Stewart And Doak Stand Out As Ulster Claim Derby Spoils Against Connacht

Ulster’s 21-year-old hooker Tom Stewart had a night to remember as he marked his first senior start with a try and a player-of-the-match performance in a convincing 36-10 derby win over Connacht.

Even younger at 20, Nathan Doak contributed 16 points – including a second half try – as Dan McFarland’s men started the BKT United Rugby Championship in bonus point-winning fashion in front of their home crowd.

Two converted tries from Luke Marshall (27 minutes) and Stewart (37) had Ulster leading 14-3 at half-time, with Conor Fitzgerald firing over a late Connacht penalty.

It was Peter Wilkins’ first competitive game in his new role as Connacht’s head coach. Andy Friend has vacated the position to become director of rugby, and there has been a shake-up in playing personnel too with five debutants in Belfast.

Influential scrum half Doak tagged on 10 points during the third quarter, with Ulster sewing up their bonus point in the 63rd minute through Stewart Moore in the right corner.

Connacht newcomer David Hawkshaw supplied the assist and the conversion to top off Caolin Blade’s breakaway try, but Connacht conceded again five minutes from the end when Ulster replacement Callum Reid reached over.

The early exchanges at Kingspan Stadium were marred by knock-ons and some rusty phases, both defences proving well-organised with neither team able to threaten the try-line.

Marshall raised the decibel level with a sharp 13th-minute break, linking with full-back Moore, as Ulster landed Connacht back into their own 22.

However, Fitzgerald got a crucial hand to a Marshall pass, flicking it backwards, just as Robert Baloucoune prowled out wide for a probable run-in.

A massive 50:22 kick from the returning Jacob Stockdale launched Ulster forward again, yet Tom Daly disrupted Doak at the back of a ruck and Paul Boyle won a clearing penalty.

Connacht lost hard-earned yards due to a crooked lineout and a scrum penalty, before winger John Porch gave away a penalty for obstruction during a kick chase.

McFarland’s side used the resulting maul to force a further penalty, with Stuart McCloskey using the advantage to offload brilliantly out of a tackle – behind the defending Daly’s back – and send Marshall in behind the posts.

Doak’s conversion was followed by further raids down the left by both Stockdale and Marshall, with a Kieran Marmion turnover giving Connacht a brief respite.

Ulster were not to be denied, though, as from a lineout set up by another Stockdale surge, young hooker Stewart broke off a maul and avoided a Conor Oliver tackle to score despite Marmion’s last-ditch challenge.

Marcus Rea infringed at the breakdown, allowing Fitzgerald to cut the gap to 11 points at the break, but those three points were handed back when Doak knocked over a central 44th-minute penalty.

Ulster extended their lead on the 50-minute mark, Connacht’s indiscipline leading to a team warning and Stewart threatened again from a maul before Doak plunged over from the ensuing ruck, adding the extras for 24-3.

Connacht’s replacements made their presence felt, a much-improved attacking spell putting them a whisker away from a try. New cap Josh Murphy was stopped just short and Ulster eked out a penalty.

Into the final quarter, Ulster also had an injection of energy off the bench. Billy Burns’ 50:22 kick heaped the pressure back on Connacht, Boyle saw yellow for an offside and Marshall absorbed a tackle before putting Moore over out wide.

Connacht replied with a cracking counter-attacking try, finally working some space for Alex Wootton out wide. Hawkshaw followed up to take the return pass and draw in Doak before releasing Blade to finish it off.

Frustratingly for the westerners, another series of penalties marched them backwards and 23-year-old prop Reid showed good strength to burrow over for his first Ulster try, which Doak converted.