Interpro Round-Up

Ulster were the opponents for all four of the underage representative teams at the weekend with the away team coming out on top in each encounter.

The Munster U18 Schools and Clubs sides both recorded impressive victories at the Kingspan Stadium to set up Interprovincial deciders against Leinster next week.

The Clubs team host Leinster at Waterpark RFC on Saturday (ko 12:30pm) while the Schools side host Leinster in CBC later on Saturday(ko 2:30pm).

The Under 19s and Under 20s signed off with home defeats to end disappointing campaigns.

Munster U18 Schools
The Munster Under 18s Schools side, sponsored by Trend Micro, produced a superb performance to beat Ulster 22-7 at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.

The win was secured with tries from Colm Hogan, Glen Dickinson and Mark O'Mara as captain Bill Johnston kicked a penalty and two conversions.

Ulster shocked Munster with the opening try just 36 seconds in with the conversion giving the hosts a very early 7-0 lead.

Munster bounced back to lead by three points at the break, however, with Hogan getting his side off the mark with a try as Johnston added the conversion and a penalty before the interval.

Winger Dickinson scored Munster's second try in the second half with Johnston kicking the conversion to put some daylight between the sides.

Hooker O'Mara sealed the win with the third try to secure a 22-7 win after an outstanding team performance. J

John Foley was the Munster man-of-the-match as he carried and tackled brilliantly throughout with the pack excelling in the scrum.

Munster Schools' Jack O'Sullivan with support from try-scorer Colm Hogan. Credit: Denis Hooper

Munster U18 Clubs
The Munster Under 18 Clubs side, sponsored by Trend Micro, enjoyed an outstanding 34-6 bonus-point win in Ulster last Saturday.

Skibbereen out-half Liam Coombes was terrific, scoring a try, three conversions and a penalty.

Winger Seán Gray from Crosshaven scored two first half tries with Tralee's Jack Quilter and Seán Ivess from Newcastle West also touching down.

The front row of Peter Kelleher, Shane Bush and Ian McCarthy continued their good form with the pack dominant throughout.

Coombes was the standout performer, however, in another excellent team display.

Liam Coombes scored 14 points in Belfast. Credit: Tom Ivess

Munster Under 19s
The Munster Under 19s, sponsored by Star Elm Frames, fell to a disappointing 5-3 loss to Ulster at the Mardyke Arena in their final Interprovincial game on Saturday.

Munster were forced to make one change before the game with Josh Barnes coming into the second row and the Tralee man did very well, especially at the line-out.

There was a dramatic start to the game with Ulster winger Jonathon Rosbourgh racing up the wing to collect the ball and sprinting to score in the corner for a 5-0 lead.

Paul Downes kicked a penalty in the opening minute of the second half but Munster were pinned back for long periods and weren't able to breach the Ulster defence.

Munster Under 20s
The Munster Under 20s, sponsored by GxP Systems, put in an excellent second half effort but fell just short at Dooradoyle as Ulster won 17-12 and so claimed the Under 20 Interprovincial title on Friday night.

Young Munster's Gearóid Lyons opened the scoring for Munster with a penalty but Ulster scored 17 unanswered points to lead 17-3 at the interval.

Winger Adam Liddell scored two tries for Ulster in the opening period with out-half Jack Milligan converting both along with adding a penalty.

Despite the 14-point deficit, Munster performed much better in the second period. Cork Con's Tomás Quinlan, on as a replacement, kicked three penalties as Munster closed the gap to five.

Munster piled on the pressure but they were unable to breach the Ulster defence as the northern province held on for their third victory in as many games to claim the title.

Under 20 captain Stephen Fitzgerald in full flow on Friday night. Credit: Oisín McHugh