Paddy Jackson will form the half back pairing, with Phoenix Academy player Chris Farrell partnering the experienced Ian Whitten in the centre. Academy trio Chris Cochrane, Michael Allen and Peter Nelson will make up an exciting back three.
Two familiar faces will return to Ulster in the shape of Doncaster fullback David McIlwaine and flanker David Bradford, who both left the Province in the summer.
Longwell is glad to be able to call on a few experienced names: “We have been training well and the combinations are looking sharp. Having that sort of quality in our pack will hopefully provide our youthful back with a good platform to launch off. We expect Doncaster to be physical up front and we know they have the ability to hurt us if we don’t play to our potential.”
Ulster Ravens (1-8) Callum Black, Nigel Brady, Adam Macklin, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Ali Birch, Mike McComish, Robbie Diack. (9-15) Blane McIlroy, Paddy Jackson, Chris Cochrane, Chris Farrell, Ian Whitten, Michael Allen, Peter Nelson. (16-22) Niall Annett, Conor Carey, James Simpson, Sean O’Connell, Michael Heaney, James McKinney, Ricky Andrew
Doncaster Knights (1-8) Andy Brown, Jack Yeandle, Royce Burke Flynn, Glen Kenworthy, Dominic Parsons, Andy Boyde, David Bradford, Michael Noone. (9-15) Lee Audis, Tom Luke, Michael Bateman, PJ Gidlow, Fred Burdon, Ben Toft, David McIlwaine. (16-22) Tom Davies, Stuart Corsar, Matt Challinor, Chris Planchant, Zack Farivarz, Oli Goss Dougie Flockhart
On paper it looks a useful looking side (though I like to think that McGuigan and Henderson would have been getting a run out if not injured) though the performance and result on Friday night will depend on how much actual game time they have had together as historically the build up to Ravens matches are a bit of a farce with many players not knowing of their involvement until hours before.
However it looks as though this has all changed with Longwell claiming that they have been training well and that the combinations looks sharp. I assume this was in opposition to the senior squad so it should be a useful workout! Hmm!
For the aficionados of our Academy and Development Squads this game offers a useful benchmark with David McIlwaine returning to take on his peers in the Ulster side. Having not been deamed good enough for a full time contract by the Ulster management the youngster will be keen to make a few at the Academy reconsider their judgement.
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One Response to “Ravens: Ulster team for Doncaster.”
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Robbie Diack must have been very very naughty. Anyone know what he has done to upset teacher?
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