URC: Ulster get back to winning ways despite late Connacht comeback

Ulster returned to winning ways with a narrow victory over Connacht at The Sportsground in the BKT United Rugby Championship last night.

After Rob Lyttle's opener, Tom Stewart grabbed himself a brace of tries as Dan McFarland's side took control of the game.

However, they did have to stave off a late Connacht comeback, with Jack Carty missing a conversion in stoppage time that would have levelled the tie.

Ulster took the lead when Ethan McIlroy managed to get his arms free and find Luke Marshall in support. Marshall’s pass appeared to be knocked forward, but on second look it was clear that it was knocked back by a Connacht defender.

Lyttle wasn’t fooled, darting through to ground the ball for the opening try. With half an hour played, Ulster were 5-0 up, with Cooney pushing the conversion.

It didn’t take long for Connacht to bring the difference back to two points though, as Carty successfully kicked a penalty after an infringement by the Ulster men to leave Ulster with a narrow 5-3 half-time advantage.

Ulster started the half promisingly, dominating both territory and possession.

A side entry from Connacht gifted Ulster a line out in an attacking position. This time, Ulster’s maul couldn’t be stopped, allowing Tom Stewart to ground the ball for his fifth try of the season. Cooney’s conversion was successful this time giving Ulster a 12-3 lead after 46 minutes.

Good carries from David McCann, Nick Timoney, and a snipe from Cooney then paid dividends as Connacht coughed up another penalty close to their try line. Time for a maul, and time for another Ulster try, another for Stewart. This time he had some more work to do, peeling off and grounding after rolling out of the attempted tackle. Cooney added extras taking the score to 19-3 in Ulster's favour.

Connacht were looking for a response and found themselves with a throw in, five metres from the line. The maul was stopped, but scrum-half Caolin Blade wasn't, as he darted from the back and muscled his way to the whitewash. This one went unconverted.

Connacht second row Niall Murray was then caught rolling out of the ruck in the wrong way, obstructing play. Henderson opted on this occasion to allow Cooney to go for goal. The scrum half made no mistake, extending the Ulster lead to 22-8 with under ten minutes left.

After Ulster replacement Greg Jones was shown yellow following a number of Ulster offences during play, Connacht used their man advantage well. Cian Pendergast looked to have barged his way over. However, after consulting with the TMO, the try was chalked off. The penalty advantage meant Connacht would restart play in possession. Roll on to the next play and Jarrad Butler was able to cross the line. Carty’s conversion was successful and it was back to a seven-point game with a minute left to play.

With the clock in the red, the home team started to throw the kitchen sink at Ulster. That progress took them right to the try line, with Adam Byrne crossing, with the conversion to come.

The result of the game, and a possible draw, would come down to the boot of Carty with a difficult conversion attempt. Ulster fans, staring through their fingers, were relieved to watch the ball drift left of the uprights meaning their side would leave Galway with a two-point win.

Scorers

Connacht

Tries: Blade, Butler, Byrne

Conversion: Carty

Penalties: Carty

Ulster

Tries: Lyttle, Stewart (2)

Conversions: Cooney (2)

Penalties: Cooney

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Jack Carty (Captain), Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Niall Murray, Oisín Dowling, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter Dooley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Jarrad Butler, Kieran Marmion, David Hawkshaw, Adam Byrne

Ulster: Mike Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, Nathan Doak, John Cooney; Rory Sutherland; Tom Stewart; Marty Moore; Alan O'Connor; Iain Henderson (Captain); David McCann; Marcus Rea; Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew; Eric O'Sullivan; Gareth Milasinovich; Sam Carter; Greg Jones; Dave Shanahan; Jake Flannery; Stewart Moore.