Ulster ended 2023 with a bang, as the province muscled their way past a tough interpro derby with Connacht.
The match was a milestone for Ulster lock, Kieran Treadwell, with the Ireland international making his 150th cap for the province, and he led the team out with pride prior to kick-off at a packed Kingspan Stadium.
With last season's Quarter-Final loss on Ulster minds before kick-off, the home side knew that a win would see them stretch their lead over the Westerners in the BKT URC table, with Ulster in 7th and Connacht in 8th.
The home side started with ferocious intensity, with an early try through the unlikely source of loosehead prop, Andy Warwick. The front row stalwart put the finishing touches on some wonderful attacking phases which led to John Cooney offloading to Warwick, who dived over.
Cooney converted for an early 7-0 lead.
Connacht would hit back soon after, tying the contest after Connacht centre, Bundee Aki, showcased his try-scoring ability, finding space to burst over. Carty converted to make the score level.
Ulster fans hearts were in their mouths after a Mack Hansen kick through was slammed down by the sprinting Shayne Bolton. However after a TMO check, the score was chalked off after the ball had gone dead beyond the posts.
With both sides fighting away for possession, Ulster were getting some joy in the breakdown, and were forcing Connacht into some penalties.
Following a period of pressure in the Connacht 22, Ulster were awarded a 5m penalty. Like last week against Racing 92, Nick Timoney, would be the man to get over the line for the home side, crashing over after Cooney's pass into his chest. Timoney is a man on form, with that being the back-rower's third try in two matches. John Cooney expertly dispatched the kick to put the score at 14-7.
With the rain starting to teem down and the wind swirling, errors were creeping into both sides. Ulster managed to gain some success with the Connacht lineout mistakes and were getting some joy in the scrums.
Ulster's defence held up strong against Connacht pressure towards the end of the half, forcing the away side into giving away a penalty 5m out from Ulster's whitewash.
The hugely physical encounter had developed into a brutal scrap for possession and Ulster went into the break with a seven point lead.
Connacht started off the second half brightly, with the wind to their backs and it took a big tackle from Rob Baloucoune to push Bolton into touch to save a dangerous opportunity for Pete Wilkins' side.
In one of the moments of the night, Kieran Treadwell, made a superb line break, only to be brought down in the Connacht 22. Ulster would win a penalty shortly after that attack, which John Cooney dispatched with authority.
The away side kept coming and were starting to control possession. A lineout steal from the impressive Iain Henderson eased the pressure on Ulster's defence for a few minutes, but the away side found their second try of the contest through Hurley-Langton, who beat tackle attempts from Addison, Baloucoune and a last ditch bundle from James Hume to score.
Carty's kick was wide of the posts, a missed conversion that would prove potentially costly for the away side.
Spurred on by the defiant home support, Ulster grew back into the match and again, forced Connacht into a penalty in close proximity to the posts. It was a no- brainer for Cooney who stretched the lead to eight points.
Connacht sensed there was more in it for them and pounced on a gap in Ulster's defence, as Bolton raced through the space to dive over. Hanrahan's conversion meant it was a one point game with 10 minutes to go.
Ulster had an excellent opportunity to get near the Connacht whitewash after a driving maul from the lineout, but Tom Stewart's dash was turned over by Prendergast.
Defending for every inch, Ulster were driven home by the home crowd, who were magnificent in supporting the team closing out the win.
There was a important moment for replacement full-back, Shea O'Brien, who came on in the closing minutes to make his senior Ulster debut.
Ulster's defence held out and Ulster showed good game management to see out the win. A forward pass would see Ulster awarded a scrum, to which John Cooney gleefully booted out into the stands to end the derby.
The win meant Ulster had made it two big wins on the bounce, as Ulster's next fixture after Christmas will be a trip to Dublin to face Leinster at the RDS Arena.
With the Christmas music blaring the speakers, Ulster players and fans headed home with a smile on their face, after getting one over on their rivals and seeing out 2023 with a well-earned win.
Player of the Match - Iain Henderson
Ulster's captain led the fight in the physical battle.
A threat in pushing his team forward in attack, Henderson was also fantastic in his defensive work, getting stuck into tackles and making huge impact at disrupting the Connacht lineouts. One set-piece steal relieved the pressure when the away side were in very dangerous territory. When Ulster needed leaders, their captain led from the front.
Post-Match reaction
🎙️Hear straight from the boss after tonight’s win! pic.twitter.com/Til2CYiX7S
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 22, 2023
Scorers:
Ulster:
TRY: Warwick, Timoney
CON: Cooney x2
PEN: Cooney x2
Connacht:
TRY: Aki, Hurley-Langton, Bolton
CON: Carty, Hanrahan
Teams
Ulster:
(15-9)Addison (O'Brien); Baloucoune, Hume (Postlethwaite), McCloskey, Stockdale; Flannery (Doak), Cooney;
(1-8) Warwick (Kitshoff), Stewart, Moore (O'Toole); Treadwell (O'Connor), Henderson (C); Matty Rea, Sean Reffell (Sheridan), Timoney
Replacements: Andrew, Kitshoff, O'Toole, O'Connor, Sheridan, Doak, Postlethwaite, O'Brien.
Connacht:
(15-9) Hansen; Bolton, Farrell, Aki, Ralston; Carty, Blade;
(1-8) Buckley, McElroy, Bealham; D Murray, Thornbury; Prendergast, Hurley-Langton, O'Brien.
Replacements: Heffernan, Dooley, Aungier, Murray, Oliver, McDonald, Hanrahan, Jennings.