Hello,
And welcome along to our coverage of the second URC interpro battle taking place this evening. For those of you who have been with us during the Leinster-Munster showdown, welcome back and thanks for staying with us.
And to the newcomers who are here for the updates of the Ulster v Connacht game, we hope you enjoy what’s on the way at Kingspan Stadium. The visitors are hoping to keep their good start in the competition on the road this evening, while Ulster head coach Richie Murphy will be coming up against his son, Ben.
We’ll have team line-ups for you shortly as we edge closer to the 8pm kick-off.
Here’s the Ulster team:
15. Ethan McIlroy
14. Werner Kok
13. Stewart Moore
12. Jude Postlethwaite
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Aidan Morgan
9. John Cooney
1. Andrew Warwick
2. John Andrew
3. Tom O’Toole
4. Iain Henderson (Captain)
5. Kieran Treadwell
6. David McCann
7. Sean Reffell
8. Nick Timoney
Replacements:
16. James McCormick
17. Callum Reid
18. Corrie Barrett
19. Alan O’Connor
20. Marcus Rea
21. Nathan Doak
22. Ben Carson
23. Mike Lowry
And here’s the Connacht selection:
15. Santiago Cordero
14. Mack Hansen
13. Piers O’Conor
12. Bundee Aki
11. Shayne Bolton
10. Josh Ioane
9. Ben Murphy
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Joe Joyce
5. Josh Murphy
6. Cian Prendergast (Captain)
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Paul Boyle
Replacements
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Temi Lasisi
19. Oisín Dowling
20. David O’Connor
21. Caolin Blade
22. Cathal Forde
23. Conor Oliver
And you should also have a read of this piece by our own Gavan Casey to get warmed up.
Connacht ‘reduce the number of ideas in the room’ in pursuit of more Jekyll and less Hyde
Kick-off! Ulster v Connacht
2 mins: Ulster 0-0 Connacht
Ulster find the corner through the boot of Aidan Morgan from an early penalty. They engage the maul from the lineout
TRY! Ulster 7-0 Connacht (John Andrew ’2)
3 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht
What a start from the hosts?
The hooker John Andrew bundles over the line from the maul and John Cooney slots over the conversion. Over to Connacht to see what they can throw back in response.
5 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht
Dave Heffernan penalised for not throwing a lineout straight and there could be more trouble for Connacht fans as Bundee Aki is down requiring treatment.
6 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht
He seems to be ok though. Josh Ioane finds touch from a penalty and now Connacht are back in Ulster territory.
7 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht
Another Connacht penalty in a tasty position. Finlay Bealham is also down getting treatment as is Seán O’Brien but they both look good to continue.
8 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht
Connacht scrum as an attempted pass hits off the referee. It materialises into a Connacht penalty and they’re inches from the line after a tap and go.
TRY! Ulster 7-5 Connacht (Shayne Bolton ’11)
14 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht
Connacht get on the board as Shayne Bolton flies in at the corner after a brilliant looping pass from Josh Ioane.
Ulster had pushed Connacht back and it looked like the might turn them over, but Connacht released possession out to Ioane who fired the ball over to Bolton for the finish. Ioane missed the conversion, meaning Ulster still hold the slender lead.
15 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht
Connacht win another penalty through Paul Boyle as Ulster suffer a blow with the withdrawal of Iain Henderson.
Ioane fails to find touch, but Connacht still have possession. They’re back at the Ulster 22 again.
17 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht
Bolton almost in for another try but gets pulled over into touch. A misplaced pass then sees Ulster make a big break which brings them to the corner. They’re on the maul again.
18 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht
Morgan sets them up for another lineout. They knock at the door a few times, and they think they’re over. We’re going to the TMO.
TRY! Ulster 12-5 Connacht (Jude Postlethwaite ’20)
21 mins: Ulster 12-5 Connacht
Replays show that the score is good and it’s Jude Postlethwaite who gets the vital touch after a few blasts at the Connacht line. Cooney misses the conversion as the rain starts pouring down.
