Stockdale And Lowry Impress As Ulster Return To Winning Ways

Ulster enjoyed the wide open spaces of the Principality Stadium as they chalked up their 13th Guinness PRO14 victory by overcoming the Dragons 26-22.

Michael Lowry produced a Guinness player-of-the-match performance from out-half, while the province’s bonus point came via tries from Alby Mathewson, Stewart Moore (2) and John Andrew.

Mathewson and Moore touched down inside the opening 21 minutes, setting up a 14-3 interval lead, but Ulster had to cope with two yellow cards and a fast-finishing Dragons side.

Andrew and Ollie Griffiths swapped tries before Moore’s intercept effort on the hour mark widened the gap to 16 points. It was a vital score as the hosts hit back late on through Rio Dyer and Jonah Holmes.

An early Ulster infringement at Welsh Rugby HQ gave the Dragons a shot at the posts, but Sam Davies’ attempt was off-target after just two minutes.

The visitors were first on the board, however, with Jacob Stockdale slinking his way through the Dragons defence on a brilliant run from deep, and scrum half Mathewson ran a timely support line to collect the pass and score.

Lowry made it the full seven points, before the province turned to their centres to create try number two. Stuart McCloskey offloaded neatly out of a tackle to send Moore over, with Lowry again adding the extras.

The Dragons had a chance to respond with a lineout just five metres out, but Ross Kane pounced on the loose ball from the throw to make the all-important steal and allow Lowry to relieve the pressure.

The hosts did open their account after an Ulster high tackle, out-half Davies knocking over the three points with 34 minutes on the clock.

Dean Ryan’s men looked certain to score with the clock well in the red, as they pounded Ulster with attacking mauls and pick-and-goes. After a series of infractions, Andrew was binned but Ulster held out thanks to some resolute defence.

Regrouping at the break, Ulster reemerged in better fettle and their third try came from a well-executed lineout drive. The just-returned Andrew bundled his way over, before the flags stayed down for the conversion attempt.

Dragons answered back with their first try in the 55th minute, with back rower Griffiths muscling over the whitewash despite some valiant attempts to hold him up. Davies added the conversion to make it 19-10.

The bonus point try was the ideal response from Dan McFarland’s charges. It was young gun Moore who expertly picked off a Davies pass and darted 65 metres downfield to the posts. Lowry comfortably converted.

Nonetheless, it was a sticky finish for Ulster as Nick Timoney was binned for bringing down a Dragons maul in the 71st minute. Winger Dyer capitalised with an unconverted score soon after.

Ulster looked to probe the Dragons defence once more, but Nick Tompkins intercepted to send Holmes in under the posts. Davies converted to make it a four-point game but that was as close as the Welsh outfit could get.