Report: Combined Academies 72-31 Ulster Development

Ulster Development started the scoring in the 11th minute. They kicked penalty to the corner, and a phase later Johnny Scott wrestled through to the line.

In the 15^th minute the scores were level. Euan McVie caught a lineout five metres out and the maul got going once the backs joined, with Joe Roberts getting over the line.

Ulster’s forwards were to play a big part, and by going through the phases after another penalty kicked to corner, Tom McAllister eventually scored under the posts and Jack Murphy converted.

Two tries in quick succession got the Combined Academies in front for the first time. The first was created by a break down the right wing from Fergus Watson, who sprinted infield and offloaded to Liam McConnell who stepped the last man and scored. Matthew Urwin converted.

Then Combined Academies reacted first to a loose ball from kick off. McConnell kicked on then Hector Patterson volleyed over the top, caught it and scored on the left. A brilliant touchline conversion from Urwin followed.

More pick and go carries from Ulster saw James McKillop eventually breach the line under the posts. Murphy’s conversion levelled the scores once more.

Again it was from effective carries around the ruck that got Ulster their fourth try, and this time Callum Reid was the man to score, converted by Murphy.

Three minutes before half time Combined Academies took a tap and go penalty, a big carry from McConnell ended just short and Freddy Douglas then crashed over. Urwin’s conversion hit post.

Half time: Combined Academies 24-26 Ulster Development

In the 48^th minute Combined Academies went back infront. Roberts made the initial break up the middle off the back of a lineout, and a few phases of forward grunt McConnell grounded it for his second. Urwin converted.

The lead was stretched in the 54^th minute. A driving maul was collapsed just short, and substitute Conor McAlpine saw a half-gap down the blind side and stretched to dot down. Urwin again slotted the conversion.

The maul did get over the line in the 62^nd minute, after an offside penalty was kicked to the left corner. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty was at the back to dot down. Urwin was unsuccessful with his final conversion of the afternoon.

And Jerry Blyth-Lafferty was on the scoreboard again two minutes later, seering through the middle and sprinting under the posts after an initial break up the right. Jack Hocking converted.

Roberts then made a burst through the middle following a lineout, and three phases later McConnell went over from short range for his second.

The tries were coming thick and fast for the home side, and in the 68^th minute Olujare Oguntibeju’s looping pass to the right wing found Mark Fyffe who was in space to finish on the right side.

In the 70^th minute McAlpine was the man to finish off a lovely break down the right, scoring his second of the afternoon.

With five minutes left Maccenzie Duncan got in on the act after the backs had initially made metres up the left, the back rower breaking through the middle and eventually in acres of space to dot down under the posts.

There was time for one final linebreak from Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, who unselfishly found Cairn Ramsay to round off the scoring for the hosts.

With the final play Matthew Heasley dived on a loose ball over the line after a lovely chip ahead down the right, but it mattered little as Combined Academies had raced away in the second half for a comfortable win.

Full time: Combined Academies 72-31 Ulster Development

Combined Academies: 15. Jack Brown* (Edinburgh Rugby) 14. Fergus Watson* (Glasgow Warriors) 13. Johnny Ventisei* – Captain (Glasgow Warriors) 12. Kerr Yule* (Glasgow Warriors) 11. Amena Caqusau* (Glasgow Warriors) 10. Matthew Urwin* (Glasgow Warriors) 9. Hector Patterson* (Edinburgh Rugby) 1. Tom Banatvala* (Glasgow Warriors) 2. Joe Roberts* – Vice-captain (Glasgow Warriors) 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty* (Edinburgh Rugby) 4. Dan Halkon* (Glasgow Warriors) 5. Euan McVie* (Edinburgh Rugby) 6. Liam McConnell* (Edinburgh Rugby) 7. Freddy Douglas* (Edinburgh Rugby) 8. Tom Currie* (Edinburgh Rugby)

Replacements: 16. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty* – Vice-captain (Edinburgh Rugby) 17. Michael Jones* (Edinburgh Rugby) 18. Cairn Ramsay (Currie Chieftains) 19. Olujare Oguntibeju* (Glasgow Warriors) 20. OIlie Duncan* (Edinburgh Rugby) 21. Conor McAlpine* (Edinburgh Rugby) 22. Jack Hocking* (Edinburgh Rugby) 23. Fin Thomson* (Edinburgh Rugby) 24. Jake Shearer* (Glasgow Warriors) 25. Macenzzie Duncan* (Glasgow Warriors) 26. Mark Fyffe (Edinburgh University) 27. Sam Leweni* (Edinburgh Rugby) 28. Nairn Moncrieff* (Edinburgh Rugby)

Ulster Development: 15. Rory Telfer 14. Ben McFarlane 13. Sam Berman 12. Johnny Scott 11. Ethan Graham 10. Jack Murphy 9. Conor McKee 8. Tom Brigg 7. Billy Allen 6. James McKillop 5. Charlie Irvine –  Captain 4. Callum Johns 3. Tom McAllister 2. Zac Solomon 1. Callum Reid

Replacements: 16. Conor Magee 17. Tyrese Abolarin 18. Jack Boal 19. Adam McNamee 20. Scott Gray 21. Clarke Logan 22. Matthew Heasley 23. Daniel Green 24. Josh Gibson 25. Fraser Cunningham