The Ulster U19 team played in their third, and final, game prior to the Inter Provincials, which start on Saturday 7th September, when they hosted the Italian Academy team, in front of a good crowd, at the Queen’s University playing fields at the Dub. The Ulster team had to dig deep before eventually emerging as 10-7 winners.
The Italian Academy team has been on a tour in Ireland, lasting almost three weeks, and had defeated Munster and Connacht U19 teams, and drawn with Leinster U19’s, before arriving in Belfast.
The U19 victory completed an excellent week for the Ulster Age Grade teams with the Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team winning against a Sale Sharks Academy team, a second Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team losing narrowly against Lancashire Schools’ U18’s and the U20’s travelling to England where they defeated the Exiles U20’s team.
The Ulster U19 team started strongly and took the game to the Italians. Their determined approach saw them take a 3-0 lead when Rory Campbell was successful with a penalty opportunity five minutes into the game.
The Italians came back strongly following this early setback and took play deep into Ulster territory. Following a mix up in the Ulster in-goal area, the Italian loose head prop, Paulo Buonfiglio, pounced on the ball dropped by an Ulster player and was awarded a try. Scrum half; Simone Parisotto, was successful with his conversion kick to put the Italian team into a 7-3 lead.
The Italian team took a lot of confidence from this try and made the Ulster defence work hard. However, the Ulster back row trio of Daniel Dass, Dave Cave and Ross Todd, ably assisted by the midfield trio of Conor Shiels, Rory Campbell and Jordan Garford, got through a lot of good work and managed to ensure the Ulster line was not crossed.
The Ulster team did manage to scramble out of defence on occasions and might have reduced the arrears when they were awarded a penalty after twenty six minutes. However, the kick was narrowly missed which ensured the score remained at 7-3 in favour of the visitors at the interval.
Playing with the wind in their backs in the second half the Italian team continued to pressurise the Ulster defence for large parts of the game. The Ulster team soaked up a lot of pressure but rarely managed to get a great deal of quality possession from which to launch any worthwhile attacks.
With just ten minutes of the game remaining, the Ulster team eventually found themselves close to the Italian 22m area. The visitors were penalised and a quickly taken penalty found the ball in the hands of the inspirational Ulster captain, Ross Todd. Ross blasted his way over the Italian try line to touch down for a try. Rory Campbell was successful with his conversion kick to put the Ulster U19 team into a 10-7 lead.
Both teams took every opportunity to attack the opposition in the final few minutes but there were no further scores ensuring the Ulster team recorded an extremely hard-earned 10-7 victory against a very determined and skilful Italian Academy team.
The U19’s will open their Inter-Provincial campaign when they host Munster U19’s at Deramore Park, home of Belfast Harlequins RFC, on Saturday 7th September, in a game that kicks off at 3-00pm.
The Danske Bank Ulster Schools’ team will host Connacht Schools, in the first of their Inter-Provincial games, at Ravenhill on Saturday 7th September, in a game which is scheduled to kick off at 1-30pm.
Meanwhile, the Ulster U20 team will play Munster U20’s, in the first of their Inter-Provincial games, at Ravenhill on Friday 6th September, in a game which is scheduled to kick off at 7-00pm.
Support at all these games would be welcomed!
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BREAKING NEWS: Ulster Rugby U19 I XV 10 v Italy 7.