John Andrew’s try
2 nóim #ULSvCON@UlsterRugby - 7@connachtrugby - 0
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 12, 2024
An chéad úd don chluiche faighte ag na hUltaigh le John Andrew ag trasnú an líne
Ulster gets the first try of the game as John Andrew touches down@URCOfficial @IrishRugby #IrishRugby #URC #WildeAparthotels #Wilde pic.twitter.com/IhLioGIH84
Shanye Bolton’s try for Connacht
10 nóim #ULSvCON@UlsterRugby - 7@connachtrugby - 5
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 12, 2024
Freagra maith ag na Connachtaigh le Shayne Bolton ag aimsiú an úd sa gcoirneáil
Great answer from Connacht as Shayne Bolton gets the try in the corner@URCOfficial @IrishRugby #IrishRugby #URC #WildeAparthotels #Wilde pic.twitter.com/RfN6iyV35r
TRY! Ulster 19-5 Connacht (Cooney ’27)
28 mins: Ulster 19-5 Connacht
John Cooney spots a gap in the Connacht line and sprints with the ball from the ruck and heads directly for the posts, brushing off the challenge of Mack Hansen as he goes. Richie Murphy’s side are starting to take control of the tie as Connacht are hurting themselves with poor kicks out of defence.
30 mins: Ulster 19-5 Connacht
Connacht penalty after some encouraging play and good caries. There was one wayward pass out wide to Bolton but they quickly regrouped to push into Ulster territory.
TRY! Ulster 19-10 Connacht (Joe Joyce ’30)
32 mins: Ulster 19-10 Connacht
Ulster have been reduced to 14 players as Werner Kok is sent to the bin for attacking the player in the air during the kick-off. Ioane’s conversion went wide a few moments before that.
39 mins: Ulster 19-10 Connacht
Great turnover from Ulster as Connacht are punished for being carless in possession. A brilliant Stewart Moore tackle gives them a scrum.
TRY! Ulster 19-17 Connacht
Half-Time! Ulster 19-17 Connacht
Ulster 19-17 Connacht
What a first half?
Six tries in all, three for each side. Some brilliant attacking play, and clever moves. Ben Murphy, who has been catching the eye in this competition, brings the half to a close with a super run from a lineout through a tight gap against his father’s side. Josh Ioane squeezed his conversion between the posts after missing the other two from the same side.
Shayne Bolton and Joy Joyce got the other Connacht tries in the first period while John Andrew, Jude Postlethwaite and John Cooney crossed over for Ulster. Cooney has two conversions from three attempts.
The quality has been really high despite the horrible conditions.
20 nóim #ULSvCON@UlsterRugby - 12@connachtrugby -5
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 12, 2024
Jude Postlethwaite ag aimsiú an spás chun an liathróid a thalamhú
Jude Postlethwaite squeezes through the gap to get the try@URCOfficial @IrishRugby #IrishRugby #URC #WildeAparthotels #Wilde pic.twitter.com/SiZ1UUfdap
27 nóim #ULSvCON@UlsterRugby - 19@connachtrugby - 5
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 12, 2024
Iar imreoir Cúige Chonnacht John Cooney, ag ritheacht thríd chun an úd a aimsiú
Ex Connacht player John Cooney runs through to get the try@URCOfficial @IrishRugby #IrishRugby #URC #WildeAparthotels #Wilde pic.twitter.com/2sTR4oJl1V
Second Half: Ulster 19-17 Connacht
41 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht
Penalty for Connacht as Paul Boyle earns the turnover in the breakdown. And it looks like the penalty has been brought forward for an infringement as Werner Kok’s sinbin comes to an end.
Ulster 19-17 Connacht
Seán O’Brien looked to have gone over for Connacht, and the referee awarded a try. But after consulting with the TMO, the decision was reversed as he was held up. Score remains the same, but Connacht have possession again from the kick-off.
46 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht
And now it’s Ulster’s turn to try and get a score after a brilliant grubber kick from Jacob Stockdale which puts the Connacht defence under pressure. The ball eventually trickles out into touch.
