Rugby

Connacht left to rue errors as determined Ulster end losing run

Ulster climb to eighth in URC table with 17-7 win in Galway

James McCormick celebrates Ulster winning a turnover late in the game. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
James McCormick celebrates Ulster winning a turnover late in the game. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Linley MacKenzie
Sun Dec 29 2024 - 15:18
United Rugby Championship: Connacht 7 Ulster 17

Small margins, but big rewards. Ulster, in turning over Connacht in Galway, leapt into the URC top eight – denying their opponents the same opportunity.

Primed for a festive occasion, Pete Wilkins’ Connacht were disappointing despite the home advantage and now face an uphill battle having fallen into 13th place in the table with just three wins from nine.

Margins are fine in this season’s championship. Both clubs were on 18 points before kick-off at Dexcom Stadium, but now the divide has widened, putting pressure on Connacht to deliver in the second half of the season.

Connacht were not helped by the loss of hooker Dave Heffernan and Darragh Murray before kick-off, while Ulster’s John Andrew replaced Rob Herring, but an aggressive start by the visitors was a clear signal of their intent.

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Defensively Ulster dominated, and though Connacht created positions to score they struggled to keep their hands on the ball in the right areas of the pitch. Ulster were eventually rewarded for their aggressive line-speed when, after several drives to the line, Eric O’Sullivan scored a try on 11 minutes, converted by Nathan Doak.

The visitors maintained their hold on the game as Connacht struggled to get to grips with their physicality, forcing a penalty after 14 minutes. Doak stroked his kick through the posts, putting his side into a 0-10 lead.

It took Connacht 25 minutes before they were able strike up some continuity putting the ball through the hands, but it was stymied with a penalty against Aki.

Mack Hansen scores a try for Connach as Caolin Blade celebrates. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Mack Hansen scores a try for Connach as Caolin Blade celebrates. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Ulster’s defence continued to keep Connacht’s backs at bay, the home side’s superior scrum representing the best route for them to gain possession. The scrum offered Connacht some element of control, having earlier struggled with lineout possession, but again lack of accuracy and mounting mistakes hampered their efforts.

Eventually a superb kick from Jack Carty presented their chance, and Mack Hansen was in position to claim possession and race through for a try on 35 minutes, Carty adding the extras to go into the break just three behind.

Connacht upped their urgency in the second half, winning a penalty which should have provided a score, but frustratingly the final pass, with the line within reach, went into touch.

Although Carty’s super kicking kept Connacht in the game, they continued to be denied by their own lack of efficiency and Ulster’s hard-working defence. It kept the visitors on the front foot, and from a 52nd minute penalty kicked to touch, Richie Murphy’s side produced a clinical drive with Nick Timoney touching down. Doak’s conversion created a sizeable buffer which proved enough for Ulster to take the spoils.

Sean Jansen did his best to lead Connacht’s challenge when he came off the bench after 52 minutes, while replacement scrumhalf Ben Murphy added impetus – making it a special, albeit divided, evening for the Murphy family with father Richie and younger brother Jack on the winning side. But Connacht’s efforts to get back into the game were constantly frustrated, either by stout Ulster defence or their own lack of cutting edge.

Shane Jennings stood out in the Connacht backline and Mack Hansen did his best with a chip over the top near the try line, which resulted in a scrum opportunity in front of the posts in the 73rd minute, but once again Ulster prevailed, forcing the Connacht frontrow back.

It ensured Ulster secured the vital points to climb into the top eight; Connacht consigned to unlucky 13.

SCORING SEQUENCE – 11 mins: O’Sullivan try, Doak con 0-7; 14: Doak pen 0-10; 35: Hansen try, Carty con 7-10; Half-time 7-10; 54: Timoney try, Doak con 7-17.

CONNACHT: P O’Conor; M Hansen, C Forde, B Aki, S Cordero; J Carty, C Blade; D Buckley, D Tierney-Martin, F Bealham; J Murphy, N Murray; C Prendergast (capt), S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle. Replacements: O Dowling for Murphy, S Jansen for Boyle (both 52), B Murphy for Blade (58), S Jennings for Carty (60), J Aungier for Bealham, E de Buitler for Tierney-Martin, P Dooley for Buckley (all 62), C Oliver for Hurley-Langton (66).

ULSTER: M Lowry; W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, R Telfer; J Murphy, N Doak; E O’Sullivan, J Andrew, S Wilson; K Treadwell, C Izuchukwu; M Rea, N Timoney (capt), J McNabney. Replacements: J McCormick for Andrew (12-27 mins, 63), A Warwick for O’Sullivan (40), W de Klerk for Kok (41), D McCann for Rea (49), C Barrett for Wilson (63), H Sheridan for Treadwell (68).

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU).

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