Big turnout at Balreask Old for Leinster, Ulster clash

Navan RFC hosted one of the biggest crowds in their history when close to 4,000 people showed up for the pre-season encounter between Leinster and Ulster at Balreask Old today.
The game was won by 31-14 by Leinster but the result hardly mattered as both teams used the challenge to try out a huge number of players.
Many of the big players normally seen in the Leinster and Ulster colours were notable by their absence on this occasion as the respective coaches used the opportunity to try out fringe players.
The ‘home’ side led 14-7 at the interval and while Ulster hit back to level matters in the second-half there was no stopping the boys in blue as they marched to victory.
Dan Leavy and Jack Conan powered over for Leinster’s opening half tries with Ross Byrne converting both. Ulster’s Sam Windsor kept his side in the hunt going over for a touchdown after a clever little kick ahead. Windsor also added the conversion.
On a superb pitch - well prepared by the local club for this one of the biggest occasions in their recent history - both side sought to move the ball around at pace but inevitably at this stage of the season there were handling errors.
Wholesale changes were made by both sides at the interval with almost two separate teams emerging from the dressing rooms. Included in the Leinster side for the second-half were some well-known faces including Zane Kirchner and Fergus McFaddan
Tries were created and taken by both sides with Josh Murphy and Irish international McFadden running in for unconverted touchdowns to push Leinster back out in front. Ulster were not prepared to give up without a fight and their new-look side engineered a try of their own through Robert Lyttle converted by Johnny McPhillips.
Leinster produced by far the more adventurous rugby in the second-half and a late try from Adam Byrne converted by Joey Carberry sealed the win.