25/10/2006
Some of Ulster's finest young rugby stars stayed at the Belmore COurt Motel recently on their way to play an interprovincial match against Connacht in Athlone.
The team, captained by James Sanford, had a nil all draw in difficult conditions.
Ulster Schools played their final match of the series, against Connacht at a windswept Dubarry Park in Athlone yesterday and a scoreless draw was probably the right result. Ulster kicked the match off, playing against the wind and driving rain, and had one of the few scoring opportunities in the first 5 minutes when a penalty was awarded, however Mark O'Connor was wide with the attempt. Ulster were doing well in the lineouts with captain James Sandford to the fore, while Connacht were strong in the scrum and made good use of the wind to keep Ulster down in their own half for long periods. Ulster kept kicking the ball out of hand instead of working their way up the pitch with controlled possession and when ball was moved through the hands it usually ended up being knocked on, with the wet conditions. However for the last 5 minutes of the first half, Ulster pressurised Connacht in their own 22 but good defense kept the visitors out till the half time whistle.
Connacht went inside for the half time period to warm up, whilst Ulster remained outside thinking how they were going to use the wind in the 2nd half! Patrick McAllister came on at half time for Ulster at Loose head prop and at the re-start received the ball and made good ground. His school backrow player from Armagh Royal, Gareth Hooks, put in some fine tackles all match and with this early possession, Ulster almost got in for an early score, when David Funston of Foyle College, broke through the defense, only to be tackled 5 metres short, spilling the ball. Ulster remained in the
Connacht half for the 1st 15 minutes but again could not get that all important score. As the game then entered the final quarter, it would have been unfair if either team would have scored as both had done so much in atrocious conditions to hold out. It was with relief then that the final whistle came and the result of 0-0.
Taken from www.ulsterrugby.com