Lions 35
Ulster 22
ULSTER FELL TO their first defeat of the URC season to a Lions side who were simply more clinical and able to deal with the tough playing conditions in Johannesburg.
In 30-degree heat, Ulster found themselves 15-0 down before mounting a stirring comeback to claim a try bonus through scores from John Cooney, Aidan Morgan, Werner Kok and Corrie Barrett, only one of which was converted.
Nine minutes in and the Lions had the first score when, from a lineout, PJ Botha and Francke Horn combined to put carried winger Rabz Maxwane clear down the narrow side.
The conversion for the ninth minute score was missed by Kade Wolhuter, who then added a penalty on 15 minutes.
It was all the Lions at this point, and they kept up the pressure, having a maul try from Botha scratched off due to a technical infringement but then getting it right just after the half hour when Horn was the beneficiary of another irresistible maul. Wolhuter converted and the Lions led 15-0.
Ulster knew they had to score next and creditably did so in the 43rd minute through Cooney after the forwards had battered their way to the line. However, Cooney missed the two points as the half ended and the Lions led with a 10-point cushion at 15-5.
Ulster cut that led to 15-10 shortly after the restart through a Morgan try which again Cooney was unable to convert but from this point, the Lions put the foot down in terms of pushing their total onwards.
Franco Marais trundled over from a 45th minute maul and they had their bonus point four minutes later when Henco van Wyk ran clear, Wolhuter’s conversion making it 27-10.
That became 30-10 when Wolhuter slotted a close-range penalty and it now looked as if Ulster would struggle to keep the Lions from further scores.
However, a loose ball was pounced on by Doak and from the kick ahead, Kok got the touchdown for his first try for the province, though it was unconverted by Doak.
Then with three minutes to go, Ulster found the reserves to go for the line again and Barrett hammered through from short range. Doak’s conversion made it 30-22, leaving the visitors on course to collect two points.
But in the final minute it was Wolhuter who stepped a weary Ulster defence and he ran in for the final say.
Lions scorers:
Tries – Maxwane, Horn, Marais, van Wyk, Wolhuter.
Penalties – Wolhuter [2]
Conversions – Wolhuter [2]
Ulster scorers:
Tries – Cooney, Morgan, Kok, Barrett
Conversion – Doak
EMIRATES LIONS: Q Horn; R Maxwane, E Cronje, R Jonker, T Mafura (H van Wyk, 42); K Wolhuter, S Nohamba (N Steyn, 65); M Naude (J Schoeman, 43), PJ Botha (F Marais, 43), A Ntlabakanye (C van Vuuren, 66; R Nothnagel (R Schoeman, 61), D Landsberg; J Cairns (R du Plessis, 67), R Venter (S Qoma, 55), F Horn (capt).
ULSTER: E McIlroy (M Lowry, 66); W Kok, S Moore, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; A Morgan, J Cooney (N Doak, 55); A Warwick (E O’Sullivan, 52), J Andrew (J McCormick, 52), T O’Toole (C Barrett, 52); K Treadwell (I Henderson, 52), A O’Connor (capt) (J McNabney, 52); Matty Rea (D McCann, 51), S Reffell, N Timoney.
If I was an Ulster supporter there was a lot to be happy with. Front row obviously an issue but lots of positives. First 15 was the issue.
@kieran horgan: I agree looked bad at one point but good finish missing a lot of players as well
@kieran horgan: no disrespect to Ulster but that was very poor performance from the pack ..I was very surprised how the lions absolutely out muscled them up front in scrums/mauls/rucks ,general physicality . I was frustrated as the lions left many points out there . Absolutely not a full strength Ulster side , I get that but that wasn’t a shadow of previous ulster packs I’ve seen play the game ..
@Stuart: Think with Izzy, Sheridan and Wilson Ulster would have had a decent chance, esp with the gameplan they planned to play of slow and through the forwards to conserve energy at altitude, and 6 forwards on the bench, some there were not good enough and others still in preseason mode needing more minutes. Bell as defense coach should have been gone last season, never mind still here this season, need a dedicated attack coach as well. Lions on the other hand were match fit and sharp and used to playing together with 17 of the 23 playing in the Currie cup final the week before, and looked well drilled and not making early season mistakes the other URC sides will be.
@Kingshu: yes Ulster certainly looked off from what I’m used to seeing. Better luck next week, bulls were very poor by their standards especially at set piece against Edinburgh and were fortunate to pull through in the last quarter but guess each side will get better as we get into the season and key or injured players return ..
@Stuart: I think Ulster are at something of a crossroads. Guys like Sheridan and Izzy should now on performance be usurping guys like Treadwell and dare I say it O’Connor. Similarly McCormick has done enough to oust John Andrew for me and Stewart Moore misses too many tackles. Bench impact was great and Morgan looks decent. Certainly don’t begrudge the lions the result and good luck to them. Thought we should have got a second BP though
Some encouraging signs, but a poor performance from the Ulster pack.
Lions well worth the win. Unsurprising to see another of Ray’s predictions hitting the wall, Ulster getting the bonus point ruining his assertion that they would leave S.A. with zero points. Punditry definitely not your strong point, fella. :)
@David Osborne: I said if they play like they did against Glasgow they would leave with zero points. They were marginally better in attack. Besides my bankers for the weekend Chelsea are on fire. Scoring goals for fun.
@Ray Ridge: 99 percent people would think chelsea would win today nothing to do with bankers
Nonsense Ray, Ulster not great last week but put up a better defensive performance against Glasgow than what we saw from them today. Missing Izzy, Sheridan, Wilson as forward support. ( I’m not quite sure why these lads were not allowed to be in the Ulster squad because of Ireland U21 duty, while a few U21 lads were part of the Leinster team last night..?
Strong finish but well beaten today
So poor again this week. Is there no one up there able to kick a conversion. It’s going to be a long season for ulster.
@Ray Ridge: Ross Byrne
@Stuart Z Quinn: He was hopeless last night also.
There are plenty of things that Ulster need to get better at, but one of the most frustrating ones is the amount of rips/steals they concede. It’s like they give up their lunch money to the school bully every week. Hold on to the bloody ball!