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

Munster Schools 7
Leinster Schools 7

THESE TWO COULD not be separated in a real ding-dong draw in the U18 Schools inter-provincial series at the University of Limerick on Wednesday.

Josh Pyper bursts away for a Leinster try. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

It quickly became apparent that this would be a tight tussle, Munster’s Jack Delaney smacking the right post from a penalty and Leinster’s Sam Barry running out of options down the left.

Slowly, Leinster started to take over the territory, if not the scoreboard, with captain Barry and prop Levi Vaughan prominent and wing Matt Grogan unable to beat the vigilant Aaron Leahy.

The game was delayed for the best part of 10 minutes due to an injury and this took some of the fizz out of it.

Nonetheless, Leinster had the edge in possession and territory without being able to get any closer than a Chris Cosgrave penalty which drifted left and wide in the 31st minute. The breakthrough came from Josh Pyper’s speed onto a loose ball for Cosgrave to convert for 7-0 in the 39th minute.

Centre Delaney had to be rocked by fullback Ed Kelly in a tackle and Grogan poached a turnover as Munster came looking for a response.

Harry O'Riordan scores for Munster. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

They found it from centre Harry O’Riordan’s angled run off a scrum, allowing Delaney to make it 7-7 in the 57th minute. It was nip-and-tuck from there with neither province able to find a winning answer.

Munster scorers:

Try: Harry O’Riordan
Conversion: Jack Delaney

Leinster scorers:

Try: Josh Pyper
Conversion: Chris Cosgrave

Munster’s best:

Daniel Okeke – In a game of heavy collisions, the number eight was one of the few to usually take and make contact on his terms.

Leinster’s best:

Levi Vaughan - The livewire tighthead was a ball of energy in how he refused to go to ground without a fight.

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. Jake Connolly (Crescent)

1. Mark Donnelly (CBC, Cork, captain)
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. Mark O’Connor (CBC Cork)
22. Will Twomey (Glenstal Abbey)
23. Daniel Hurley (PBC)
24. Michael Hand (PBC)

Leinster:

15. Ed Kelly (St Michael’s)
14. Matthew Grogan (Belvedere)
13. Chris Cosgrave (St Michael’s)
12. Justin Leonard (Belvedere)
11. Josh Pyper (Pres Bray)
10. David Wilkinson (Clongowes Wood)
9. Rob Gilsenan (St Michael’s)

1. Levi Vaughan (Terenure)
2. Lee Barron (St Michael’s)
3. Sam Illo (Wesley)
4. Jonathan Fish (St Michael’s)
5. Alex Soroka (Belvedere)
6. Jack Barry (Gonzaga, captain)
7. Aaron Coleman (Belvedere)
8. Will Hickey (St Michael’s)

Replacements:

16. Calum Dowling (Clongowes Wood)
17. Barry Dooley (Clongowes Wood)
18. Hugo O’Malley (Blackrock)
19. Jack Guinane (St Michael’s)
20. Tom Gilheany (Clongowes Wood)
21. Ben Murphy (Pres Bray)
22. Niall Carroll (St Michael’s)
23. Tim O’Brien (Clongowes Wood)
24. Simon O’Kelly (St Michael’s)
25. Arthur Henry (Gonzaga)
26. Gavin Meagher (Cistercian, Roscrea)

____________________

Ulster Schools 41
IQ Rugby 26

The pinpoint kicking of Nathan Doak – son of former Ulster coach Neil – was key to Ulster eventually taming Irish-Qualified Rugby, formerly known as the Exiles, in the first of the U18 Schools inter-pros in UL.

Ulster won out in UL. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

The Exiles got out to the perfect start when left wing Sean Bundy fielded out-half Shane Buckley’s clearance to take off for a 70-metre sprint to the posts for centre Dan Aldwinckle to convert in the third minute.

Ulster had a clear plan to move the ball wide where fullback Conor Rankin kicked and collected for a fine try, converted by Doak in the 10th minute.

