Ulster keep their cool and warm to twin task

After weathering conditions that would have tested the resolve of your average Siberian resident over the weekend, Ulster defrosted sufficiently on Saturday evening to celebrate their double success at the under-16 and under-18 inter-provincial tournament in Bangor.

It was a resounding twin triumph too, with the teams winning seven of their games between them, drawing the eighth, scoring 33 goals and conceding just the one. The only "blemish" on a near perfect record was the under-18s' 1-1 draw with Munster on Friday afternoon.

Comfortable wins over SouthEast and Leinster on Saturday wrapped up both titles for Ulster, with Sarah Wilkinson scoring a hat-trick for the under-18s in a 4-0 win over Leinster and Jacqui McVicker, sister of Irish international Lynsey, among the goals in both the under-16s' victories.

Munster's under-18s were the only other team in the tournament to come through their four games unbeaten, finishing runners-up to Ulster for the second year running, with Emer Dillon scoring four against Connacht on Saturday.

If the weather in Bangor was poor, it was positively atrocious at Farmers' Cross yesterday where the Munster Division One cup final between Harlequins and the University of Limerick was due to be played.

The teams made it on to the pitch for a "warm-up", but the wind and rain soon drove them back indoors - match postponed.

Genesis, Railway Union and Muckross found themselves blown away, too, on Saturday afternoon, losing 6-0, 6-0 and 80, respectively, to Loreto, Old Alexandra and Hermes.

Pembroke Wanderers moved up to fourth place after winning both their games at the weekend, beating Trinity 2-1 on Saturday and Glenanne 3-0 yesterday.

Loreto II went top of the Senior B table after their 6-0 win over Old Alexandra II, while two goals from Ann Klatt lifted Pembroke Wanderers II into second place above Corinthian who they beat 3-2.