Ulster came away from a firecracker of an interprovincial clash in Galway tonight with the scant consolation of a losing bonus point, as the reigning Guinness Pro 12 champions outscored the current league leaders by four tries to three.
Pat Lam’s side blew the northern province away with three tries in the first 25 minutes, but a fantastic comeback saw tries in quick succession from Craig Gilroy, Rory Best and Jared Payne give the Ulstermen every chance of the victory until Cian Kelleher’s killer blow sealed the bonus-point win for the Westerners.
Despite the loss Ulster remain top of the league on 22 points – until Saturday at least, when third-placed Munster and fourth-placed Leinster meet in the weekend’s other interpro derby.
Tommy Bowe made a welcome return to the Ulster starting XV for the first time in six months as one of six personnel changes from the side that edged out the Ospreys last week at Kingspan Stadium.
Payne led the side from full-back in the absence of joint captains Rob Herring and Andrew Trimble – and last week’s skipper Franco van der Merwe, with Louis Ludik shifting from wing to centre alongside Darren Cave to accommodate Bowe’s return. Gilroy occupied the right wing, with Paddy Jackson and Paul Marshall continuing in the half-backs.
Up front, multiple changes brought in Callum Black at loosehead for Kyle McCall, a new second row of Robbie Diack and Pete Browne, and flankers Iain Henderson and Clive Ross either side of Number Eight Roger Wilson.
Hooker Best and tighthead Rodney Ah You retained their starting berths to complete the Ulster lineup.
Connacht wasted no time in showing Ulster their intent, out-half Jack Carty ripping past Marshall and Wilson to touch down underneath the posts with barely three minutes on the clock, before converting his own score.
Side entry from Connacht let Ulster back in mere moments from the restart, Jackson slotting over from 30 metres, and although Ulster then took charge of the ball, two penalisations for holding on too long in the tackle put paid to any aspirations of quickly topping up their tally.
Enterprising rugby from Connacht in their turn went better rewarded, wingman Kelleher sneaking into the left-hand corner on 24 minutes after quick hands across the Ulster ‘22’.
It mattered little that Carty’s conversion attempt rebounded off the upright as, 90 seconds later, he successfully dispatched another after replacement back rower James Connolly had powered through a groggy Ulster defence for the third try.
Ulster responded with spirit, camping in the Connacht ‘22’ and drawing four penalties before tighthead Conor Carey – on Ulster’s books in his formative years – saw yellow for side entry. The score duly came straight from the restart, Gilroy grounding in the corner off Marshall’s high looped pass to the wing.
The wind carried Jackson’s conversion wide of the posts, and despite their numerical disadvantage Connacht pushed their way back downfield to scavenge a penalty for Carty just before half-time.
Half-Time Score Connacht 22 Ulster 8
Ulster retook the field with promising winger Robert Lyttle on in place of Cave, and forced their way back onto the scoresheet within two minutes, just before Carey’s return to play. A high tackle from Craig Ronaldson on Ludik set up a rolling maul neatly finished off by Best’s touchdown, with Jackson adding the extras.
Better still came on 45 minutes as a trademark diagonal burst from Bowe off an Ulster lineout made the space for a simple run-in from Payne, Jackson converting once again to cap a remarkable Ulster recovery and restore parity.
Composed play from Connacht as the momentum swung back in their favour saw Kelleher notch his second try on 53 minutes and, although Carty’s conversion fell short, the out-half made it an eight-point game on the hour courtesy of a well-struck penalty.
A shuddering head collision with Bundee Aki brought Ludik’s game to a premature end on 63 minutes before Jackson’s penalty reduced the gap to five, and bright work from Marshall and Bowe carved out a 70th-minute penalty which Ulster this time put into touch.
The visitors’ rolling maul earned a handful of metres but staunch Connacht defence and an eventual obstruction from Ludik’s replacement Brett Herron as Jackson darted for the line frustrated the final Ulster push.
Replacement prop Ross Kane finished his game in the sinbin for a high tackle – one too many in the match for referee Gary Conway’s liking, and Connacht were happy to close out play in midfield, with Ulster pilfering possession on several occasions but making no real ground.
Full-Time Score Connacht 30 Ulster 25
Connacht (15 – 9) Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Cian Kelleher; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade
(1 – 8) Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (c)
Replacements (16 – 23) Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, James Connolly, Stephen Kerins, Shane O’Leary, Stacey Ili
Ulster (15 – 9) Jared Payne; Tommy Bowe, Louis Ludik, Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall
(1 – 8) Callum Black, Rory Best, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Pete Browne, Iain Henderson, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson
Replacements (16 – 23) Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Brett Herron, Robert Lyttle
Pat Lam’s side blew the northern province away with three tries in the first 25 minutes, but a fantastic comeback saw tries in quick succession from Craig Gilroy, Rory Best and Jared Payne give the Ulstermen every chance of the victory until Cian Kelleher’s killer blow sealed the bonus-point win for the Westerners.
