We look back at some of our favourite moments in rugby in Ulster over the last year – memorable or what?

January 2011

2011 gets off to a poor start for Ulster with a 35 – 10  defeat by the Monsters at Turnip Park Central, but gimmies against Treviso and Aironi either side of a grinding 9 – 6 win against Biarritz sets Ulster on course for the Heineken and Magners play offs. All talk is of Ulster’s qualification for the European Quarter Finals for the first time since 1999, flights are booked and holiday losses to Leinster and Munster are quickly forgotten!

Stacey-Lea Kennedy, Lauren Day and Larissa Muldoon get selected for the Ireland Women’s Six Nations Squad inching Ulster’s representation from two to three. Elsewhere in the women’s game City of Derry and Belfast Harlequins ladies sides produce a fantastic game of rugby with Derry coming out on top.

The Schools Cup proper kicks off and our chosen side Belfast High slip past the Grammars of Carrick and Larne in rounds three and four.

School Rugby loses young Ben Robinson in a tragic accident on the rugby field.  “He lived and breathed rugby and saw the five days in school as the reason to play on a Saturday. ”

February 2011

February is Welsh month for Ulster as they face Ospreys, Scarlets and Blues in quick succession. A thirteen point lead is thrown away against the Ospreys but redeem themselves with an away win against Scarlets and a home humping of Cardiff! BJ Bails but all the talk is still on the European Quarter Final which is confirmed for Milton Keynes!

Ireland start the Six Nations in a cagey enough fashion with Narrow wins over Italy and Scotland either side of a defeat by France. It’s the same results for the Women and the U20’s! Niall Annett is captain of an Ireland U20’s featuring seven Ulster players with himself,  Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Patrick Jackson, Blane McIlroy, Conor Carey and Iain Henderson answering the call.

Larissa Muldoon makes a composed appearance for Ireland Women agaisnt the French in a tense game at Ashbourne and  Quins and Derry ladies produce another fantastic encounter in the Rosie Stewart Cup with Derry again coming out on top. The North East side go on to win the final against Carrick.

Belfast High’s Cup run comes to a halt against Sullivan Upper who go out in the next round to Ballyclare High in a thrilling encounter at Hollywood.

The Front Row Union loses an old friend as Granville “Stately Homes” Hall passes away after a short illness.

March 2011

Ulster rack up five wins in a row as they win three from three in March beating Aironi, Dragons and Warriors in quick succession raising hopes for April’s Quarter Final against Northampton.  However hope is soon tempered when Ferris gets injured towards the end of the month. We announce Ulster’s signing of John Afoa and McLaughlin gets another year on his contract. Jarred Payne’s signing slips out on the last day of the month.

Ireland lose to Wales in the case of the mysterious lineout but take revenge by savaging England. The Under 20’s draw with the Welsh and lose to England and Ireland Women run out of steam with two defeats ensuring a disappointing finish to what promised to be an exceptional campaign.

Campbell and RBAI compete in the Schools Cup after defeating Ballymena and Coleraine respectively. Campbell go on to win the St Patrick’s Day encounter thanks to tries from Chris Farrell and Rob Haldane.

Dungannon progress to the All Ireland Cup Final, beating Corinthians after a Chris Cochrane try forces extra time.

April 2011

With no f’n Ferris Ulster come up short against Northampton and finish the month with two wins and two defeats. League wins against Scarlets and Connacht either side of defeats to Northampton and Leicester are enough to keep Ulster into the top four.

It’s cup finals for the Clubs and we see Rainey win the Forster Cup and Larne lose then win the Gordon West. Dungannon misfire in the All Ireland Bateman Cup losing out to a spirited Bruff. Cooke and City of Dery compete in the Women’s All Ireland Cup and Shield with both teams losing narrowly in the finals.

Bryan Young announces his departure from Ulster at the end of the season.

May 2011

Ulster keep their league season alive past the first week in May with a win against the Dragons confirming their third place finish. Euphoria is short lived with a semi final defeat against Leinster the following week.

We catch up with the final day of the Carrick Sevens to see Queens win the Senior 7’s and Cooke secure the Women’s Ten’s with Belfast Harlequins pushing them all the way.

David McIlwaine announces his departure to Doncaster at the end of the season joining Bryan Young, Ryan Caldwell, Jamie Smith, Tommy Seymour, Naill O’Connor, TJ Anderson and Mark McCrea. Added to the retirement of Bryn Cunningham and David Pollock it’s Ulster’s largest clearout ever!

