MUNSTER 22 ULSTER 16

Ulster fell to their second defeat of the Guinness Pro14 season this evening at Thomond Park, but both the scoreline and the gritty performance should give Head Coach Dan McFarland plenty of confidence as his side ready themselves for their opening Heineken Champions Cup fixture next weekend. Skipper Rob Herring scored Ulster’s sole try in addition to 11 points for the boot of the excellent John Cooney, the last of which had given Ulster a slender lead in the final quarter before a moment of magic from Andrew Conway. The losing bonus point cements Ulster’s position in second in the Conference A table on 20 points, three ahead of nearest rivals Toyota Cheetahs, but already nine adrift of runaway leaders Leinster. Wing Jacob Stockdale and flanker Jordi Murphy returned from Rugby World Cup duty for their first appearances of the season as McFarland implemented seven changes from the starting XV that defeated Zebre eight days ago at the Kingspan Stadium. Centre Stuart McCloskey, scrum-half Cooney and out-half Angus Curtis – making his first start of the season – were the other changes to the backline, with Matt Faddes moving to full-back, Luke Marshall continuing in midfield, and Robert Lyttle on the wing. Up front prop Jack McGrath and hooker Herring were joined by the returning Marty Moore, while Sam Carter came in to pair with Alan O’Connor in the second row. Flanker Sean Reidy and Number Eight Nick Timoney made up a combative back row with Murphy. The first half was a fairly level affair where Ulster defended stoically, but the ever-clinical Munstermen took virtually every chance that came their way, and were perhaps fortunate to run off nine points to the good at the break. A frantic opening worked well for Ulster, Herring intentionally over-throwing at a lineout on the Munster ‘22’ to pick out McCloskey, whose battering-ram run soon drew a penalty which Cooney put away. With O’Connor soon penalised for not rolling away in a tackle on half-way, Munster opted for a ‘22’ lineout of their own, audaciously pulling off the self-same move with centre Rory Scannell the receiver; the attack eventually halted by a knock-on as the Ulster defence held firm. Good Munster pressure as Stockdale attempted a clearance, however, soon earned the hosts a five-metre scrum, from which CJ Stander showed impressive power to bludgeon his way through four tacklers for the line. JJ Hanrahan’s conversion dispatched, a high tackle on Lyttle by Liam Coombes won Ulster another close-range lineout, and when Munster infringed again, Cooney prudently took the three points to reduce the deficit to one. Five minutes of intense Munster probing – and stubborn Ulster defence – at the start of the second quarter culminated in a Hanrahan penalty, but the out-half’s time was soon up as a pacy break and collision with Faddes brought on a hamstring injury, Tyler Bleyendaal taking over. Munster continued to turn the screw, however, and had the crisp passing of both Bleyendaal and Chris Farrell to thank for their second try, Scannell sliding in at the corner and touching down despite Cooney’s best efforts to hold him up. An Ulster knock-on on the opposing ‘22’ put paid to any hopes of an immediate reply, and indeed Munster closed out the half in the ascendancy, with fumbles of the greasy ball from Curtis and Faddes right by their own corner flag presenting the hosts with a stoppage-time lineout which thankfully came to naught. Half-Time Score Munster 15 Ulster 6 Ulster made the brighter start to the second period, but fluffed their lines at a close-range lineout after good approach play, and although they continued to enjoy good possession, the accuracy would just not come until the 49^th minute when Herring, perhaps smarting from two lost lineouts in quick succession, picked up at the back of a maul and barged his way through four or five red shirts for his second try of the season. Cooney converted to bring his side within two points of parity, and with their confidence growing Ulster were unlucky not to get something from their next sustained attack, Curtis knocking on metres from home under heavy challenges from some of the Munster big men. A Cooney penalty on 57 minutes momentarily gave his side a slender lead, and when Coombes flapped under a high ball then held on too long for referee Frank Murphy’s liking, the scrum-half tested his range from just inside the half-way line, his kick just falling short of the posts. With Munster now having to chase the game, wing Conway took centre-stage on 65 minutes, picking up on half-way and eluding Cooney before outpacing Faddes and Stockdale as he tore up the turf for an outstanding individual try, converted by Bleyendaal for a six-point lead. Munster continued to pile on the pressure in their quest for a bonus point, but their concession of penalties in two successive attacks frustrated their progress until the 76^th minute, when the penalty came in their favour and Bleyendaal stepped up to put the result beyond doubt. His kick fell short, however, and the clock ran down with both sides battling in midfield for a last-gasp breakthrough that would not come. Next up for Ulster is a trip to the Rec to face Bath in Round One of the Heineken European Champions Cup on Saturday 16 November. Munster (15 – 9) Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes; JJ Hanrahan, Alby Mathewson (1 – 8) James Cronin, Niall Scannell, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony (c), Chris Cloete, CJ Stander Replacements (16 – 23) Jeremy Loughman, Kevin O’Byrne, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Tyler Bleyendaal, Arno Botha Ulster (15 – 9) Matt Faddes; Robert Lyttle, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Angus Curtis, John Cooney (1 – 8) Jack McGrath, Rob Herring (c), Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter, Sean Reidy, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney Repalcements (16 – 23) Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, David Shanahan, Bill Johsnton, Robert Baloucoune