Despite the loss Ulster remain top of the league on 22 points – until Saturday at least, when third-placed Munster and fourth-placed Leinster meet in the weekend’s other interpro derby.
Tommy Bowe made a welcome return to the Ulster starting XV for the first time in six months as one of six personnel changes from the side that edged out the Ospreys last week at Kingspan Stadium.
Payne led the side from full-back in the absence of joint captains Rob Herring and Andrew Trimble – and last week’s skipper Franco van der Merwe, with Louis Ludik shifting from wing to centre alongside Darren Cave to accommodate Bowe’s return. Gilroy occupied the right wing, with Paddy Jackson and Paul Marshall continuing in the half-backs.
Up front, multiple changes brought in Callum Black at loosehead for Kyle McCall, a new second row of Robbie Diack and Pete Browne, and flankers Iain Henderson and Clive Ross either side of Number Eight Roger Wilson.
Hooker Best and tighthead Rodney Ah You retained their starting berths to complete the Ulster lineup.
Connacht wasted no time in showing Ulster their intent, out-half Jack Carty ripping past Marshall and Wilson to touch down underneath the posts with barely three minutes on the clock, before converting his own score.
Side entry from Connacht let Ulster back in mere moments from the restart, Jackson slotting over from 30 metres, and although Ulster then took charge of the ball, two penalisations for holding on too long in the tackle put paid to any aspirations of quickly topping up their tally.
Enterprising rugby from Connacht in their turn went better rewarded, wingman Kelleher sneaking into the left-hand corner on 24 minutes after quick hands across the Ulster ‘22’.
It mattered little that Carty’s conversion attempt rebounded off the upright as, 90 seconds later, he successfully dispatched another after replacement back rower James Connolly had powered through a groggy Ulster defence for the third try.
Ulster responded with spirit, camping in the Connacht ‘22’ and drawing four penalties before tighthead Conor Carey – on Ulster’s books in his formative years – saw yellow for side entry. The score duly came straight from the restart, Gilroy grounding in the corner off Marshall’s high looped pass to the wing.
The wind carried Jackson’s conversion wide of the posts, and despite their numerical disadvantage Connacht pushed their way back downfield to scavenge a penalty for Carty just before half-time.
Half-Time Score Connacht 22 Ulster 8
Ulster retook the field with promising winger Robert Lyttle on in place of Cave, and forced their way back onto the scoresheet within two minutes, just before Carey’s return to play. A high tackle from Craig Ronaldson on Ludik set up a rolling maul neatly finished off by Best’s touchdown, with Jackson adding the extras.
Better still came on 45 minutes as a trademark diagonal burst from Bowe off an Ulster lineout made the space for a simple run-in from Payne, Jackson converting once again to cap a remarkable Ulster recovery and restore parity.
Composed play from Connacht as the momentum swung back in their favour saw Kelleher notch his second try on 53 minutes and, although Carty’s conversion fell short, the out-half made it an eight-point game on the hour courtesy of a well-struck penalty.
A shuddering head collision with Bundee Aki brought Ludik’s game to a premature end on 63 minutes before Jackson’s penalty reduced the gap to five, and bright work from Marshall and Bowe carved out a 70th-minute penalty which Ulster this time put into touch.
The visitors’ rolling maul earned a handful of metres but staunch Connacht defence and an eventual obstruction from Ludik’s replacement Brett Herron as Jackson darted for the line frustrated the final Ulster push.
Replacement prop Ross Kane finished his game in the sinbin for a high tackle – one too many in the match for referee Gary Conway’s liking, and Connacht were happy to close out play in midfield, with Ulster pilfering possession on several occasions but making no real ground.
Full-Time Score Connacht 30 Ulster 25
Connacht (15 – 9) Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Cian Kelleher; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade
(1 – 8) Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (c)
Replacements (16 – 23) Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, James Connolly, Stephen Kerins, Shane O’Leary, Stacey Ili
Ulster (15 – 9) Jared Payne; Tommy Bowe, Louis Ludik, Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall
(1 – 8) Callum Black, Rory Best, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Pete Browne, Iain Henderson, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson
Replacements (16 – 23) Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Brett Herron, Robert Lyttle