Ulster U19s kicked off their 2021 Men’s Interprovincial Championship with a 22-19 win over Connacht U19s in Donnybrook, Dublin.

Jonathan Gillespie’s Ulster started off the better side but Connacht fought back before the end of the first half to set up an exciting second.

Number 8 James McNabney showed his strength as he powered over the line for the first try of the game after nine minutes.

Connacht returned fire through the wide channels as their back-line impressed throughout the match.

Connacht winger Blaine Barry got the side’s first try of the match after out-half Harry West and full-back Adam O’Carroll combined well in the build-up.

Barry’s try went unconverted but the Westerners added a second when West got his first seven points of the game after another link-up with O’Carroll.

Ballymena Academy’s Ross McKay reduced the deficit to two early on in the second half but Connacht scored a third try in response when replacement back Tadhg Finlay finished off another nice move by the Connacht backline.

West converted the try and increased his side’s lead to nine points.

Ulster and Coleraine winger Rory Telfer kept his side’s hopes alive with a second try after some strong carries.

It was the power of the Ulster pack that helped the side prevail as a maul in the last minutes led to the decisive score and a win for the Ulstermen.

Lineups

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The Ulster U18 Schools’ coaching team has named their side to face IQ Rugby this afternoon, in preparation for the upcoming 2021 Age-Grade Inter-Pro Series.

IQ Rugby was established by the IRFU in 2017, to formally identify and develop Irish Qualified athletes from outside of Ireland.

Irish international Kieran Marmion is one of the players to have come through this system in the past.

The post Ulster U18 Schools Squad Named For IQ Rugby Clash appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

All six games in the championship will be broadcast free-to-air on TG4 while the three Ulster Rugby matches will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer.

Round 3 of the competition will now take place as an exciting double-header at Energia Park to ensure a televised audience for the province who’ll be lifting the trophy in 2021.

Speaking about the announcement, IRFU Women’s Development Manager Amanda Greensmith said: “We’re very excited that the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship will reach a televised audience for the first time in 2021.

“It’s a competition that has been sorely missed from the sporting calendar over the past two years and we’re delighted that Vodafone are on board to help take us to new heights.

“As we continue to promote our message of #NothingLikeIt, it presents a fresh opportunity to attract women and girls to rugby. We can’t wait to see the women of our four proud provinces return to action.”

TG4 Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said: “TG4 is delighted to bring the 2021 Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship to Irish television viewers for the very first time. We are looking forward to seeing this exciting competition become part of our Rugbaí Beo line-up.

“TG4 is proud to lead the way in the broadcasting of women’s sport in Ireland and ensures that women’s sport is front, centre, and free to air for television audiences.”

Neil Brittain, Executive Editor BBC Sport NI, said:

“I am pleased that BBC Sport NI is working in partnership with the IRFU and TG4 to broadcast the Women’s Interprovincial Championship live for the first time. We look forward to showing the Ulster matches on BBC iPlayer and to telling the story of the players representing their Province across TV, radio and online.

“We are also committed to ensuring that this competition becomes a permanent part of the broadcast schedule going forward.”

To see the fixtures for the 2021 Women’s Interprovincial Championship, click here.

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