John Cooney’s virtuoso performance, with a try and 22 points from the boot, bagged Ulster their third Champions Cup victory from four as they outscored a competitive Harlequins side by six tries to four at Kingspan Stadium.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ULSTER 52 HARLEQUINS 24
Tries from Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy, Charles Piutau, Alan O’Connor and Andrew Trimble topped up John Cooney’s tally to cement second place in Pool 1 for Les Kiss’ men, two points behind unbeaten leaders La Rochelle (15 points) who travel to Wasps on Sunday.
Ulster can take a good deal of confidence from tonight’s 52-24 victory. Although Harlequins secured a try-scoring bonus point of their own, the province were in control of the outcome throughout and displayed some impressive attacking firepower.
Ulster director of rugby Kiss said afterwards: “We were anxious to get out there and finish the deal, and the boys wanted to make a major statement in this game in front of the fans. It certainly was a spectacle, that’s for sure.
“We have a chance to do something here, but La Rochelle are the form team in Europe. We opened them up nicely but we didn’t capitalise and we shouldn’t give a team like that a chance as they back their ability. Harlequins had a lot of youngsters and they told them just to play and they hurt us a few times.”
The hosts’ first break in the game, led by hooker Rob Herring, reaped a penalty for in-form place-kicker Cooney within four minutes, before concerted pressure forced another just before the 10-minute mark, albeit off the left upright.
But a Harlequins interception on halfway soon led to the first try of the encounter for Harlequins’ teenage out-half Marcus Smith, whose own conversion veered wide to leave the Ulstermen a solitary point ahead – 6-5.
Bustling centre McCloskey wasted no time latching onto man-of-the-match Christian Lealiifano’s classy chip off the outside of his right boot just moments later, dribbling on and grounding for a fine try in the corner. Cooney landed the conversion to give the hosts an eight-point cushion at the close of the first quarter.
Trademark ball-carrying of the highest calibre from Wales star Jamie Roberts, brushing aside five or six Ulster tacklers, brought ‘Quins deep into the opposition 22 on 26 minutes, and only a last-ditch tackle from Jacob Stockdale on left winger Alofa Alofa prevented a second try for the English side just shy of the half hour.
Right winger Charlie Walker had no trouble ripping through the heart of the Ulster defence in the very next ‘Quins attack – there were defensive issues again for the province with 18 missed tackles before half-time. Hhis try and Smith’s conversion brought the visitors within a point before Cooney’s fourth successful kick from four have Ulster a 16-12 interval lead.
A Stockdale charge into the 22 – and poor ‘Quins handling – led to Gilroy getting in for a neat try in the right corner set up by Cooney, five minutes after the restart. That was topped up by Cooney’s crisp conversion from out wide and then a penalty as John Kingston’s side suddenly fell 26-12 behind.
Ulster’s third try was more impressive again, Stockdale and Gilroy combining in slick fashion down the right before Cooney fed full-back Piutau from the back of a ruck for a lightning-quick score. Harlequins struck back quickly, capitalising on an injury to Piutau – prostate and receiving treatment – for full-back Ross Chisholm to nip into the corner with 20 minutes remaining.
A yellow card for Kyle Sinckler, who was guilty of a late challenge on Stockdale, effectively sealed his side’s fate moments later. Ulster wasted no time whatsoever in taking full advantage, Stockdale storming through on a brilliant run from the ‘Quins 10-metre line before second row O’Connor, who got through a lot of unseen work, ran onto a pass from five metres out and stretched over the line for his first Champions Cup try.
The bonus point bagged, Ulster nodded off somewhat to let flanker Dave Ward in for the visitors’ fourth touchdown on 66 minutes, but when Cooney, following up on a strong carry and soft hands from captain Iain Henderson, burst through the ‘Quins rearguard for the try his performance had richly deserved with nine minutes to go, the outcome was no longer in doubt.
There was even time for pantomime villain Mike Brown to come on as replacement and throw a forward pass deep in his own 22, from which replacement Trimble gladly gobbled up try number six off the back of a well-worked scrum.
Although undoubtedly pleased to make it three pool wins and bag their first bonus point, Kiss acknowledged that they cannot afford similar defensive lapses during the festive interprovincials and their home clash with pool leaders La Rochelle next month.
“?It was a bit too loose at times but it was good to get 52 points. The key focus for us was to concentrate on the basics of the game. I think we’d just got a bit away from that (in the first half) and I thought we were a little bit lateral at times.”
This website uses cookies.
Read More