Ulster try to maul their way through but Connacht do well to hold them up and it’s a scrum to the visitors.
48 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht
Huge mistake from Ben Murphy as he knocks the ball on from the scrum. A scrap forms on the touchline for a few moments, but crucially, Ulster have the ball back.
The referee calls both captains in and advises that a penalty is being given against Hansen for his part in the scrap.
Ulster are in the corner and it’s maul time again.
49 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht
Connacht push them back but it’s a penalty for Ulster. To make matters worse for Connacht, Josh Murphy has been sent to the bin with a yellow card.
TRY! Ulster 24-17 Connacht (David McCann ’50)
53 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht
Ulster have some breathing space again as David McCann leaps across to give his side the bonus point. Cooney’s kick trails wide.
54 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht
Connacht’s handling has been poor in the second half. They’re inviting pressure from Ulster with their passing and Ulster are pushing them back when they commit these errors.
But they get a penalty which Ioane uses to bring them back into Ulster’s half.
57 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht
A knock on gifts possession back to Ulster to put in for a scrum. Ulster make a change as Nathan Doak replaces Morgan.
54 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht
Good work from Bolton in the kick-chase and gets up to apply sufficient pressure on the kick. And Connacht will have a lineout in an inviting position.
TRY! Ulster 24-24 Connacht (Dylan Tierney-Martin ’61)
64 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht
We’re level in Kingspan!
It’s another profit from the maul as Dylan Tierney-Martin scores from the lineout. Ioane knocks over the extras and we’re all square with less than 20 minutes to go.
64 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht
Ulster are penalised for being ahead of the kicker on the kick-off, resulting in a scrum. But again, Connacht are sloppy in possession and end up getting pushed back.
66 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht
Ulster get punished for not moving away and Connacht look to be gaining a foothold in this game. Bealham has a nasty cut on his eye and will need to go off to get treatment.
68 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht
Clever play from Connacht as they attempt to score from a grubber kick from Santiago Cordero. They almost pull it off but Doak slides across to collect the ball and while Hansen comes in to try and get possession back, he’s penalised. Ulster kick the ball clear with relief.
71 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht
Connacht work through the phases and set up a kick forward from Ioane. But it goes nowhere and Ulster find touch with the return from Stewart Moore.
71 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht
Connacht concede a needless free for not getting into the lineout in time and a high tackle by Josh Murphy results in a penalty.
72 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht
It gets worse for Connacht as it’s a red card for Murphy.
72 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht
Cooney reclaims the lead for Ulster with the resultant kick.
74 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht
Ioane tries to accelerate through a gap in the Ulster line but gets smothered up by Nick Timoney. But it’s a high tackle and the referee brings it back for a penalty.
74 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht
Ioane aims for the corner but it’s a terrible kick and his attempt is way off and goes out over the end line.
75 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht
Ulster work the ball across the line and start clocking up the phases. Mike Lowry gets forward with a clever step and Ulster work the move across to the other channel trying to find Ethan McIlroy at the corner. It goes out to touch.
TRY! Ulster 32-24 Connacht (Nick Timoney ’78)
78 mins: Ulster 32-24 Connacht
Nick Timoney breaks through from the back of the maul and Ulster get the prize that move deserved. Cooney misses the conversion but it matters little as that’s the winning of the game.
Connacht have completely regressed in the last 10 minutes. A combination of unforced errors, Murphy’s red card and poor kicking has allowed Ulster to take advantage.
80 mins: Ulster 32-27 Connacht
Ioane kicks a penalty between the posts for a final bit of grace for Connacht.
Full-Time! Ulster 32-27 Connacht
Ulster 32-27 Connacht
That’s a wrap from the Kingspan Stadium.
It was Ulster’s night after an absorbing game where they secured a bonus point with a clinical display. Connacht will have plenty of regrets from that performance although they will go home with two bonus points after scoring four points and staying within seven points of the winners.
There’s a winning bonus point for Ulster too as John Andrew, Jude Postlethwaite, John Cooney, David McCann and Nick Timoney all supplied tries to round off a deserved win.
