Re: Ulster sides in UBL
Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 4:12 pm
Did you watch
Hinch v Malone
Hinch v Queens
Malone v Quins
Hinch v Malone
Hinch v Queens
Malone v Quins
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nope, just the UBL games, and I missed Malone vs Quins to watch the Zebre game (now that was a bad call..)Russ wrote:Did you watch
Hinch v Malone
Hinch v Queens
Malone v Quins
Very good summary Columbo. I would agree with everything that you have stated there. I have been to nearly all Queens games and have watched the boys do well. I have seen a little bit of Malone and Quins as well.Columbo wrote:In the last couple of months I've caught a good few games - pretty evenly split between Hinch and Malone, and I've watched Queens once and Quins once. On the basis of what I've seen (as someone who only started watching AIL games last season) I'd say the following:
First, the standard of rugby is actually very good, much better than I was expecting, especially in 1A and 1B - there's a noticeable drop off in 2A (which is a bit concerning given the number of our academy boys playing there). But it's a world away from back when I was a kid, going to Ards and Bangor with my old man
In terms of Ulster academy/fringe players (or former academy players) I've seen, tbh probably the most consistently impressive ones have been Paul Pritchard, John Donnan and Kyle McCall at Hinch. Priotchrd is a cracking natural openside, good footballer too, and niggly with it (could do with fewer yellows mind you) and McCall is great in the open and over the ball, with such a low centre of gravity. Donnan has got a lot bigger, and looks like he'll be a smashing athletic second row in the mould of POC.
In terms of other back rowers (given Ulster's problems there this season) Joyce is an excellent grafting 6, but doesn't offer a lot of carrying, Butterworth likewise. Lorcan Dow is a good big carrier, probably needs to concentrate on the nuts and bolts a bit. I really like Josh Atkinson as a player, another good natural 7, potential drawback again might be size, he is solid, but doesn't look very tall. From what I've seen the pick of the bunch is Taggart - he was good with the Irish U20s last year, and in the one Quins match I saw, where they were terrible and battered at home by a big Buccs side, he was the only Quins forward who looked up to speed. He looks pretty big too, and his instincts are good.
In the backs O'Hagan had a good outing the day I watched them (against Seapoint) outside Young - he reminds me a bit of PJ tbh, he has nice touch, and a good break, achilles heel (in this match as in the U20s) was goal-kicking.. Josh Bingham at Malone has looked good when he's been on the pitch, but very small (I see he has been playing in the Ireland U20 warm-ups) - similar story for John Creighton, who is a smashing footballer, but who is just probably too slight, which I'm guessing is why he wasn't offered an academy slot a couple of years ago.
Which if any could potentially break through to the senior squad in the next season or two? I'd put good money on John Donnan and Frankie Taggart, and Dow a bit later. I think O'Hagan is a good prospect, particularly if he can nail his kicks. And I haven't seen enough of Stockdale, Owens, Arnold to say for sure, but they certainly looked the part in the U20 games I saw.
I'd be interested to hear thoughts from anyone who has seen more of these teams than me? I'm aware that they're just my impressions, from a pretty small sample of games!
Can never make my mind up about Dow to be honest, hope that he pushes on, lots of people expecting big things from him. Always thought that he might get a run in the Ravens this year but he never got in one squad. Hopefully he steps up to the mark.Columbo wrote:Dan - interesting to hear what you're saying about Dow, i.e. not carrying enough. Actually for the U20s he carried really well - almost to a fault, he hogged the ball sometimes when he could have given it, or tried to make extra yards and then rushed an offload which went to deck. But he certainly made some big busts - but you'd certainly want him to be doing that week in week out for Queens, and it's interesting to hear that he isn't necessarily doing that.
I enjoyed the Queens game that I watched, although it was frustrating, they were a good 20 points better than Seapoint but for most of the match struggled to get more than a score ahead.. Partly down to missed kicks, partly down to a bit of over-playing! But they certainly played some nice rugby, and O'Hagan is a great player to watch. For the clinching try near the end he got a late call, put his head up and landed the most immaculate crossfield kick for the winger to pick off and dot down. Really though, these boys need to be playing 1A or 1B IMO, so hopefully they can push on and get promotion - which might be tough.
Solidarity..... Nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia. I may be wrong but it seems that most clubs now are light at least one of two sides from back then and that more than a couple have fallen by the wayside or gone the way of Quins or Shaws Bridge and almagamated. Strange then how the registered base is going up when so many clubs are struggling....solidarity wrote:Just wondering - how many teams did Malone put out in their heyday? In my time they were the biggest club around. Which club puts most these days?
Just watched Dragons v Connacht. Rugby like it used to be - pitch like a swimming pool; one team in brown with a wee bit of red playing a team in brown with a wee bit of green. Happy memories.