Ulster U20 15 Leinster U20 18:Leinster withstood a nail-biting closing minutes to seal their 18-15 victory away to Ulster in tonight's interprovincial under-20 clash at Ravenhill.
The hosts began stronger and early pressure told when Ballymena centre Luke Marshall raced clear to score a try in the corner after seven minutes. Outhalf Paddy Jackson’s conversion fell wide of the upright but he made amends nine minutes later to extend Ulster’s lead to 8-0 after a well struck penalty.
Leinster rallied and a brace of penalties from Cathal Marsh on 28 and 30 minutes reduced the deficit to 8-6 at the interval.
The visitors made three substitutions early in the second period which signalled an upturn in fortunes. In the 56th minute Andrew Boyle swooped to score a try off a well-rehearsed move from a set piece.
Marsh’s conversion made it 13-8 and Leinster were on the up and the visitors’ lead was extended to ten points when UCD wing forward Eoin Joyce touched down. Ulster fought to the end and were rewarded with a try from substitute Stephen Irvine in the 77th minute and was converted by Jackson.
Leinster held on and next face Munster in Donnybrook next Friday night (kick-off 7pm).
Ulster scorers:
L. Marshall, S. Irvine (1 try each), P. Jackson (1 penalty, 1 conversion)
Leinster scorers:
A. Boyle, E. Joyce (1 try each), C. Marsh (2 penalties, 1 conversion)
Ulster under-20:Charlie Simpson (Ballymena); Chris Colvin (QUB), Stewart McIlwaine (QUB), Luke Marshall (Ballymena) (C), Michael McAuley (QUB); Paddy Jackson (MCB), Conor Spence (BRA); Andy Warwick (Ballymena), Jonny Murphy (Banbridge), Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch), David Whan (Ballymena), Ian Henderson (BRA), Calum Thelfor (Dungannon), Dominic Gallagher (Trinity), David McGuigan (Friends School) Replacements: Darryl Maxwell (Malone), Conor Carey (MCB), Adam Best (Currie RFC), Stephen Irvine (Ballynahinch), Stephen Leckey (Glasgow Hawks), Blane McIlroy (MCB), Chris Leathem (Banbridge)
Leinster under-20:Michael Sherlock (Skerries), Sam Coghlan-Murray (UCD), Alex Kelly (UCD), Collin O'Shea (Clontarf), Andrew Boyle (UCD) / Michael McGrath 78, Cathal Marsh (Dublin University), Patrick O'Driscoll (Lansdowne) / Peter Du Toit (UCD) 55; Peter Reilly (Lansdowne) / Tadhg Furlong (Lansdowne) 47, David Doyle (UCD), Martin Moore (Lansdowne) (C), Michael Kearney (Clontarf), Robert Hynes (UCD), Eoin Joyce (UCD), Patrick Dix (UCD) / Mark McGroarty (UCD) 55, Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne) Replacements not used:Patrick Carroll (Blackrock College), Emmet McMahon (UCD), Gearoid McDonald (Old Belvedere)