Lowry Plays Leading Role As Ulster Outgun Glasgow

Ulster returned to Guinness PRO14 action tonight with a vital 19-13 victory over Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium.

Bouncing back from last month’s defeat at Leinster, the Ulstermen took a 7-3 half-time lead thanks to a terrific counter-attacking try from full-back Michael Lowry.

Dan McFarland’s men added two more through Craig Gilroy and Nick Timoney, before Glasgow replacement Aki Seiuli touched down late on to give his side a losing bonus point.

The hosts set out their stall early on, making yards and keeping Ulster pinned inside their 22 for much of the first quarter of the game.

Glasgow had a couple of prime opportunities but their own indiscipline, coupled with some solid tackling by Ulster, left the scoreboard unmoved during this defence-dominated period.

The Ulstermen began to click, going through the hands to test the Glasgow defence, eventually earning a penalty which Ian Madigan kicked to the corner.

Peeling off the ensuing lineout maul, South African powerhouse Marcell Coetzee looked like had he muscled his way over to score. However, a lengthy TMO review adjudged that he was held up.

Glasgow’s Rob Harley stole Ulster ball at the next maul and forced a penalty for the hosts, meaning Ulster’s first serious opportunity to score was gone.  

Possession was turned over a number of times through a breathless passage of play when both Glasgow and Ulster ripped the ball to go on the counter attack.

Eventually, Ulster were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle, allowing Glasgow out-half Adam Hastings to split the posts and end a 36-minute scoreless spell.

Ulster quickly responded, however, on the stroke of half-time through a superb try from Lowry who put on the after-burners to leave the Glasgow defence in his wake.

Madigan made the initial intercept for Eric O’Sullivan to go on a thundering run before the ball went through the hands of John Cooney, Stuart McCloskey, James Hume and Cooney again in the build-up.

With Cooney converting, Ulster were four points to the good but with Coetzee going off with a worrying injury. They looked to be in a good position in the opening minutes of the second half with promising lineout.

Nonetheless, Harley once again made a nuisance of himself to force a turnover for the Warriors. Indeed, Hastings soon made it a one-point game with his second successful penalty.

It took a second bite at the cherry for Gilroy to get over the line in the 55th minute. The winger’s first attempt was well dealt with by the Glasgow defence and the ball went loose as he was tackled.

He finally made it over in the corner after Ireland call-up Tom O’Toole went on the charge and Cooney offloaded to Lowry, who passed out wide for his back-three colleague to finish.

Now 12-6 in front, Ulster tails were up and they began to relentlessly pound the Glasgow line, earning a string of penalties. They eventually got their reward through Timoney, who powered over from a maul to claim a 62nd-minute converted score.

The Warriors benefited from a one-man advantage after Ulster replacement Alby Mathewson saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on. Seiuli duly crossed to close the gap, with Ross Thompson converting.

Crucially, a well-earned turnover from captain Jordi Murphy at the death closed the door on another Glasgow attack, and the visitors came away as scrappy but deserved winners.

McFarland’s charges are five points behind Conference A leaders Leinster with four rounds remaining. Their next two games are at home to the Ospreys and Leinster.