Early Stockdale Try Sets Ulster Up For Swansea Success

Winning away from home for only the second time in 2020, Ulster impressively dispatched the Ospreys 24-12 at the Liberty Stadium with Jacob Stockdale and Marcell Coetzee both performed strongly.

Full-back Stockdale got the visitors’ first try and talismanic number 8 Coetzee the second, and the international duo were a relentless force around the pitch all evening – carrying hard and consistently making metres with ball in hand.

The boot of Stephen Myler kept the Ospreys in touch, but John Cooney slid over for a brilliant 72nd-minute breakaway score to seal the win, despite captain Iain Henderson’s late red card, as Ulster made it two from two to start the campaign.

Giving his reaction afterwards, their head coach Dan McFarland said: “I thought we did well. There are parts of the game we need to work on but we have shown we are capable of putting in good performances and winning away from home.

“I could not see the actual detail (sending-off) but it looks to me as if he has clipped his chin and, by the letter of the law, that’s a red card.

“Hendy doesn’t have a malicious bone in his body and it’s unfortunate for him because it would have been a total accident.”

Ulster battered at the Ospreys door in the early stages and, with seven minutes on the clock, Stockdale took a perfect line from full-back to collect a flat Ian Madigan pass and charge over for the opening try.

Led by skipper Justin Tipuric, hurrying and harassing the visitors, the Ospreys gained a foothold and the Wales back rower won a turnover at the breakdown, allowing Myler to slot the subsequent penalty for 7-3.

Cooney cancelled that out with a three-pointer of his own but after the Ulster scrum half saw a long range penalty attempt drift wide, Myler made no mistake from the tee on the stroke of half-time to narrow the deficit to 10-6.

Ulster started the second half strongly, Stockdale making a number of marauding carries and brushing defenders aside. It was the ever-menacing Coetzee who got their second try, driving over from a few metres out after replacement Eric O’Sullivan had taken a couple of nice lines.

At 17-6 down, the Ospreys needed a response and Myler delivered a third penalty, while Cooney’s second missed kick of the game on the hour mark provided the hosts further succour.

Although McFarland’s charges looked far more threatening in attack, Myler’s reliable boot steadily edged the Welshmen closer, his fourth penalty bringing them within a score at 17-12 down.

However, Ulster finally sealed the win with seven minutes to go thanks to a brilliant long-range score involving direct running and some smart and timely distribution.

Coetzee picked up off the back of a scrum and fired out a long pass before Madigan fed the lightning-quick Rob Lyttle to break through the defensive line. He popped the ball off to the supporting Cooney, who was able to outpace the pursuing defenders and successfully ground the ball.

The Dubliner added the conversion for a 12-point advantage and even Henderson’s late red card – for a high shove into the chin of Dan Evans at a ruck – failed to derail the province. However, it does leave a question mark over his availability for Ireland’s upcoming Tests.