‘A’ team looking to down Eagles for third cup win

ULSTER ‘A’ are aiming to maintain their excellent start in the Celtic Cup by going three wins from three today when they host Connacht Eagles at Eaton Park (kick-off 4.00pm).

Head coach Kieran Campbell’s side have, so far, accumulated maximum points from their opening two games and currently sit second in the table with only points differential separating them from leaders Leinster ‘A’.

Campbell has made three changes to the side from last Saturday’s 32-5 dismissal of Cardiff Blues at Gibson Park with hooker Zack McCall coming in for Ulster Academy player Tom Stewart for what is the only alteration up front.

Elsewhere, Ben Power and Luke Pollock come in at inside centre and left wing respectively.

Power’s inclusion results in some positional switching as Hayden Hyde now shifts out one to outside centre while Ballynahinch player Ross Adair is relocated to the right wing.

Both Hyde and Adair had strong games against Cardiff and crossed the line to rack up half of Ulster’s final try tally.

Campbell and assistant Willie Anderson will also be looking for further sharp showings from scrum-half Nathan Doak and from their impressive back-row with skipper David McCann and Azur Allison looking strong last weekend.

Connacht have won both of their games in the competition and sit one point behind Ulster in third.

Ulster ‘A’: C Rankin, R Adair, H Hyde, B Power, L Pollock; B Houston, N Doak; C Reid, Z McCall, P Cooper, M Dalton, J Regan, J Dunleavy, D McCann (capt), A Allison Replacements: C Milligan, P Mullen, J Blair, JJ McKee, M Agnew, A Hall, L Finlay, M Stronge