A PRECIOUS AWAY victory has breathed new life into Ulster’s faltering Champions Cup campaign as they produced an enterprising and thoroughly professional performance to get the better of Harlequins and the wintery conditions at the Twickenham Stoop.
Man of the match John Cooney kicked four penalties and Jacob Stockdale marked his return to an Ulster jersey with a second European try as Les Kiss’ side leapfrogged Wasps into second in Pool 1.
With snow falling throughout the game, it was always going to be a scrappy and disjointed contest but the visitors were superb in defence and they came out on top in nearly every facet.
Ulster were full value for a victory which keeps them in the hunt in Europe ahead of next Friday’s return leg at Kingspan Stadium and were led by Iain Henderson with Cooney, Stockdale and Charles Piutau all influential, although the latter butchered a gilt-edge try-scoring opportunity in the second period.
“We knew we had to play well today,” Cooney said afterwards. “We wanted to show heart, we wanted to show fight and we had to in those conditions. We know we have to back it up as it’s a quick turnaround.”
The opening quarter was riddled with mistakes as both sides struggled to adapt to the conditions, but Cooney got Ulster up and running from the tee after six minutes as they enjoyed some early dominance at the set-piece.
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That was to continue throughout the game as the visitors got the better of Harlequins around the fringes and although Cooney missed a second penalty attempt after 19 minutes, he created the opening for the breakthrough try.
Chris Henry and Jacob Stockdale celebrate victory. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The scrum-half showed electric pace to burst clear of the ‘Quins defence with a 35 metre run, and a couple of phases later, Stockdale managed to duck under the bodies in the corner. Cooney missed the conversion, but Ulster led 8-0 at the break.
A response from the hosts was inevitable, and they pummelled the Ulster line for large periods of the second half before Kyle Sinckler eventually broke the visitors’ resistance.
But Ulster showed great composure to thwart any ‘Quins comeback and managed to reaffirm their dominance up front to win a series of three penalties which Cooney converted.
Harlequins scorers:Tries: Kyle Sinckler Conversions: Marcus Smith [0 from 1] Penalties:Ulster scorers:
Tries: Jacob Stockdale Conversions: John Cooney [0 from 1]
Penalties: John Cooney [4 from 5]
HARLEQUINS: 15. Mike Brown, 14. Charlie Walker, 13. Alofa Alofa, 12. Jamie Roberts, 11. Tim Visser, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Elia Elia, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. George Merrick, 5. Charlie Matthews, 6. Renaldo Bothma, 7. Chris Robshaw, 8. Mat Luamanu.
Replacements: 16. Dave Ward, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Phil Swainston, 19. Dino Lamb, 20. Archie White, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Winston Stanley, 23. Ross Chisholm.
ULSTER: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Craig Gilroy, 13. Tommy Bowe, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. John Cooney; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Kieran Treadwell, 6. Iain Henderson (captain), 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Nick Timoney.
Replacements: 16. John Andrew, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Ross Kane, 19. Mattie Rea, 20. Chris Henry, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Peter Nelson, 23. Louis Ludik.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère.
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Ulster breathe new life into Champions Cup campaign with huge win at a snowy Stoop
Harlequins 5
Ulster 17
A PRECIOUS AWAY victory has breathed new life into Ulster’s faltering Champions Cup campaign as they produced an enterprising and thoroughly professional performance to get the better of Harlequins and the wintery conditions at the Twickenham Stoop.
Man of the match John Cooney kicked four penalties and Jacob Stockdale marked his return to an Ulster jersey with a second European try as Les Kiss’ side leapfrogged Wasps into second in Pool 1.
With snow falling throughout the game, it was always going to be a scrappy and disjointed contest but the visitors were superb in defence and they came out on top in nearly every facet.
Ulster were full value for a victory which keeps them in the hunt in Europe ahead of next Friday’s return leg at Kingspan Stadium and were led by Iain Henderson with Cooney, Stockdale and Charles Piutau all influential, although the latter butchered a gilt-edge try-scoring opportunity in the second period.
“We knew we had to play well today,” Cooney said afterwards. “We wanted to show heart, we wanted to show fight and we had to in those conditions. We know we have to back it up as it’s a quick turnaround.”
The opening quarter was riddled with mistakes as both sides struggled to adapt to the conditions, but Cooney got Ulster up and running from the tee after six minutes as they enjoyed some early dominance at the set-piece.
That was to continue throughout the game as the visitors got the better of Harlequins around the fringes and although Cooney missed a second penalty attempt after 19 minutes, he created the opening for the breakthrough try.
The scrum-half showed electric pace to burst clear of the ‘Quins defence with a 35 metre run, and a couple of phases later, Stockdale managed to duck under the bodies in the corner. Cooney missed the conversion, but Ulster led 8-0 at the break.
A response from the hosts was inevitable, and they pummelled the Ulster line for large periods of the second half before Kyle Sinckler eventually broke the visitors’ resistance.
But Ulster showed great composure to thwart any ‘Quins comeback and managed to reaffirm their dominance up front to win a series of three penalties which Cooney converted.
HARLEQUINS: 15. Mike Brown, 14. Charlie Walker, 13. Alofa Alofa, 12. Jamie Roberts, 11. Tim Visser, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Elia Elia, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. George Merrick, 5. Charlie Matthews, 6. Renaldo Bothma, 7. Chris Robshaw, 8. Mat Luamanu.
Replacements: 16. Dave Ward, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Phil Swainston, 19. Dino Lamb, 20. Archie White, 21. Ian Prior, 22. Winston Stanley, 23. Ross Chisholm.
ULSTER: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Craig Gilroy, 13. Tommy Bowe, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Jacob Stockdale, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. John Cooney; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Alan O’Connor, 5. Kieran Treadwell, 6. Iain Henderson (captain), 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Nick Timoney.
Replacements: 16. John Andrew, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Ross Kane, 19. Mattie Rea, 20. Chris Henry, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Peter Nelson, 23. Louis Ludik.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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