Ulster’s prolific backs treated a sold-out Ravenhill to a try bonanza, running in eight tries against provincial rivals Connacht – including a hat-trick from Andrew Trimble – in the best possible response to last weekend’s bitter Heineken Cup disappointment.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ULSTER 58 CONNACHT 12
Paul Marshall (2), Tommy Bowe, Luke Marshall and Craig Gilroy all joined man-of-the-match Andrew Trimble on the scoresheet as a fired-up Ulster team ran riot down the flanks to dominate this interprovincial derby.
With the Six Nations trophy on display under the injured Rory Best’s stewardship before kick-off, Ulster applied their foot to the gas straight from the off.
Only a miscommunication between Paddy Jackson and Luke Marshall prevented the centre from breaking through the spine of the Connacht defence in the second minute, as he knocked on a snapped pass from Jackson which he was barely expecting.
The first try was not long in coming however, as the Ulster backs capitalised on a risky cross-field kick from Dan Parks inside his own 22.
The hosts picked up the bobbling ball and recycled for scrum half Marshall to stretch over in the corner.
Jackson missed the conversion and just moments later, Connacht, who are chasing a top-six finish, were back on level terms.
The westerners outnumbered Ulster on the left wing as Robbie Henshaw brilliantly evaded a tackle and fired a pinpoint pass to his left for centre David McSharry to ground by the corner flag.
Jackson topped up the Ulster tally from a good 40 metres with a 12th minute penalty, and alert thinking from Chris Henry, who scooped a loose ball backwards on halfway, set the next attack in motion.
Great feet from both Gilroy and Bowe propelled Ulster into the 22 where Trimble had the legs to outstrip two chasers down the left touchline for try number two.
The score went unconverted once more but Ulster, with Sean Doyle now among the ranks after an early ankle injury to Robbie Diack, continued to press high up the pitch.
They constructed a sublime third try in the 23rd minute, Trimble carving up the Connacht defence with a diagonal run from right to left and supplying Bowe 10 metres from home.
Jackson converted off the left upright and added a further two points three minutes later as Ulster stormed their way to the bonus point, with Trimble once more instrumental in the score.
The Six Nations-winning winger lofted a quick lineout ball straight into the clutches of Paul Marshall, who scampered his way to the whitewash through a somewhat unsuspecting Connacht defence.
Under the watchful eye of Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, Jackson then added a further three points just before the break to sending the home side off 30-5 to the good.
The second period continued in the same vein as the first, as Bowe – featuring at outside centre – latched onto a dropped ball as Connacht probed deep down Ulster’s right touchline.
The Monaghan man then fed Trimble and he set off on a 75-metre sprint for the Connacht try-line. Young number 8 Eoin McKeon led the chase but Trimble was able to stay out in front and comfortably complete his brace.
The fifth try duly converted, Jackson then combined majestically with Bowe in the 48th minute in a lightning quick one-two which entirely bamboozled the Connacht defence and created the space for Luke Marshall to score try number six.
Jackson kept up his impressive kicking return with the conversion, and another Connacht error – this time an overthrown lineout – eventually led to the sin-binning of replacement second row Michael Swift.
The loss of the veteran lock came after repeated infringements from Pat Lam’s charges as they battled desperately to defend their line.
Three lineouts and a scrum later, Ulster’s replacement scrum half Michael Heaney supplied Trimble with good hooked ball and a short run-in for his hat-trick, topped up again by Jackson’s boot.
Darragh Leader did well to run in a converted consolation try on the left in the 62nd minute, stretching over following some free-flowing interplay with the retreating Heaney unable to prevent the score.
Direct running and crisp passing in the build-up from replacement Miah Nikora and centres Eoin Griffin and McSharry opened the way for the supporting Leader to finish off. Nikora converted for a 51-12 scoreline.
Ulster were far from finished though and winger Gilroy got on the scoresheet when he pounced on replacement out-half James McKinney’s prodded kick towards the corner six minutes later.. A neat conversion followed from McKinney.
Ulster closed out the game in a fruitless quest for try number nine, but the bonus point victory elevates Anscombe’s side to second place in the PRO12 standings, with Munster losing at home to Glasgow Warriors.
Qualification for the play-offs is still not guaranteed for Ulster, who are in a strong position with three games left to play.
Two more crunch interprovincial ties remain – at home to Leinster and away to Munster – after next Friday’s trip to fellow play-off hopefuls Glasgow.
This website uses cookies.
Read More