Match Reports

Match Report | Ulster 15 Munster 10

2nd January 2021
Ulster’s unbeaten run in the Guinness PRO14 continues after defeating Munster by 15-10 at a crisp Kingspan Stadium on Saturday evening. The hosts started with great intent, asking questions of the Munster defence; Nick Timoney making a great carry and the Ulster backs going through the hands. Ulster were first to pounce after a beautiful pass from James Hume to Jacob Stockdale, with Stockdale passing outside to a grateful Matt Faddes going in at the corner. The try went unconverted. Munster’s Ben Healy brought the gap to two points seven minutes later, with a well-taken penalty. Ulster began to apply waves of pressure on a resolute Munster defence, but eventually the visitors were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle, and Cooney duly obliged with the penalty. Ulster’s backs were involved for the second score of the evening. Billy Burns made a beautifully-placed cross-field kick into the arms of Ethan McIlroy on the left wing to cross over. Cooney added the conversion to make it 12 points for the Ulster men with 17 minutes played. Ulster extended their lead on the half-hour mark through the boot of John Cooney, after the Munster men got pinged for not rolling away in the tackle. Ulster dealt well with Munster attacking pressure before the break, with one highlight being a Nick Timoney steal to re-gain possession and ultimately help Ulster keep the visitors out until half-time. Ulster started the second half with the majority of possession, but a couple of opportunities going begging; the closest from Kieran Treadwell but as he stretched out to ground the ball, he grounded just short and the ball was deemed to have knocked-on over the line. Ulster started to throw everything at the visitors after their captain Billy Holland was sent to the bin following repeated infractions, however the Munster men battened down their hatches and forced a couple of turnovers to escape from imminent danger. Meanwhile, Academy prospects, Callum Reid and Nathan Doak both entered the fray to make their senior debuts, and Tom O'Toole made his 50th appearance off the bench. Ben Healy had the penalty opportunity for Munster while Holland was on the pine, but his kick went wide of the posts. Munster continued to press and looked set to score from a maul, however Stuart McCloskey had other ideas, coming through the middle to disrupt their advance, and earning a scrum for Ulster. The men in white then got the scrum penalty for Burns to get out of trouble. Munster finally got a try at the death for their efforts after a sustained period of pressure, through Darren Sweetnam breaching the Ulster line. Jack Crowley landed the conversion to bring the final score to 15-10. Full-time score: Ulster 15 Munster 10

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

SCORERS

Ulster Tries: Matt Faddes, Ethan McIlroy Conversions: John Cooney Penalties: John Cooney Munster Tries: Darren Sweetnam Conversions: Jack Crowley Penalties: Ben Healy

LINE-UPS

Ulster (15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Matt Faddes, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney; (1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter (Capt.), Matty Rea, David McCann, Nick Timoney. Replacements: Adam McBurney, Callum Reid, Tom O’Toole, David O’Connor, Marcell Coetzee, Nathan Doak, Ian Madigan, Ben Moxham. Munster (15-9) Shane Daly, Calvin Nash, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes, Ben Healy, Craig Casey; (1-8) Liam O’Connor, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Billy Holland (c), Jack O’Donoghue, Chris Cloete, Jack O’Sullivan. Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, Roman Salanoa, Thomas Ahern, Tommy O’Donnell, Nick McCarthy, Jack Crowley, Darren Sweetnam.

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