Winless Ulster Hit For Six

Ireland winger Tommy Bowe touched down against his former club as Ulster conceded six tries and had three players sin-binned in a heavy Magners League defeat to the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

With Wales coach Warren Gatland watching on, the Ospreys turned on the style to banish memories of last weekend’s loss to Leinster and move to the top of the table in the process.

Bottom side Ulster are still struggling to find their feet this season and returning to the scene of their league success in 2006, they had an evening to forget.

Place-kicker Clinton Schifcofske missed three shots at the posts in the opening half.

And the frustration clearly spread amongst the visitors’ pack when Matt McCullough, the returning Stephen Ferris and recent signing BJ Botha were all flashed yellow cards after the break.

Ulster’s confidence was dented by first quarter tries from Rhodri Wells, James Hook and the fit-again Shane Williams.

19-0 down at the interval, the Irish outfit failed to recover as their former winger Tommy Bowe charged over for a try and late touchdowns from Lee Byrne and Ryan Jones sealed a comfortable win for Sean Holley’s side.

The feel-good factor for the Ospreys was also boosted by the sight of Wales centre Gavin Henson making his first appearance since he damaged ankle ligaments in April.

Henson was sprung from the replacements bench for the final quarter, getting a warm reception from the 7,225 in attendance.

Ulster, who were without injured captain Rory Best, made a competitive start and scrapped well for possession as play was cramped between the ten-metre lines.

But the Ospreys, despite struggling initially at the breakdown, soon took control and they put scrum half Wells over for a ninth-minute try – although there was a suspiciously forward-looking pass from Adam Jones in the build-up.

Bowe and Williams made the initial incision down the left wing and prop Jones did well to bring play up to the Ulster 22 before his one-handed offload sent Wells scampering past Robbie Diack and over the line.

Hook, who linked with Bowe in a new-look midfield, missed the conversion but the league’s current top points scorer was celebrating a try soon after.

After Schifcofske missed the target, the Ospreys rampaged through the middle with full-back Lee Byrne making serious yards.

His pass was deftly scooped up one-handed by a leaning Hook and the Wales fly-half darted over for a try he converted himself.

The Ospreys’ starting number 10, teenager Daniel Biggar, then showed his promise as he slung a long skip pass for Williams and an unfortunate slip by Ulster full-back Bryn Cunningham allowed the IRB Player of the Year nominee an easy run-in.

Hook’s conversion left the hosts 19-0 in front and they maintained that advantage up to half-time, as Schifcofske missed two further penalty attempts.

Ulster looked a little steadier on the resumption, with player-coach Paul Steinmetz providing some experience behind the scrum and the former All-Black rescued his side with a try-saving tackle on Nikki Walker.

However, the Ospreys soon got back in the scoring groove. Ulster flanker McCullough was sin-binned for hands in the ruck and Hook landed the resulting penalty.

Their bonus point try followed in the 53rd minute when Hook kicked a loose ball downfield and Bowe was able to hack on and win the race with Timoci Nagusa for the touchdown.

It was the Monaghan man’s 30th Magners League try, equalling the record set by former Scarlets player Matthew Watkins.

Hook’s conversion boosted the Ospreys’ tally to 29 points and with both teams opting to clear their benches, the game really petered out.

Ulster’s woes continued when Springbok prop Botha was carded for an infringement at a scrum. Three minutes later, the influential Byrne nipped over for a try off a scrum platform.

Hook converted and also added the extras to Ryan Jones’ 77th-minute effort, after the club captain was driven over from close range.

Ulster, out on their feet after another fruitless 80 minutes, had a third player in the bin by that stage as back rower Stephen Ferris’ comeback from a back injury was spoiled by a needless yellow card.