A much-improved performance earned Ulster their first victory of the 2013/14 term this evening at the Galway Sportsground, with tries from Michael Allen and Paddy Jackson capping a strong display against a competitive Connacht side.
Allen in particular was impressive as Mark Anscombe’s men ironed out some first-half errors to dominate the second period, securing four vital away points to kickstart their RaboDirect Pro 12 campaign and ascend to sixth place in the table.
In the opening moments of the encounter Ulster made good running across the full breadth of the Sportsground with quick ball and energetic recycling, but a severely overthrown lineout on eight minutes gifted Connacht possession just inside the visitors’ half, and, after strong forward driving from former Ulsterman Willie Faloon, a graceful pirouette from Dan Parks under a trio of tackles got the out-half just over the whitewash for the game’s first try.
The Scot converted his own score, but Ulster snapped right back within a matter of minutes, courtesy of an uncoverted try from Allen. The young winger, whose handling had let him down in a similar position eight days previously against Glasgow Warriors, picked up a quicksilver pass from Jared Payne after good ball-carrying from Luke Marshall, and touched down in the corner with minimal fuss.
As the match edged into its second quarter, Connacht launched their second meaningful attack, well diffused in the end by a fine aerial take from Allen. The Galwaymen came straight back again, however, and Parks should have capitalised on an Ulster infringement to kick three points on 28 minutes, but dragged his penalty wide of the right-hand upright. Jackson was similarly wasteful with a thirty-metre kick on the half-hour mark, and as half-time approached a series of handling and set-piece errors from both sides fractured the flow of the game.
Ricky Lutton came on at prop for the injured Declan Fitzpatrick just before half-time, but there was still sufficient time for a final attack from Ulster, and a well-worked drive from the lineout got Iain Henderson to within a metre of the line before the young second row unfortunately knocked on under a heavy Connacht tackle.
Half-Time Score Connacht 7 Ulster 5
The second half was a much more satisfactory affair for Ulster, with much of the promise shown in the first half – and indeed during the majority of the narrow defeat to Glasgow – finally materialising into effective and accurately-executed rugby.
Craig Gilroy was a welcome returner from long-term injury as the teams ran out for the second half, taking over on the right wing from David McIlwaine, and joined by fellow replacement Paul Marshall at scrum-half for Ian Porter. The changes seemed to reinvigorate the visitors, with Payne coming close to landing a score on 45 minutes as he weaved his way through several tackles, but astute defence from the men in green held the full-back up behind the line to avert the danger.
Ulster tails were up now, however, and Allen only just failed to register his second try of the night on 49 minutes, prevented just like Payne from touching down by assiduous Connacht defending after displaying great body strength to ride a handful of meaty tackles as he raced for the line.
The Ulster pressure paid off four minutes later as Connacht infringed on their ‘22’, allowing Jackson to kick the visitors into the lead with his first successful penalty of the evening. With Lewis Stevenson replacing Nick Williams at this stage, Ulster continued in the same vein and, when it came on 57 minutes, Jackson’s try was fully deserved.
The out-half both initiated and completed the move, liberating Luke Marshall in midfield for a typically energetic burst, then picking up from the excellent Payne metres from the line, and sliding over with a cool head before the tracking Connacht defenders could catch him.
Jackson converted his try, and after narrowly missing with a penalty from distance moments later, made amends from close range with 15 minutes remaining to give Ulster the cushion of an 11-point lead.
Connacht then made a spirited but fruitless attempt at a comeback as the clock ran through its final ten minutes, with Ulster defending valiantly on their own line to deprive their interprovincial rivals of a losing bonus point.
Next up for Anscombe’s charges will be Treviso at Ravenhill next Friday evening, and with the Italians on a high after last night’s dispatching of Munster, Ulster will need a performance of similar quality and consistency to ensure the momentum from this evening’s victory is maintained.
Connacht (15 – 9) G Duffy; F Carr, R Henshaw, E Griffin, M Healy; D Parks, K Marmion; (1 – 8) B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, N White, M Swift (c), C Clarke, J Heenan, W Faloon, J Muldoon
Replacements (16 – 23) S Henry, R Ah You, R Loughney, A Muldowney, G Naoupu, P O’Donohoe, C Ronaldson, D Poolman
Ulster (15 – 9) J Payne; D McIlwaine, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen; P Jackson, I Porter; (1 – 8) T Court, R Herring, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (c), I Henderson, R Wilson, C Henry, N Williams
Replacements (16 – 23) N Annett, K McCall, R Lutton, L Stevenson, R Diack, P Marshall, J McKinney, C Gilroy