Match Reports

Match Report | Northampton Saints 27 Ulster 35

10th April 2021
Ulster overcame an eight-point deficit at half-time to defeat Northampton Saints 27-35 at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday evening, sealing a place in the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals. The visitors were under pressure early on, with Northampton striking in the 5th minute through scrum-half Alex Mitchell, picking up off the back of the ruck right on the Ulster line to score. Centre Piers Francis landed the conversion. Northampton went down to 14 temporarily after Nick Isiekwe saw yellow for a no-arms tackle on Billy Burns. Ulster opted for the line-out and maul with the penalty, and Northampton illegally brought down the Ulster maul, leading referee Alexandre Ruiz to award the penalty try to Ulster, and Sam Matavesi was binned for his efforts. Northampton dealt with the two-man deficit well, earning a penalty within easy range for Piers Francis to put the hosts ahead. Ulster had a slew of penalties thanks to Northampton ill-discipline near their try line. David Ribbans was the third player from the home side to see yellow in 23 minutes, and Ulster finally got reward through Rob Herring burrowing his way over from the driving maul. John Cooney fired over the conversion to put the Ulster men ahead. Saints were quick to recover, and made their way up to the Ulster line, and full-back Tommy Freeman found a gap to snipe his way over. Francis was unable to make the conversion. Northampton immediately struck again, after Teimana Harrison picked up the ball in the ruck to break through, setting up Alex Mitchell to send Tommy Freeman in for his second score. Francis made no mistake with the conversion. Ulster had the opportunity to cut the gap to five just on the stroke of half-time, but the flags stayed down on Cooney’s kick. Ulster made it a one-point game on the other side of half-time, with Marty Moore bludgeoning his way over after sustained Ulster pressure in the 46th minute, and Cooney drilled over the extras. The hosts got their fourth try in the 58th minute, with Ahsee Tuala flicking the offload out to winger, Ollie Sleightholme who ran in at the corner. Piers Francis’s kick went wide. The visitors responded three minutes later – John Cooney picking up to sneak over the line and converting his score to take the lead. Ulster went through a purple patch, patiently building the phases before Billy Burns beautifully delayed the pass to Jacob Stockdale, sending the winger home. Cooney stretched Ulster’s lead with the conversion to eight points. Ulster’s defence impressed in the final minutes, culminating in Tom O’Toole making a fantastic jackal to force the turnover and keeping the hosts at bay. John Cooney had an opportunity to stretch Ulster’s lead at the death with a penalty – it went wide but Ulster had done enough to clinch the victory and progress to the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals. Full-time score: Northampton Saints 27 Ulster 35

WORTH ANOTHER LOOK

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

SCORERS

Northampton Tries: Alex Mitchell, Tommy Freeman (2), Ollie Sleightholme Cons: Piers Francis (2) Pens: Piers Francis Ulster Tries: Penalty try, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, John Cooney, Jacob Stockdale Cons: John Cooney (5)

LINE-UPS

Northampton (15-9) Tommy Freeman, Ollie Sleightholme, Rory Hutchinson, Piers Francis, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Dan Biggar, Alex Mitchell; (1-8) Alex Waller (Co-Capt.), Sam Matavesi, Paul Hill, David Ribbans, Alex Coles, Nick Isiekwe, Lewis Ludlam (Co-Capt.), Teimana Harrison. Replacements: Mikey Haywood, Nick Auterac, Ehren Painter, Alex Moon, Tom Wood, Tom James, Ahsee Tuala, Fraser Dingwall. 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, Matty Rea, Greg Jones, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Ethan McIlroy.

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