Match Reports

Report | Dragons 0 Ulster 12

20th February 2022
Ulster claimed a crucial away win as they defeated Dragons at a wintry Rodney Parade in a low-scoring affair.

Dragons had early pressure as they pounced on a loose ball off an Ulster line-out, but Ulster earned the penalty a few metres from their line, allowing Billy Burns to kick clear.

The visitors had to contend with playing into a fierce wind in the first half, which made gaining territory difficult for their kicking half-backs. 

After a solid Ulster scrum on ten minutes, Nick Timoney fed the ball to Nathan Doak who hacked the ball through for a chasing Robert Baloucoune. The Dragons covering defence had no option but to carry the ball over the line to ground the ball, which gave Ulster a 5-metre scrum. They showed real patience as Nathan Doak set the forwards on a series of pick-and-goes, but the Dragonsโ€™ defence forced a knock-on.

Most of the next ten minutes were played in the middle third of the field as both sides struggled to make ground. On 20 minutes, scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou attempted a long-range drop-goal with the wind at his back, but the attempt was wide.  

Dragons enjoyed a spell of pressure as they looked to probe Ulsterโ€™s defensive line, but Marcus Rea did really well over the ball to force the turnover and shut down their attack.

Ulster had a great chance on 33 minutes after Nick Timoney and Marcus Rea worked in tandem to earn a penalty for Billy Burns to kick for the line-out. Nathan Doak bundled over but after a TMO check, he was deemed to be held up by Sam Davies and Rio Dyer.  

A minute before half-time, Ulster finally broke the deadlock after a superb break by James Hume and thundering run by Nathan Doak who was dragged down just short. Stuart McCloskey then popped the ball out to Marcus Rea who crashed over. The impossibly difficult touchline conversion attempt by Doak was just off-target.

Ulster now had the wind in their favour for the second half, and it only took five minutes to get their second try of the afternoon. On their third successive 5-metre line-out after Dragons illegally collapsed the first two mauls, John Andrew made it over from the third to score. Nathan Doak nailed the touchline conversion to put Ulster 12 ahead.

Dragons had a penalty opportunity in front of the posts on 53 minutes, but Davies missed the kick.

Cormac Izuchukwu made a welcome return to rugby to make his first appearance this season after injury, replacing Sam Carter. 

The final quarter of the game slowed in worsening conditions. Dragons went down to 14 when Mesake Doge was sin-binned for a no-arms tackle on Stewart Moore. 

Ulster had a final shot with the clock in the red as they were awarded a penalty just inside the Dragons half. Nathan Doak opted for a kick at goal but his impressive attempt bounced off the uprights.

Full-time score: Dragons 0 Ulster 12

Worth Another Look

Player of the Match

Scorers

Ulster

Tries: Marcus Rea, John Andrew

Cons: Nathan Doak

Line-ups

Dragons

(15-9) Josh Lewis, Jonah Holmes, Adam Warren, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer, Sam Davies, Gonzalo Bertranou;

(1-8) Greg Bateman, Taylor Davies, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Joe Maksymiw, Harri Keddie (Capt), Ollie Griffiths, Dan Baker.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Aki Seiuli, Mesake Doge, Huw Taylor, George Young, Rhodri Williams, Ioan Davies, Will Talbot-Davies

Ulster

(15-9) Rob Lyttle, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ben Moxham, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom Oโ€™Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter, David McCann, Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney (Capt).

Replacements: Brad Roberts, Eric Oโ€™Sullivan, Marty Moore, Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, David Shanahan, Ian Madigan, Stewart Moore.

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Up next at Kingspan Stadium

Ulster's next game at Kingspan Stadium will be in Round 13 of the URC when they take on Cardiff Rugby on Friday 4 March (7.35pm kick-off). The following Saturday 12 March, Ulster will face Leinster in their re-scheduled Round 9 Inter-Pro (7.35pm kick-off).

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