Match Reports

Match Report | Harlequins 21 Ulster 57

4th April 2021
Ulster powered their way through to the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals after a convincing victory over Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop on Sunday evening. Harlequins looked dangerous with ball in hand in the opening minutes, as they moved the ball quickly through the hands, but an over-exuberant pass put their first opportunity into touch for an Ulster line-out. Quins then gave Ulster their exit from the 22 by bringing down the maul, and Billy Burns duly kicked to touch and out of danger for the men in red. Ulster responded in kind, showing their attacking prowess, when Robert Baloucoune made a jinking run to bring the visitors inches away from the Quins line, and from that range, Stuart McCloskey made no mistake in muscling over to score in the 12th minute. Cooney fired over the conversion to put Ulster 7 ahead. Ulster looked to put the pressure on again and were awarded a penalty after Elia Elia was too slow to run back to his defensive line, and Cooney obliged for the three points. Ill-discipline cost Harlequins after Romain Poite awarded a penalty for a high tackle on Robert Baloucoune, who was causing all sorts of problems for the Quins’ defence. Billy Burns kicked for the 5-metre line-out and Rob Herring popped over to score from the back of the resulting Ulster maul, which Cooney converted. Just five minutes later, Ulster struck again with another dominant maul, this time Sean Reidy being the man to barrel over for the try. Cooney was on-target with the conversion. Harlequins soon responded through their captain, Tom Lawday, and Brett Herron got the conversion to bring the score to 7-24. That scoreline lasted only a matter of seconds, however, as Mike Lowry picked out a box-kick from Scott Steele to go on a scorching solo run down the right wing with a clean pair of heels as he went in at the corner. The tricky conversion attempt just drifted across the left of the posts. Ulster had an opportunity early in the second half after Jordi Murphy made the jackal to force the turnover penalty, Billy Burns kicking for the line-out just a few metres out, but they were penalised for closing the gap, giving Harlequins the chance to clear their lines. It wasn’t long however before Ulster’s fifth try of the night came, once again through the maul and Rob Herring claiming the brace. Cooney drilled over the conversion. Just three minutes later, Ulster pounced when Billy Burns picked out the intercept from a Quins pass to race clear for the try which went converted by Cooney. Harlequins got their second score of the evening on 64 minutes, through Jack Kenningham after a TMO check, and Herron made the conversion. Just seconds later, James Hume set up Alby Mathewson for his first European try for Ulster after coming on to replace John Cooney. Ian Madigan took over the kicking duties after coming on for Billy Burns and landed the conversion. Ulster weren’t done yet, and Sean Reidy bagged his second score of the evening after collecting a loose ball after it came off the hand of Quins’ James Lang and crossed over for Ulster’s eighth. The hosts fought back in the final stages of the game for their third try with replacement prop, Jordan Els powering over at short-range on 77 minutes and the try was converted by Herron. Ulster will now face Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday 10 April at 8pm in the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals. Full-time score: Harlequins 21 Ulster 57

WORTH ANOTHER LOOK

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

SCORERS

Harlequins Tries: Tom Lawday, Jack Kenningham, Jordan Els Cons: Brett Herron (3) Ulster Tries: Stuart McCloskey, Rob Herring (2), Sean Reidy (2), Mike Lowry, Billy Burns, Alby Mathewson Cons: John Cooney (5), Ian Madigan (2) Pens: Cooney

LINE-UPS

Harlequins (15-9) Tyrone Green, Luke Northmore, James Lang, Paul Lisike, Nathan Earle, Brett Heron, Scott Steele; (1-8) Santiago Garcia Botta, Elia Elia, Will Collier, Hugh Tizard, George Hammond, Archie White, Jack Kenningham, Tom Lawday (Capt.). Replacements: George Head, Jordan Els, Simon Kerrod, Tevita Cavubati, Matas Jurevicius, Jack Stafford, Ben Tapuai, Ross Chisholm. Ulster (15-9) Michael Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney; (1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy (Capt.), Nick Timoney. Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Ethan McIlroy.

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