Ulster beat Ospreys 35-17 to secure European Champions Cup status
Last updated 20th May 2018
By Sports Reporter, Alex Keery
Craig Gilroy’s double helped Ulster to a vital victory against Ospreys that won the province a place in next season’s European Champions Cup.
Kieran Treadwell and Jacob Stockdale also crossed, while John Cooney’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking.
The afternoon had started ominously for the home side as Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones drove over from close range for the opening try in the 15th minute, with Dan Biggar nailing his kick from the touch line.
Ulster replied in the 27th minute through a Cooney penalty, and took the lead 5 minutes before the break when Gilroy chased Luke Marshall’s clever kick to score in the corner.
The winger doubled his tally in the first minute of the second period, again chasing a kick into the corner - this time though, it came after a quick Ulster counter following Cooney’s interception.
Ulster began to dominate the territory and in the 52nd minute Kieran Treadwell crashed through a few tackles to power over from 5 metres.
Their lead was reduced on the hour as Jeff Hassler finished well for Ospreys, but Cooney kicked another penalty with 65 on the clock to give Ulster a 13 point advantage.
Any slim chance of a Welsh recovery was put to rest in the 71st minute as Cooney banged over a penalty from near the half way line.
There was still time for Stockdale to score what’s fast becoming a trademark try for the young winger, as he intercepted a pass and ran clear from the ten metre line, before Biggar touched down for a late Ospreys consolation try.