The loss of so many players is somewhat alleviated with nine Ulster players in the Ireland U20’s squad with captain Naill Annett joined by Finlay Bealham, Conor Carey, Iain Henderson, Dominic Gallagher, Patrick Jackson, James McKinney, Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy. Jeremy Davidson returns to France to further his career.

Belfast Harlequins Ladies enjoy a day out in Dublin coming home with the All Ireland 7’s Plate, beating Blackrock in the final.

June 2011

Ulster a re grouped with Clermont, Leicester and Aironi in the Heineken Cup and the Magners League changes to the RaboDirect PRO12 for a couple of years at least!

All the Rugby is played in Italy in the Under 20’s Junior World Championship but Ireland come up short with an 8th place finish despite strong performances against England and South Africa in their opening encounters. Visited the competition for the playoffs and immensely impressed by the standard up close.

July 2011

Thoughts start to turn to the World Cup as squads are announced for the Tri Nations. Muller and Pienaar join South Africa but no Payne for New Zealand but Afoa is included.

At home all eyes are on Ferris’s knee as we await the prognosis on Ulster’s most valuable asset.

The Front Row union loses our second friend this year with Alec Withers passing away after a prolonged illness.

August 2011.

Ulster get their pre-season underway in Bayonne with a defeat but recover some form with wins over Neath and Harlequins.

Ireland lose to Scotland, France twice and England but manage to beat Connacht in a less than impressive World Cup build up and Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Tom Court and Rory Best are included in the final cut for New Zealand. Pienaar, Muller, Danielli and Afoa boost the Ulster representation as they join their countries World Cup Squads.

New Zealand wrap up the Tri Nations – are they destined for bigger thisngs?

The Front Row Union and Ulster Women sign up with The Errigle Inn for the season and the girls are hard at work throughout the summer preparing for the inter-pros.

September 2011.

Ulster start off the new season with three wins on the bounce beating Glasgow, Aironi and Cardiff but end the month out of sorts losing to the Ospreys and the Dragons but no time to panic as Ireland are ripping it up in the World Cup much to the surprise of everyone – well me at least!

Yep, Ireland beat the USA, Australia and Russia to put themselves in charge of their group but only Best, Ferris and Court of the Ulster contingent see any serious action with Best working his way towards the Irish player of the tournament.

A depleted Ulster Under 20’s struggle in the Inter-pros but a young Ulster Women’s side comes of age taking it to Munster in Limerick in some style only narrowly losing by the odd score.  They finish of their campaign with a win against Connacht.

October 2011.

Ulster’s season begins to unravel with a defeat by Treviso at Ravenhill with Payne limping off for the rest of the season. It’s followed up with a loss to Scarlets and the natives start to get restless with Ulster now losing four on the bounce.

Ireland beat Italy to finish top of their group and a semi final looks likely with only the Welsh in the way. Ireland’s overworked pack comes up second best and the Welsh go forward to the semi finals.

Nine Ulster girls answer Ireland’s call for the extended Inter-pros squad marking a huge increase in numbers. Belfast Harlequins Ladies are tearing it up in the All Ireland League.

We announce that Terbalnche will be joining Ulster as short term replacement for Payne.

November 2011. 

Ulster recover their failing season with wins over Connacht and Clermont, with Paul Marshal becoming the unlikely hero after injury to Pienaar, but stumble again with defeats to Leicester and Glasgow and they still struggle to play decent rugby. The supporters patiently wait for Terblanche to arrive.

The Ravens beat Doncaster and Currie to remain competitive in the B & I Cup with a young settled side doing well.

Hinch , Ballymena, Dungannon and Quins fill four of the top five spots in AIL 1B.

The Fixtures are announced for the 2013 Lions Tour to Australia. I wonder how many Ulster players will be involved?

December 2011. 

The year ends with Ulster winning four out of four, beating Scarlets, Aironi twice and Munster. The back to back wins against Aironi see’s Ulster top their European Cup group at the end of round four.

The Ravens beat Pontypridd and Rotherham Titans to set up a home semi final against Munster in the B&I Cup but lose to Leinster in the PRO12.

Ballymena end the year top of the AIL 1B and Ulster Senior Cup Champions after a wins over Ballynahinch and Banbridge.

Seven Ulster girls make it through the first cut for the Ireland Six Nations squad. Congratulations to Ashleigh Baxter and Nikki Caughey at Belfast Harlequins, Stacey-Lea Kennedy and Glenda Mellon at City of Derry and Lauren Day and Grace Davitt at Cooke who all join Exile Larissa Muldoon at the January training Camps.

Ulster attendances are down per match for the second season running with an average of 7,936. A 13% drop from 2009-10.