URC: Dragons 30 Ulster 34
Ulster came from behind to dodge ruinous defeat at Rodney Parade with Scott Wilson’s late score even ensuring them a rare bonus-point victory.
Trailing 24-14 at half-time, Ulster managed to grind this one out, their bench with Brive-bound John Cooney also making a significant impact to keep their playoff hopes heading in the right direction.
Ulster are now ninth, just a place and point outside the playoff zone with five rounds to play and, as it happens, the side just above them, the Stormers, coming to the Kingspan on Friday.
“It certainly wasn’t a perfect performance by any stretch but we’re relieved and delighted that we were able to get the points and bounce up the league [from 14th],” said Ulster assistant coach Dan Soper.
The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times
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Within a minute, the Dragons had the lead, Aneurin Owen scoring after Ulster had lost the ball, with Will Reed converting.
Ulster regathered themselves and James Hume was there to score after Rob Herring had driven to the line off a lineout maul. Doak’s conversion tied the scores.
However, Herring was then yellow carded for a high hit on Matthew Screech, Reed slotting a penalty to put them back in front after 14 minutes.
A no-arms tackle from James McNabney was then punished as the Dragons went to the corner and mauled to the line where Rhodri Williams threw a flat pass to Huw Anderson at the posts. Reed’s conversion made it 17-7 to the home team after 20 minutes.
With Herring back, it was Dragons centre Joe Westwood who was yellow-carded. And with the ball in the corner, Herring drove over to score, with Doak’s two-pointer allowing Ulster to trail 17-14.
But more calamity followed for Ulster as Stewart Moore was then robbed of the ball, allowing Anderson to scorch through and put Williams in for the try, again converted by Reed.
The Dragons led 24-14 at the end of the half by which stage they were back up to full complement.
Herring scored his second three minutes after the restart, Doak again converting, but Reed then responded with a penalty to make it 27-21.
Reed then landed another, and the Dragons led 30-21. Ulster replacement Cooney struck a penalty shortly before Reed hit an upright with what looked a crucial shot.
It then fell to Ulster replacement Scott Wilson to turn the game as he ripped the ball from Anderson on the deck and drove over to dot down.
Cooney’s conversion put them in front with 10 minutes to go and though John Andrew had a late score ruled out, the game ended with Cooney’s second successful penalty and relief all round for the visitors.
SCORING SEQUENCE – 1 mins: Owen try, Reed con, 7-0; 9: Hume try, Doak con, 7-7; 14: Reed pen, 10-7; 20: Anderson try, Reed con, 17-7; 28: Herring try, Doak con, 17-14; 34: Williams try, Reed con, 24-14; Half-time 24-24; 44: Herring try, Doak con, 24-21; 47: Reed pen, 27-21; 63: Reed pen, 30-21; 65: Cooney pen, 30-24; 70: Wilson try, Cooney con, 30-31; 80: Cooney pen, 30-34.
DRAGONS: H Anderson; R Dyer, J Westwood, A Owen, A Hewitt; W Reed, R Williams; D Kelleher-Griffiths, E Dee, C Coleman; M Screech, G Nott; S Lewis-Hughes, H Keddie, A Wainwright.
Replacements: S Cummins for Screech (14 mins); P Latu for Coleman (53); B Coghlan for Dee, T Basham for Keddie (both 62); T Basham for Lewis-Hughes (65); J Rosser for Westwood (68).
Yellow card: Westwood (27 mins).
ULSTER: S Moore; M Lowry, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; K Murphy, N Doak; C Reid, R Herring, T O’Toole; A O’Connor, M Dalton; D McCann, N Timoney, J McNabney.
Replacements: S Crean for Reid (47 mins); S Wilson for O’Toole (53); J Cooney for Doak (56); K Treadwell for Dalton (64); J Andrew for Herring (66); R Crothers for McNabney, Z Ward for Stockdale (both 69).
Yellow card: Herring (14 mins).
Referee: G Colby (SA).
