Cooney And Stockdale Tries Seal Ulster’s Semi-Final Place

Ulster overcame an eight-point half-time deficit to defeat Northampton Saints 35-27 at Franklin’s Gardens, setting up their first ever European Challenge Cup semi-final appearance.

The visitors failed to profit from three Northampton sin-binnings in the first half, with Saints managing to move into a 22-14 lead by half-time.

Rob Herring was driven over from a lineout, in addition to a penalty try for a collapsed maul, but Ulster restricted the English side to just one try after the break.

Martin Moore and Ollie Sleightholme swapped scores, before the Ulstermen seized control with John Cooney converting his own try and adding the extras to Jacob Stockdale’s 72nd-minute effort.

Speaking after the game, Ulster head coach Dan McFarland said: “I think the bookies had us at six-point favourites and as usual they were right, or nearly right! I didn’t see it like that.

“I knew the side they (Northampton) had picked was really strong, lots of really good players, playing at home, playing with a lot of confidence right now and I knew they were a very dangerous side who would test us.

“In all honesty, not since earlier in the season had we been tested. It’s been few and far between. But this is a group of players who have been to the well in tight games over the last three years, so they know how to win in tight situations.

“They know how to fight for every inch, they know how to dog it out, they know how to show a bit of bite when it comes down to the wire and they certainly showed that tonight.”

Ulster under pressure early on, with Northampton striking in the fourth minute through scrum half Alex Mitchell who picked up from a ruck right on the Ulster line to score. The conversion followed from Piers Francis.

After Saints flanker Nick Isiekwe saw yellow for a no-arms tackle on Billy Burns, Ulster threatened from a maul which the hosts brought down illegally, leading to referee Alex Ruiz awarding the penalty try.

In a further blow, Northampton hooker Sam Matavesi was also binned for the infringement, but they dealt with the two-man deficit well, earning a penalty for centre Francis to make it 10-7.

Ulster had a slew of penalties thanks to Northampton ill-discipline near their own line. Second row David Ribbans was the third player from the home side to see yellow in 23 minutes.

McFarland’s men finally got reward through Herring burrowing his way over from the lineout drive. Scrum half Cooney fired over the conversion for a 14-10 scoreline.

Saints were quick to recover, though, and made their way up to the Ulster whitewash. With 32 minutes on the clock, full-back Tommy Freeman found a gap to snipe over for a five-pointer.

Northampton immediately struck again, Teimana Harrison picking up a ruck ball to break through, setting up Mitchell to send Freeman in for his second score which Francis converted.

Ulster had the opportunity to cut the gap to five points just before the interval, but the flags stayed down for a Cooney kick.

Driven on by captain and star-of-the-match Jordi Murphy, the province did make it a one-point game just a few minutes into the second half. Prop Moore bludgeoned his way over for Cooney to convert.

Frustratingly, Ulster handed back five of those points nearing the hour mark, as Ahsee Tuala flicked an inviting offload out for winger Sleightholme to run in at the corner. Francis’ conversion went wide at 27-21.

As this knockout clash continued to produce end-to-end action, Ulster replied just three minutes later. The ever-alert Cooney picked up possession to sneak over the line and convert, edging the province in front for only the second time.

Ulster went through a timely purple patch, patiently building the phases before Burns beautifully delayed his pass to Stockdale, sending the winger in beside the posts. The gap was out to eight points after Cooney’s fourth successful kick.

Within reach of their first European semi-final since 2012, Ulster’s defence impressed during the final minutes, culminating in replacement Tom O’Toole’s fantastic jackal to force a turnover and keep Saints at bay.

Cooney had an opportunity to extend the lead at the death with a penalty – it went wide but Ulster had done enough to book their spot in the Challenge Cup’s last-four.