The home side got off to the better start, after winning an early offside penalty around the breakdown. Jack Walsh kicked to the corner and Ospreys attacked from the following lineout. On loan scrum-half, Cormac Foley, sniped through a gap to open the scoring, with Walsh converting.
Ulster showed an immediate reaction in the following minutes, through some good handling and carrying. Nathan Doak produced a sublime cross field kick out wide to Zac Ward, who dotted down in the right corner for a quick reply to the Ospreys early score. Doak’s conversion from the touchline went wide.
After a turnover from Jude Postlethwaite, Jack Murphy kicked Ulster into the corner to launch another assault on the Welsh side’s defence.
From the resulting lineout maul drive, Irish international hooker, Tom Stewart, peeled off the back to dive over for the try. Despite the kick going wide, Ulster led 7-10 after a superb reaction.
For the rest of the half Ulster showed some fantastic resilience to defend their lead, twice making vital turnovers with the Ospreys metres from the line.
Towards the end of the half, number eight, Bryn Ward, forced a turnover with a great defensive action.
HT: 7-10
The second half turned into a story of Ospreys attack against Ulster defence. The home side were able to maintain field territory and sustain their attacks, with Ulster being pinged for a series of penalties.
Ulster’s defence stood strong for the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, under a barrage of Ospreys attack. After 52 minutes, Ulster held the Ospreys up as they surged towards the try line. Then, David McCann stood out for a superb counter ruck to temporarily thwart the Ospreys momentum.
However, Ospreys continued to press, with Ulster unable to stop the penalty count from lineouts or the scrum, with the referee giving the away side a warning for the increasing tally.
Despite Ulster's defensive resolve and energy sapping efforts, Ospreys made their breakthrough through flanker, James Ratti, who muscled his way over following a well worked tap and go play from 5 metres out. Jack Walsh’s kick gave the home crowd a 14-10 to cheer.
Ulster reacted well and worked their way into the Ospreys half. After multiple carries towards the whitewash, it looked as though Ulster scored a decisive try through replacement prop, Angus Bell, who went over from close range.
Ulster’s joy was short lived however, as the TMO called for a check on a clear-out by Marcus Rea on an Ospreys defender, as Bell drove over the line.
Following a painful wait, the referee adjudged the clear-out to be dangerous and the try was chalked off. Rea was also shown a yellow card to add to the disappointment.
Sensing an opportunity, Welsh centre, Owen Watkin, punted the ball into the Ulster back field and Mike Lowry chased the bouncing ball.
Despite his best efforts, the full back was unable to fully gather the ball under pressure and the ball squirted out just short of the line. Chasing winger, Dan Kasende, was able to pick up the loose ball and score. Walsh’s conversion made the score 21-10.
The fourteen men of Ulster pressed forward chasing another try in the dying seconds, but to no avail.
Despite a late surge towards the Ospreys try line, Werner Kok’s stretch for the finish was knocked on while the back was tackled into touch, summing up a disappointing night for the Ulstermen in Wales.
FT: Ospreys 21-10 Ulster
Scorers:
Ospreys:
TRY: Foley, Ratti, Kasende
CON: Walsh (3)
Ulster:
TRY: Zac Ward, Tom Stewart
Yellow Card: Marcus Rea
Teams
Ulster Rugby:
1. Eric O’Sullivan (St Mary’s College RFC), 2. Tom Stewart (Belfast Royal Academy), 3. Scott Wilson (Dromore RFC), 4. Iain Henderson (Belfast Royal Academy) (CAPT), 5. Charlie Irvine (Lisburn RFC), 6. Matthew Dalton (Belfast Royal Academy), 7. David McCann (Cooke RFC), 8. Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC); 9. Nathan Doak (Lisburn RFC), 10. Jack Murphy (Clontarf RFC), 11. Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC), 12. Jude Postlethwaite (Lisburn RFC), 13. James Hume (Malone RFC), 14. Werner Kok (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 15. Michael Lowry (Dromore RFC)
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (SACS), 17. Angus Bell (Hunter’s Hill RUFC), 18. Bryan O’Connor (Crosshaven RFC), 19. Harry Sheridan (Civil Service NI RFC), 20. Marcus Rea (Ballymena RFC), 21. Conor McKee (CIYMS RFC), 22. Jake Flannery (Kilfeacle & District RFC), 23. Ben Carson (Lisburn RFC)
Ospreys:
1. Gareth Thomas (Newcastle Emlyn RFC), 2. Sam Parry (cc) (Haverfordwest RFC), 3. Rhys Henry (Cwmafan RFC), 4. James Fender (South Gower RFC), 5. Ryan Smith (Brothers Rugby Club), 6. James Ratti (Dunvant RFC), 7. Ross Moriarty (Gorseinon RFC/Morriston RFC), 8. Morgan Morse (Cwmtwrch RFC), 9. Cormac Foley (Lansdowne Football Club), 10. Jack Walsh (cc) (Manly Marlins), 11. Keelan Giles (Waunarlwydd RFC), 12. Keiran Williams (Glynneath RFC), 13. Owen Watkin (Bryncethin RFC), 14. Dan Kasende (Queens High School), 15. Iestyn Hopkins (Ystradgynlais RFC)
Replacements:
16. Lewis Lloyd (Treorchy RFC), 17. Steffan Thomas (Newcastle Emlyn RFC), 18. Tom Botha (Paul Roos Gymnasium), 19. Huw Sutton (Old Ethamians RFC), 20. Harri Deaves (Pontyclun RFC), 21. Reuben Morgan-Williams (Neath Athletic RFC), 22. Luke Scully (Banwen RFC), 23. Evardi Boshoff (Hoerskool Lichtenburg)