Ulster’s Play-Off Hopes Dented By Home Draw With Cardiff

Ulster’s run of six straight GUINNESS PRO12 wins came to an end in a hard-fought 24-24 draw with a combative Cardiff Blues side, leaving the province with plenty to do in the final three rounds to secure a semi-final spot.

Tries from Paddy Jackson and Luke Marshall, along with a penalty try and nine points from Jackson’s boot, proved not quite enough to seal victory, and Ulster must now face the three teams above them in the table – Munster, the Ospreys and Leinster – in the run-in for a play-off place.

The return of Ireland captain Rory Best at hooker was one of three personnel changes implemented by director of rugby Les Kiss, with Jackson back in at out-half and Roger Wilson taking over the number 8 shirt.

Elsewhere, Ulster lined up with a back-three of Jared Payne at full-back and Craig Gilroy and Charles Piutau on the wings, while Stuart Olding reverted to centre where he partnered Marshall. Ruan Pienaar, the province’s second highest scorer this term – behind only Jackson – on 100 points, continued at scrum half.

Up front Andrew Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst propped either side of skipper Best, with Kieran Treadwell and Alan O’Connor in the second row, and a back row of Iain Henderson and Sean Reidy alongside Wilson.

Ulster just shaded a patchy first half which was illuminated by a fantastic combination between Pienaar and Jackson for the first home try, and which saw no fewer than three Cardiff players leave the pitch with injuries.

Currently lying eighth in the PRO12 table, Cardiff belied their lowly standing with a strong start which culminated in an eighth minute penalty from international out-half Gareth Anscombe.

Ulster wasted little time in hitting back, Jackson grounding his third try of the season in a move which showcased the fantastic rugby nous of the Ulster half-back partnership.

Piutau picked up off a 50-50 aerial challenge between Gilroy and Blaine Scully, which proved to be the Cardiff winger’s final act in the match, and tore a diagonal line towards the visitors’ 22 where Pienaar took over to kick directly into the spot that Jackson had signalled to his team-mate. The number 10 dribbled over for a fine score, adding the conversion himself.

Cardiff dug in well, Sam Warburton touching down from close range after several minutes of pressure, with Anscombe’s conversion edging his side back in front at 10-7.

After George Earle had joined Scully in the treatment room, Ulster redressed the balance just before the half hour mark, referee Ian Davies awarding a penalty try as Cardiff collapsed the rolling maul. Jackson added the extras for a 14-10 lead.

Multiple missed tackles from Ulster soon gifted Cardiff a lineout 10 metres out, but sloppy play from both sides ensured possession changed hands several times before Ulster eventually cleared their lines.

There was still time left in the first half for Warburton to hobble off with a nasty-looking knee injury – he was replaced by former Ulster favourite Nick Williams – and for Payne to pick up a knock of his own.

Payne lasted only two minutes of the second period. The Ireland international was replaced by Jacob Stockdale who, as the last line of defence, was unable to prevent a 46th minute try from strong-running and quick-passing man-of-the-match Rey Lee-Lo as Cardiff nudged their way back in front.

The game now hanging delicately in the balance, a penalty conceded by none other than Williams gave Ulster their next meaningful attack, and when Cardiff infringed again 20 metres from their own posts, Jackson gratefully slotted home the kick to restore parity – 17-all.

With Andrew Trimble throw into the mix for the final 25 minutes, Ulster still had plenty to do – even more so when that man Lee-Lo slalomed through the defence on the hour mark for his second try of the night.

Now a converted try adrift, the Ulstermen moved the ball well in midfield but struggled to find the breakthrough, eventually resorting to percentage kicks which the Cardiff wingers gratefully gobbled up.

The hosts fared much better when they kept the ball in hand, and had the strength of Marshall to thank on 68 minutes as the centre broke through three tackles to touch down. Jackson’s successful conversion brought the sides level again.

All gun blazing now, Ulster pummelled the Cardiff defence for the next five minutes, only losing possession through an unfortunate knock-on 10 metres from home. As the Blues cleared up the pitch, a further knock-on presented them with a scrum well within Anscombe’s kicking range, but Ulster did well to wrestle back possession before the out-half could be fed the ball as the clock hit 80 minutes.

Next up for fourth-placed Ulster, who could be joined on 63 points by the Scartlets tomorrow night, is a mouth-watering clash with provincial rivals Munster at Thomond Park over the Easter weekend. They are away to the Ospreys after that, and then their final game of the regular season is at home to Leinster.