Match Reports

Match Report | Cardiff Blues 7 Ulster 11

2nd November 2020
Ulster left Rodney Parade with four points in the bag - and four wins from four in the Guinness PRO14 - after a tough, low-scoring encounter with Cardiff Blues on Monday evening. The hosts started quickly out of the blocks, with Lewis Jones kicking a loose ball from a line-out, but John Cooney and Billy Burns raced back to clear the ball and get Ulster out of danger. The visitors responded with good territorial position, the returning Billy Burns using a range of tactical kicks to keep the Blues pinned inside their half. The Ulster men were the first to get on the score board after 16 minutes, when Cardiff Blues were penalised for holding on in the tackle, and John Cooney surpassed the 500-point mark in the Guinness PRO14 through a well-taken penalty. The hosts took the lead in the 23rd minute after a Will Boyde break. Jarrod Evans lobbed the ball into the grateful arms of Rey Lee-Lo who touched down to score. Evans added the conversion. In the second quarter, Ulster had all the territory and spent large periods camped on the Blues’ line and the forwards were kept busy with numerous scrums as well. Cardiff’s Olly Robinson was sent to the bin for repeated Cardiff infringements. Ulster finally got reward for all that pressure when Michael Lowry threaded his way through the Cardiff defence to cross the whitewash. The first points in the second half didn’t come until the 64th minute, when the Blues were penalised for being on the wrong side and John Cooney extended Ulster’s lead to four points. The hosts tried to respond, but Ulster’s superb defensive work kept Cardiff out to see out the game. Full-time score: Cardiff Blues 7 Ulster 11
Moment of the Match
Player of the Match
Scorers
Cardiff Blues Tries: Rey Lee-Lo Cons: Jarrod Evans Ulster Tries: Michael Lowry Pens: John Cooney (2)
Line-Ups
Cardiff Blues Matthew Morgan; Aled Summerhill, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Hallam Amos; Jarrod Evans, Lewis Jones; Corey Domachowski, Kristian Dacey (capt), Dmitri Arhip, James Ratti, Rory Thornton, Josh Turnbull, James Botham, Will Boyde. Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Brad Thyer, Scott Andrews, Ben Murphy, Olly Robinson, Jamie Hill, Jason Tovey, Garyn Smith Ulster Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney; Eric O’Sullivan, Adam McBurney, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rea, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney. Replacements: John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Ross Kane, Sam Carter, Sean Reidy, Alby Mathewson, Luke Marshall, Ethan McIlroy.
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