The accurate Doak nudged Ulster ahead with a penalty and scrum-half Conor McKee was on the end of a superb movement for their second try, converted by Doak, in the 21st minute.

The IQ maul was becoming a significant enough factor to earn a penalty try for 17-14 in the 34th minute. They were soon in front from wing Michael Dykes’ finish on the back of Benedict York’s break, with Michael Cooke, on for the injured Aldwinckle, converting for 21-17 to The Exiles at the interval.

Ulster got back on course from wing Jude Postlethwaite’s try on the left for Doak to knock over the extras.

Sean Bundy scored a long-range try for IQ Rugby. Oisin Keniry / INPHO Oisin Keniry / INPHO / INPHO

The scores were coming with increasing regularity as IQ Rugby nine Jacob Whelan’s bravery was rewarded and Ulster flanker Jonathan Agnew plundered a try converted by Doak for 31-26 in the 44th minute.

The northern province took control when wing Robin McIlveen scooted around the outside for Doak to do the necessary with the conversion and add a penalty for good measure.

Ulster scorers:

Tries: Conor Rankin, Conor McKee, Jude Postlethwaite, Jonathan Agnew, Robin McIlveen
Conversions: Nathan Doak [5]
Penalty: Nathan Doak

IQ Rugby scorers:

Tries: Michael Dykes, Shane Bundy, Jacob Whelan, penalty try
Conversions: Dan Aldwinckle, Michael Cooke

Ulster’s best:

Ben Carson - The Wallace High centre certainly provided the steel in Ulster’s midfield, making his channel a no-go area.

IQ Rugby’s best:

Benedict York - There is no substitute for thoroughbred speed allied to fine footwork and the fullback skinned Ulster more than once.

Ulster:

15. Conor Rankin (Campbell College)
14. Robin McIlveen (RBAI)
13. Ben Carson (Wallace HS)
12. Greg Hutley (Down HS)
11. Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI)
10. Nathan Doak (Wallace HS)
9. Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper)

1. George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper)
2. Joel Dundas (Wallace HS)
3. Oscar Egan (Coleraine GS)
4. Will Hopes (Regent House)
5. Gareth Wells (Bangor GS)
6. Rile Westwood (Bangor GS)
7. Jonathan Agnew (RS Armagh)
8. Reuben Crothers (Wallace HS, captain)

Replacements:

16. James McCormick (Dalriada)
17. Adam Hanna (Banbridge Academy)
18. Patrick McAlpine (Campbell College)
19. Matthew Sands (St Colman’s College)
20. Jack Gamble (Ballyclare HS)
21. Jude Roberts (RS Armagh)
22. Charlie Worth (RS Armagh)
23. Luke Graham (Methodist College)
24. Brandon Hassan (BRA)
25. Jack Harte (Friends School)
26. Ben Moxham (Larne HS)

IQ Rugby:

15. Benedict Quinn (St Peter’s, York)
14. Michael Dykes (Victualler’s School College)
13. Hayden Hyde (Cranleigh School)
12. Dan Aldwinckle (RGS Guildford)
11. Sean Bundy (St Joseph’s, Ipswich)
10. Shane Buckley (Munster)
9. Jacob Whelan (Wimbledon College)

1. Monty Royston (Hartpury College)
2. Ollie Newey (Christ College, Brecon)
3. Joe Keohane (Burnham GS)
4. Shane Cawley (Munster)
5. Darragh Gleeson (Freemans School)
6. David Coleman (Blue Coat School)
7. George Addington (Epsom College)
8. Albert Dwan (Wellington College)

Replacements:

16. Owen Chaplin (Durham Johnston)
17. Liam Bishop (Doncaster Knights Academy)
18. Caleb Douglas (Ellesmore College)
19. Raef Murphy (St John’s School)
20. Tomas Donnellan (Hills Road College)
21. Tom Durkin (Newhall School)
22. Michael Cooke (Sedburgh School)
23. Niall McGann (Whitgift School)
24. Matt Ward (Park View School)
25. Alastair Merrill (St Ambrose College)
26. Zach Kavanagh (SGS Filton)

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