Match Reports

Report | Ulster 21 Saracens 45

3rd September 2021

In the first game with a sizeable number of supporters in attendance since February 2020, Ulster had an early opportunity with Ian Madigan kicking to the corner for an attacking line-out. The ensuing maul was held firm by the visitors, but Nathan Doak and his forwards brought the ball to the Saracens line, for Matty Rea to muscle his way over to draw first blood. Ian Madigan put the Ulster men seven ahead.

Just four minutes later, Saracens captain, Alex Goode sent Elliott Obatoyinbo down the right wing to dart over in the corner. Goode levelled the scores with the conversion.

Saracens winger, Rotimi Segun made a strong run just to be brought down by Ian Madigan and Aaron Sexton, but the visitors remained patient and centre Nick Tomkins ran in to dot down. Goode’s kick went just wide.

The visitors’ third try came through a rolling maul, with hooker Tom Woolstencroft dropping on the ball over the whitewash.

Rotimi Segun was soon rewarded for his efforts in the game when he stretched over the Ulster line for Saracens’ fourth try. Alex Goode knocked over the conversion to stretch their lead.

Ulster began to gain territory, earning penalties in quick succession to build their way into the Saracens half. Greg Jones ran a superb line to go on the charge, but his pass didn’t meet Nathan Doak’s hands as Doak was tackled just short of the line; a chance going begging.

Callum Reid went on the gallop deep into Saracens’ half, but the visitors were able to get back quickly to bring him down and re-gain possession.

Aled Davies thought he was in for Saracens’ fifth try, but Nathan Doak did really well to snaffle him up and force his opposite number to knock-on over the line.

Ulster looked like they might register a second try on the board after a period of sustained pressure and pick-and-goes from the forwards, but they were unable to find their way through a staunch Saracens defensive line.

Ulster – with a much-changed pack – started the second half full of vigour, troubling the Saracens line, but a penalty for the visitors got them out of immediate danger. A quick-tap penalty and long-pass from David Shanahan sent Ben Moxham on a searing run, but he was bundled into touch just shy of the chalk.

Ivan van Zyl found himself red-carded after taking out Craig Gilroy in the air, and Ulster continued to press. After several waves of attack, Andrew Warwick powered through for Ulster’s second try of the evening. Ian Madigan made no mistake with the conversion.

Ulster’s tails were up, and with an attacking line-out on the Saracens five-metre line, Brad Roberts was the man to score off the back of the Ulster maul. Madigan’s conversion sailed over.

Saracens responded through a hat-trick of tries in quick succession for Ben Harris. Manu Vunipola added the conversion for Harris’s second and third scores respectively. Ulster were unable to reply before the final whistle.

The Ulster men will now travel for the return fixture against Saracens at Honourable Artillery Company on Thursday 9th September (5pm kick-off).

Full-time score: Ulster 21 Saracens 45

Scorers

Ulster

Tries: Matty Rea, Andrew Warwick, Brad Roberts

Cons: Ian Madigan (3)

Saracens

Tries: Elliott Obatoyinbo, Nick Tomkins, Tom Woolstencroft, Rotimi Segun, Ben Harris (3)

Cons: Alex Goode (3), Manu Vunipola (2)

Line-ups

Ulster

(15-9) Aaron Sexton, Craig Gilroy, Stewart Moore, Angus Curtis, Ben Moxham, Ian Madigan, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Callum Reid, John Andrew, Ross Kane, Mick Kearney, Sam Carter (Capt.), Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, Greg Jones.

Replacements: Brad Roberts, Gareth Milasinovich, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Jude Postlethwaite, Ben Carson, Azur Allison, David McCann, Harry Sheridan, Andrew Warwick, Lewis Finlay, Conor Rankin.

Saracens

(15-9) Elliott Obatoyinbo, Alex Lewington, Dom Morris, Nick Tomkins, Rotimi Segun, Alex Goode (Capt.), Aled Davies;

(1-8) Ralph Adams-Hale, Tom Woolstencroft, Marco Riccioni, Nick Isiekwe, Tim Swinson, Jackson Wray (Capt.), Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Harvey Beaton, Andy Christie, Alec Clarey, Sam Crean, Callum Hunter-Hill, Joel Kpoku, Ethan Lewis, Eroni Mawi, Theo McFarland, Sean Reffell, Janco Venter, Ben Harris, Alex Lozowski, Sean Maitland, Manu Vunipola, Ivan van Zyl, Charlie Watson.