Ulster U18 Schools entertained IQ Rugby at the Dub Playing Fields, Upper Malone on Wednesday afternoon in what appears to be the start of the boys Interprovincial series?

Report and images by Bob Given Photography

The game was played over 3 x 25 minute periods to give coaches the opportunity to test out players in extended squads.

Though an opportunity for the players, this lead to a fragmented game, where continuity was lacking and handling skills left something to be desired.

IQ took the lead through a Ryan Davies try after only 5 minutes. Ulster Schools countered with a Jonny McCracken penalty goal.

The period ended with a Finn McNulty try and conversion to give IQ Rugby a 3 – 12 lead at the end of the first period.

The second period was 4 minutes old when McNulty added another try, this time unconverted, before Ulster Schools replied, through Jack Boal who burrowed over close to the line. Tristan Ferguson added the conversion to leave Ulster trailing 10 – 17 at the end of the second period.

The third period was dominated by defenses but IQ Rugby still managed to find the line with Harry Carsons crossing for their fourth of the afternoon to give IQ Rugby a deserved 10 – 22 victory.

Ulster U18 Schools: Conor Drain (Ballymena Academy), Matthew Booth (Campbell College), Ryan Stewart (RBAI), Rory Ellerby (RBAI), Lukas Kenny (Campbell College), Tristan Ferguson (Cambridge House), Jonny McCracken (Campbell College), Ethan Fitzsimmons (Down High School), Zac Solomon (Campbell College), Nathan Ogborne (Coleraine Grammar School), Andrew Chesney (Ballymena Academy), Patrick Fullarton-Healey (Methodist College), James Anderson (Royal School Armagh), Josh Stevens (Methodist College), Flynn Longstaff (Campbell College). Replacements: Jack Boal (Campbell College), Jake Bowden (Methodist College), Cameron Hillis (Campbell College), Callum Simms (RBAI), Ben King (Ballymena Academy), Ben McFarlane (Methodist College), Tom Crowther (Campbell College), Alex McBurney (Ballymena Academy), Josh Hanna (Wallace High School), Chris Massey (Campbell College).

IQ Rugby: TBC

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