All four Ulster sides were in action last night, facing the Hockey Mentors at Belfast High School and Ulster University, Jordanstown.
The U18 boys were the big winners of the evening, winning 5-1 courtesy of a hat-trick from Cookstown’s Ed Irwin.
The first game of the evening saw the U16 boys fall to a 3-1 defeat in a closely contested game at UUJ.
After a slow start to the opening game, it was Ulster who went into the first break a goal in front.
With both sides limited to few chances, it was the hosts who were awarded a penalty corner at the end of the first quarter, with Joshua Ferguson picking out the bottom corner with his strike from the top of the circle.
In the second period, the Hockey Mentors began to threaten, firing two shots just wide of Zak Larmour’s near post before Josh Aiken saw his effort at the other end well saved,but with no more chances for either side, it was Ulster who went into the half-time break with a slender advantage.
However, following the break, it was the visitors who sprang into action to take control of the fixture.
The side quickly got their equaliser before seeing a second goal from a penalty corner ruled out by the umpires. Despite the decision, the Mentors were soon ahead after a forward received the ball on the byline before smartly lifting the ball over Ulster goalkeeper Zak Larmour.
Meanwhile, on the brink of the next stoppage, the visitors doubled their lead after winning another penalty corner.
A late Carter Lunn penalty corner reduced the deficit to just one, but the strike came too late in the tie as Hockey Mentors ran out 3-2 winners.
The U18s got off to a flying start in their opening game of the series, taking a 2-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes of the tie.
First, Paddy Brown was left unmarked at the penalty spot before having time to pick his spot and finding the bottom corner, before goal was followed up by an Ethan Redford strike just three minutes later as his side won a penalty corner.
In the second quarter, the only chance fell for Ed Irwin after he converted a second Ulster penalty corner despite a touch from the goalkeeper and doubled his sides advantage going into half-time.
Meanwhile, following the retstart it was the visitors who got a goal back at the third attempt after two good saves from Sam Holmes, bringing the scoreline to 3-1.
However, in the dying stages of the quarter, it was Ulster who restored their lead with Ed Irwin scoring his second of the game following good work from Matt Barrett to win another corner for his side.
Late in the tie, Erwin completed his hat-trick of corners and rounded off a 5-1 victory for Mark Evans’ side in the opening game of the series.
In the girls’ fixtures at Belfast High School, the U16s were dealt an opening defeat, losing 3-2 whilst the U18s also lost to their Enlgish opponents 3-0.