The Ulster U19s got their three-match series against Wales off to a flying start as they won 7-1 in Cardiff this evening.
Three goals from JJ Holley and strikes from Matthew Lunn, James Shields, Seb Holley and Harry Thompson sealed the win ahead of two more games this weekend.
Meanwhile there were also Ulster debuts for Bangor’s Sam O’Hara and NICS’ Ewan Hutchinson.
Bangor forward JJ Holley got the Ulster side off to a flying start, giving them an early lead after Harry Thompson won the ball back in a dangerous position with just four minutes gone.
Just moments later Holley doubled the advantage, beating three Welsh defenders before converting at the near post to give the side a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second period saw a dominant display from Ulster, netting four goals in six minutes to extend the lead to 6-0.
Firstly, JJ Holley completed his hat-trick before Matthew Lunn struck off the crossbar just a minute later.
Owen Creighton then broke down the left wing before cutting back to James Shields at the top of the circle and the Annadale defender struck low and hard to beat the Welsh goalkeeper at the near post.
A dominant first half was rounded off by a strike from Harry Thompson after the forward was brilliantly found by a long ball into the circle from Seb Holley.
The Ulster pressure continued into the second half with Ethan Redford going closest from a penalty corner, forcing the Welsh goalkeeper into a magnificent stick save.
Seb Holley finally made the pressure pay off as his drag flick from a penalty corner went straight through the goalkeepers legs to extend the lead to 7-0.
Following the goal, Wales managed a sustained period of pressure with goalkeeper Benji Patterson being forced into a number of saves to keep the clean sheet in tact.
Wales did manage to get a late goal back from a penalty corner of their own. Having slipped left, the ball was then fired across goal for a deflection at the back post.
The sides will now meet once more on Friday evening at 6:00pm