Celtic League: Ulster Leapfrog Connacht Into Seventh

Flanker Campbell Feather returned to haunt his former employers on Friday night, as his second half try ensured a tight 17-13 win for Ulster over the Borders at Ravenhill.

CELTIC LEAGUE: Friday, March 25
Ulster 17 The Borders 13, Ravenhill
Scorers: Ulster: Tries: Andy Ward, Campbell Feather; Cons: Paul Steinmetz 2; Pen: David Humphreys
Borders: Try: Chris Cusiter; Con: Charlie Hore; Pen: Hore; Drop gl: Alistair Warnock

Feather came off the bench to help Mark McCall’s side to their eighth win of the league campaign – and move them three points clear of Connacht in the race to assume the mantle of third-ranked Irish side.

A poor enough start saw Borders’ top scorer Charlie Hore boot a second minute penalty before the bottom-placed Scots lost scrum-half Chris Cusiter to the sin-bin on the quarter-hour.

He was pinged for killing the ball at a close-in ruck and David Humphreys duly levelled things from the resultant penalty.

Despite losing tight-head prop Bruce Douglas to another yellow card on 26 minutes, Steve Bates’ visitors continued to press and fly-half Ali Warnock nudged them back in front with a well-taken drop goal.

However it was only a matter of time before something came off for the Ulster backline and skipper Andy Ward – loitering on the left wing – plucked a cross-field kick from centre Paul Steinmetz for a late first half try.

The Kiwi midfielder drew over the touchline conversion too, with Humphreys receiving attention for a leg strain, for a 10-6 home lead at the interval.

A scrappy second half suited the Scots the best and Cusiter silenced the Belfast crowd with a 61st-minute try – set up by his forwards – for Hore to convert for a 13-10 advantage.

Ulster though – unbeaten at home since November – failed to panic and Feather – on as a replacement for Neil Best – muscled his way over three minutes later to aid their ascent up to seventh.

ULSTER:

(15) Bryn Cunningham
(14) Tommy Bowe
(13) Kevin Maggs
(12) Paul Steinmetz
(11) Tyrone Howe
(10) David Humphreys
(9) Kieran Campbell
(1) Ronan McCormack
(2) Paul Shields
(3) Simon Best
(4) Gary Longwell
(5) Matt McCullough
(6) Andy Ward (Capt)
(7) Neil Best
(8) Roger Wilson

Replacements used: Campbell Feather for Best (8 mins), Tim Barker for McCullough (51), Andy Maxwell for Howe (77). Not used: Rory Best, Rod Moore, Neil Doak, Paddy Wallace.

The Borders: Stuart Moffatt; Simon Danielli, Calum MacRae, Charlie Hore, Nikki Walker; Alistair Warnock, Chris Cusiter; Paul Thomson, Ross Ford, Bruce Douglas, Mark Blair, Colin Stewart, John Dalziel, Andy Miller, Kelly Brown.

Replacements used: Matt Parr for Thomson (61 mins), Stephen Scott for Dalziel (65). Not used: Tommy McGee, Will Kay, Jonny Weston, Joe Pattison, Gareth Morton.

Sin-bin: Chris Cusiter (15 mins), Bruce Douglas (both Borders) (26)
HT: Ulster 10 The Borders 6; Attendance: 7,017
Referee: Phil Fear (Wales)