Match Reports

Match Report | Ulster 21 Ospreys 7

26th February 2021
Ulster put in a strong second half performance to get a hard-earned victory over Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium on Friday night. The visitors were first to strike in just the 2nd minute of the game, when captain Rhys Webb charged down Ian Madigan’s attempted clearing kick, for winger Keelan Giles to pounce on the ball and score the try. Stephen Myler added the conversion. Ulster found themselves defending for much of the first quarter, Rhys Webb again causing Ulster problems, making a break up the short side to test the hosts’ defence. An opportunity came for Ulster when Jacob Stockdale held firm to keep the ball in play at the touchline and fed Michael Lowry who went on the chip-and-chase, but an unlucky bounce of the ball led to an Ospreys scrum and scuppered his efforts. Ulster finally got on the board in the 38th minute against the run of play. Nick Timoney pilfered a loose ball and used his impressive pace to go on a searing run down the left wing, dispatching the supporting John Cooney to run in under the posts. Cooney added the two to his score. Ulster found their rhythm in the opening few minutes of the second half. It looked like Rob Lyttle was in at the left-hand corner but the try was ruled out. Ulster had the advantage however, and Madigan kicked for the line-out. John Andrew came away from the maul to score. John Cooney duly slotted the conversion. The Ulster men began to turn the screw, punching at the Ospreys line for a sustained period. Dan Evans impeded an Ulster pass and saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on. Referee Seán Gallagher awarded Ulster with the penalty try. Lyttle thought he had scored again after Sean Reidy charged down a Rhys Webb kick to offload to the winger, but the ball crept forward when Reidy tried to get the ball away. In a further stroke of misfortune, Lyttle was denied a try for a third time, after Ulster went through the hands but the TMO spotted a forward pass in the build-up. The Ulster men looked good for another try but time wasn’t on their side and the referee blew the whistle to end the game. Ulster remain in second place in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 with 54 points. Full-time score: Ulster 21 Ospreys 7

WORTH ANOTHER LOOK

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

SCORERS

Ulster Tries: John Cooney, John Andrew, penalty try Cons: John Cooney (2) Ospreys Tries: Keelan Giles Cons: Stephen Myler

LINE-UPS

Ulster Michael Lowry, Rob Lyttle, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Ian Madigan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, Jordi Murphy (CAPT), Nick Timoney. Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Cormac Izuchukwu, Sean Reidy, Alby Mathewson, Matt Faddes, Robert Baloucoune. Ospreys Dan Evans, Keelan Giles, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan, Stephen Myler, Rhys Webb (CAPT), Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Lloyd Ashley, Rhys Davies, Will Griffiths, Olly Cracknell, Morgan Morris. Replacements: Ifan Phillips, Nicky Smith, Ma’afu Fia, Gareth Evans, Sam Cross, Shaun Venter, Joe Hawkins, Luke Price

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HOW WE STAND

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