Match Reports

Match Report | Ulster 40 Dragons 17

25th October 2020
Ulster extended their unbeaten run at Kingspan Stadium to more than two years, with an emphatic bonus point win over Dragons on Sunday afternoon.
The Ulster men put the result beyond doubt in a dominant opening half, running in five converted tries to go in 35-3 ahead at half-time. Springbok number eight Marcell Coetzee got over for the first try after just five minutes, powering over in typically destructive fashion. John Cooney slotted the first of his five conversions. Sam Davies narrowed the gap with a penalty for Dragons on 10 minutes, for what would prove to be their only score of the half. Prop Eric O'Sullivan got Ulster's second try on 14 minutes, finishing off from close range after an acrobatic offload from Coetzee. Impressive link play from the Ulster forwards saw Sean Reidy go over the whitewash in the 26th minute. Louis Ludik dived over in the left corner for the bonus point try on 31 minutes, then pounced on a loose ball to score again just before the interval. It took until the hour mark for the first score of the second half to arrive, and it was through Dragons winger Ashton Hewitt, who finished in the left corner, with Davies adding the sideline conversion. Ulster responded within five minutes as lock Alan O'Connor crashed over from close range after a series of pick-and-go attempts from his fellow forwards. Replacement out-half Bill Johnston saw his conversion attempt come off the left hand post. The visiting side continued to push until the final whistle, and replacement Jamie Roberts forced his way over for a consolation try in the final play, with Davies converting. The win keeps Ulster in second place in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 on 14 points from three games, with holders Leinster one point in front. Next weekend, Ulster head to Cardiff for a Monday night fixture against the Blues in Round 4.  
Moment of the Match:
This try from Louis Ludik just before half-time gave Ulster a comfortable lead at the mid-way point.  
Player of the Match:
 
Scorers:
Ulster Tries: M Coetzee, E O'Sullivan, S Reidy, L Ludik (2), A O'Connor ; Cons: J Cooney (5); Dragons: Tries: A Hewitt, J Roberts; Con: S Davies (2); Pen: S Davies  
Line-Ups
Ulster: (15-9): Rob Lyttle, Matt Faddes, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Louis Ludik, Ian Madigan, John Cooney; (1-8): Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter (Capt.), Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee. Replacements: Adam McBurney, Kyle McCall, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Michael Lowry. Dragons: (15-9): Jonah Holmes, Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt, Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); (1-8): Greg Bateman, Richard Hibbard, Lloyd Fairbrother, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Harrison Keddie, Taine Basham, Ollie Griffiths Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Brok Harris, Chris Coleman, Joe Maksymiw, Ben Fry, Tavis Knoyle, Arwel Robson, Jamie Roberts  
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