A TRY FROM Paul Marshall and 14 points from the boot of Paddy Jackson gave Les Kiss a winning start as Ulster Director of Rugby.
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Jason Tovey is tackled by Stuart McCloskey Camerasport / Craig Thomas/INPHO
Camerasport / Craig Thomas/INPHO / Craig Thomas/INPHO
The seven-point win was far from straightforward, however, as referee Dudley Phillips went to his pocket three times during the game. Stuart McCloskey was the first to see yellow for obstruction and Dorian Jones kicked the Dragons into a 9 – 0 lead in his absence.
Jackson narrowed the gap with two penalties before half-time and when Ulster piled on the pressure after the restart, Rynard Landman was sin-binned for his efforts to thwart the visitors.
The pressure eventually told for Ulster as Marshall sniped under the posts on 50 minutes.
Rory Best returned to the provincial scene soon after, but the hooker was only on the field a matter of minutes when he was ordered back to the sin-bin for handling in the ruck and Jason Tovey converted the resulting penalty to make it a one-point game.
The 14 men held firm though, Jackson stretched the lead before Best returned to the field.
And, when the Dragons’ restart didn’t go the required 10 metres, Ulster’s scrum turned the screw and set Jackson up for a 50 metre penalty.
There was more to come, but with Dragons needing a maximum score to claim a draw Ulster’s collective defensive effort had the belief to dig deep and hold them out to seal the northern province’s first away win in five attempts dating back to the April win over Connacht in Galway.
Ulster ride out two yellow cards against Dragons to end away woes
Dragons 12
Ulster 19
A TRY FROM Paul Marshall and 14 points from the boot of Paddy Jackson gave Les Kiss a winning start as Ulster Director of Rugby.
The seven-point win was far from straightforward, however, as referee Dudley Phillips went to his pocket three times during the game. Stuart McCloskey was the first to see yellow for obstruction and Dorian Jones kicked the Dragons into a 9 – 0 lead in his absence.
Jackson narrowed the gap with two penalties before half-time and when Ulster piled on the pressure after the restart, Rynard Landman was sin-binned for his efforts to thwart the visitors.
The pressure eventually told for Ulster as Marshall sniped under the posts on 50 minutes.
Rory Best returned to the provincial scene soon after, but the hooker was only on the field a matter of minutes when he was ordered back to the sin-bin for handling in the ruck and Jason Tovey converted the resulting penalty to make it a one-point game.
The 14 men held firm though, Jackson stretched the lead before Best returned to the field.
And, when the Dragons’ restart didn’t go the required 10 metres, Ulster’s scrum turned the screw and set Jackson up for a 50 metre penalty.
There was more to come, but with Dragons needing a maximum score to claim a draw Ulster’s collective defensive effort had the belief to dig deep and hold them out to seal the northern province’s first away win in five attempts dating back to the April win over Connacht in Galway.
Here’s the brilliant last-gasp CJ Stander chargedown that saved Munster from defeat in Edinburgh
Henshaw among the tries as Connacht move to the top of the table
Mike Ross’ second ever try gives Leinster win over Scarlets
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