Irish Colleges Rugby Union: Leinster Colleges 50 v 43 Ulster Colleges

Leinster Colleges narrowly succeeded in winning this Inter-Provincial semi-final encounter against Ulster Colleges at the Institute of Technology, Dundalk on Wednesday.
Leinster Colleges are now considered favourites to take their 5th in a row Colleges Inter-Provincial Championship after this exciting but close encounter against a well organised Ulster Colleges side on Wednesday at DKIT. Leinster were very much aware of the position that they were in having won four of the last interprovincial Championships. This was a day that both kickers were in fine form with Alan McGinity scoring 6 conversions and one penalty with his Ulster counterpart, Michael Lawton, scoring a try, penalty and five conversions.

Leinster started off strongly by scoring their first try in the 10th minute taken by Glen Woods, converted by Alan McGinity, followed by their second try five minutes later by Wesley Wojnar, again converted by Alan McGinity.

With the score 14 -0 on the board and Leinster in rampant form, Ulster gradually became more adjusted to the game by scoring their first try in the 20th minute, converted by Michael Lawton. Leinster hit back in the 22nd minute with a try by Robert Duke that McGinity failed to convert.

Again in the 25th minute, Ulster hit back with a try by James Wilkinson, converted by Michael Lawton and also in the 27th minute with a well taken try by Stephen Ferguson, converted by Michael Lawton.
Ulster were awarded a penalty in the 35th minute, successfully kicked by Lawton who like McGinity, was in excellent form in this exiting match.

Leinster were awarded a penalty 2 minutes later, taken successfully by Alan McGinity leaving the score at half time, 24-22 for Ulster.

The second half started at a ferocious pace with Ulster extending their lead with a try in the 45th minute by Michael Lawton, converted by himself.50 minutes later Robert Duke scored for Leinster followed by another try two minutes later for Leinster by Karl Miller, both converted by Alan McGinity. Ulster scored with a Scott Browne try in the 60th minute of half time and again a try in the 70th minute by Simon Logue with this try converted by Michael Lawton.

At this stage of the competition, although Ulster were leading by 43-36, they were starting to weaken in their defence lines. Leinster took their opportunity in the 78th minute with a fine try by Hugo Nolan and again by the same player five minutes later. Both tries were converted by Alan McGinity leaving the final score 50-43 in favour of Leinster Colleges.

Scores
Leinster: Tries: G Woods, W Wojnar, R Duke (2), K Millen, H Nolan (2)
Conversions: A McGinley (6) Penalties: A McGinity (1)

Ulster: Tries: J Wilkinson (2), S Ferguson, M Lawton, S Brennan, S Logue,
Conversions: M Lawton (5) Penalties M Lawton (1)

Match Report & Pictures By Brendan Johnston