Ulster 19
Wasps 9
Ryan Bailey reports from Kingspan Stadium
AFTER BATTERING AWAY at a black wall for the best part of an hour, it was Jacob Stockdale — the young winger fast becoming Ulster’s go-to guy — who provided the moment of inspiration to swing this error-strewn arm wrestle definitively in the favour of the hosts.
Just like he did in last week’s narrow inter-pro victory over Connacht, Stockdale set an otherwise tense and tight game alight with two superb pieces of individual quality to propel the northern province to an opening night win amidst a thunderous Ravenhill atmosphere.
Christian Lealiifano’s two late penalties also ensured Wasps, consigned to a fifth consecutive defeat of the season here, left empty-handed after an indisciplined display which saw them concede 13 penalties and finish the game with 14 men after Josh Bassett’s late sin-binning for a recklessly high tackle on Louis Ludik.
The hosts had the game won by that stage, but the final whistle was greeted with a palpable roar of relief from the natives as Les Kiss’ side kick-started their European campaign thanks to a strong second-half display and scores from the outstanding Stockdale and Stuart McCloskey.
It wasn’t a classic curtain-raiser by any means with Ulster unable to generate any sort of momentum or go-forward ball during a fractured and frustrating opening 40 minutes, largely down to the pedantic officiating of Ben Whitehouse at the set-piece.
Trailing 9-3 after 55 minutes after Elliot Daly and Jimmy Gopperth dissected the posts either side of the interval, Ulster then edged the scrap up front and struck twice in the space of as many minutes.
Firstly, Charles Piutau teared past Christian Wade before straightening and releasing Stockdale, who nipped past the covering Willie le Roux and applied a superb one-handed finish in this near corner.
Almost immediately after, he turned creator. After combing with Piutau down the left again, Stockdale then had the awareness to throw a looping offload inside for the supporting McCloskey to dive over.
Ulster’s tails were up by that juncture and Lealiifano ensured there would be no late response from Wasps, who offered little with ball in hand, with two well-struck penalties in the closing 10 minutes.
Stockdale was the standout performer, and was duly awarded his second man-of-the-match award in two weeks, but Ulster’s pack fronted up well after Wasps had initially seized supremacy at scrum time.
Piutau, too, was hugely influential against his former club while Robbie Diack and Sean Reidy really stood up in the backrow in a real ding-dong battle opposite James Haskell and Thomas Young.
Indeed, Wasps laid down an early marker of intent during the opening exchanges when their powerful pack won a penalty scrum after Kieran Treadwell’s elementary handling error in midfield.
Daly stepped up t0 arrow one between the posts from just inside the Ulster half with the sweetest of strikes, although the same can hardly be said for John Cooney’s first effort a few minutes later.
The scrum-half’s blossoming partnership with Lealiifano has been one of the real positives for Ulster so far this season, but this wasn’t his best performance as he missed three from the tee and was slow in his distribution.
He did draw Ulster level after 14 minutes from in front of the posts after Stockdale had picked a glorious line to run onto McCloskey’s pop pass back inside, only for Wade to scramble back and make a try-saving tackle.
From there, the contest became increasingly scrappy and disjointed.
Lealiifano and Nathan Hughes squared up on this near touchline before Ulster had to dig deep twice to deny Wasps from close range. On the second occasion, Henderson was immense in sacking the driving maul and ending a sustained period of pressure on the home line.
Gopperth did put the Premiership side back in front on the stroke of half-time after Kyle McCall was penalised by Whitehouse and when the former Leinster out-half landed another penalty after 47 minutes when McCloskey was off his feet, frustration levels were growing inside Kingspan Stadium.
But Ulster, 9-3 in arrears, came to life.
Denied firstly when the TMO correctly ruled Lealiifano’s effort out on 52 minutes, Ulster’s perseverance paid off from the next phase of play. Piutau exploded around the outside of Wade and Stockdale did the rest, demonstrating pace and power to get it down in the corner.
And he was bursting down the left again moments later. The ball squirmed free after Piutau had gone up to contest le Roux’s kick-chase, creating the space for Stockdale to cause further damage.
It wasn’t vintage, but it was a case of job done for Ulster.
Ulster scorers:Tries: Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey
Penalties: John Cooney [1 from 2], Christian Lealiifano [2 from 2]
Conversions: John Cooney [0 from 2]Wasps scorers:Tries:
Penalties: Elliot Daly [1 from 1], Jimmy Gopperth [2 from 2]
Conversions:
ULSTER: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. Luke Marshall (Tommy Bowe 68’), 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. John Cooney (Paul Marshall 64’); 1. Kyle McCall, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst (Rodney Ah You 64’), 4. Kieran Treadwell, 5. Iain Henderson (captain), 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Jean Deysel (Clive Ross 64’).
Replacements not used: 16. John Andrew, 17. Callum Black, 19. Matthew Rea, 22. Peter Nelson.
WASPS: 15. Willie Le Roux, 14. Christian Wade, 13. Elliot Daly, 12. Brendan Macken (Rob Miller 17’), 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. Dan Robson; 1. Matt Mullan, 2. Tom Cruse (Ashley Johnson 14’), 3. Jake Cooper-Woolley (Marty Moore 67’), 4. Joe Launchbury (captain), 5. Will Rowlands (James Gaskell 62’), 6. James Haskell, 7. Thomas Young (Jack Willis 40’), 8. Nathan Hughes.
Replacements not used: 17. Simon McIntyre, 21. Joe Simpson, 23. Marcus Watson.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU).
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