URC: Superb Ulster produce last-gasp victory reigning champions

Ulster made a winning start to the new season in sensational fashion to beat reigning URC champions Glasgow Warriors right at the death in Belfast.

Looking as if they were heading to a home defeat on the opening wekened, they snatched the victory as Dave Shanahan scraped over the line with the winning try deep into time added on at the end of the match.

It was no more than Richie Murhpy's side deserved for a powerful second half display, despute coneding a try early on after the break.

They battled back and had countless drives towards the line before finally being rewarded through Dave McCann and that Shanahan winner, either side of Kyle Steyn's replay for the away side.

It was a lively start to proceedings as the reigning URC champions – as expected – began on the front foot, pushing Ulster back inside their 22 and it took the visitors just six minutes to open their account for the season.

Following a line-out close to the Ulster try line, Johnny Matthews pushed his way over, with Tom Jordan failing to convert to give Glasgow a 5-0 lead.

But Ulster didn’t lie down and thought they had scored their first try of the campaign in the quarter hour mark.

Despite consecutive phases of play, they were help up right on the line on more than one occasion and that led to a penalty, that was easily converted by Nathan Doak, in the absence of the injured John Cooney.

They then burst into the lead in spectacular fashion just three minutes later.

Debutant Morgan started and finished the move, charging down a kick in the middle of the park before powering forward into the space in front of him. While he went down five yards short of the line after collecting his block, he eventually received the return pass to dot down just outside the right-hand post. Doak did the rest to add a further two point and give Ulster a 12-5 advantage before the midway point of the half.

However, on 26 minutes, Franco Smith’s away side put themselves back in the driving seat with their second try of the match.

This time is was a breakaway, and despite some resolute Ulster defending on their own try line, they couldn’t prevent the giant Henco Venter from finding a gap to stretch over the line. Jordan converted to give Glasgow the visitors back in front – a lead which they would take into the break.

Nine minutes into the second period, Glasgow thought they had extended their lead as Rory Darge finds space to dive down right in the left-hand corner - but the try was disallowed for a forward pass in the build-up, just as Jordan lined up his conversion attempt.

Glasgow's Tom Jordan was then shown a yellow card for a high tackle, as Werner Kok was introduced for his Ulster debut

With 15 minutes to go, Ulster thought they had the ball down twice, but after being repeatedly held up on the line and despite Glasgow's Richie Gray seeing yellow, the visitors were given some respite with the award of a penalty.

With seven minutes remaining, Ulster took the lead and you couldn't say it hadn't been coming. Another sustained period of pressure led to Dave McCann finally finishing it off.

But with Nathan Doak off the pitch, Morgan made a complete hash of the conversion. meaning Ulster took a slender 15-12 lead into the final few minutes.

And that lead lasted less than two minutes as Glasgow went straight down the field to regain the advantage with Kyle Steyn getting down in the corner and replacement Adam Hastings producing a fine conversion from wide on the right.

That gave the visitors a 19-15 lead to take into the final minutes of the match

But, it was Ulster who got back on the front foot and five minutes past the 80, they got that winning try their second half deserved.

MATCH STATS

Ulster: O’Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett, Henderson (C), Treadwell, McNabney, McCann, Timoney, Doak, Morgan, Stockdale, Postlethwaite, Moore, Lowry, McIlroy

Replacements: Warwick for O’Sullivan (46) O’Toole for Barrett (46), Izuchukwu for Treadwell (53), Shanahan for Doak (54), Sheridan for Henderson (57), Kok for Moore (58). McCormick for Andrew (68)

Tries: Morgan, McCann, Shanahan

Conversions: Doak

Penalties: Doak

Glasgow: Bhatti, Matthews, Talakai, Williamson, Gray, Fagerson, Darge, Venter, Dobie, Jordan, Steyn (C), Tuipulotu, McDowall, Cancelliere, McKay

Replacements: McBeth for Bhatti (47), Z Fagerson for Talakai (47), Brown for Williamson (47), Hiddleston for Matthews (57), Ferrie for Venter (57), Hastings for McDowall (57), Samuel for M Fagerson (70)

Tries: Matthews, Venter

Conversions: Jordan (1)