Ulster Complete ‘Quins Double With Bonus Point Blitz

John Cooney extended his remarkable European scoring record at the Twickenham Stoop as Ulster surged past Harlequins, registering their fourth straight Heineken Champions Cup victory and what could prove to be a crucial bonus point.

Man-of-the-match Cooney’s two tries and nine points from the tee brought his try tally after four rounds to four – joint-top in the tournament with Racing 92’s Teddy Thomas – and his overall points haul to 54, putting him ahead of previous leader Dan Biggar of Northampton Saints (46 points).

More importantly still, additional tries from Luke Marshall, Matt Faddes and Tom O’Toole eased Ulster to a 34-10 triumph and over the bonus point threshold. Dan McFarland’s men have extended their Pool 3 lead to six points ahead of Sunday’s match involving second-placed Clermont Auvergne and Bath.

An early shoulder injury to Billy Burns saw the out-half soldier on after treatment, and following some impressive pacy passing from both sides in midfield, Ulster made a sixth-minute breakthrough courtesy of a well-placed Cooney penalty goal.

The next penalty, for a scrum infringement from ‘Quins, was put into touch by Burns as Ulster looked to capitalise on a solid period of pressure, but a marginal knock-on from Kieran Treadwell put paid to the resulting attack.

However, a steal at a ‘Quins lineout, followed by a defensive offside as the visitors pressed forward, gave Ulster a second bite at a close-range rolling maul, but it was foiled by a slight knock-on as the pack drove forward.

Approaching the half hour mark, Ulster had enjoyed roughly three quarters of both possession and territory, but, frustratingly, had little to show for it – and were almost left ruing their missed opportunities when Stephan Lewies burst into the 22, only for the ball to go forward in contact as the second row ploughed towards the line.

James Lang drew the sides level five minutes later with a penalty, but the parity was short-lived when Burns found a gap deep in the ‘Quins defence, exploiting the space before feeding Jacob Stockdale at exactly the right moment. Faddes then took over on the wing, finally supplying Cooney who had just enough strength to propel himself over the line and ground the ball out of a tackle.

The talismanic scrum half’s conversion brought the first half to a close with the pool leaders deservedly 10-3 to the good. With young tighthead O’Toole a late first half replacement for Martin Moore, Ulster made a bright start to the second period.

Yet, they were once again indebted to Cooney in the 43rd minute for a last-ditch tap tackle on Ross Chisholm when the ‘Quins full-back looked odds-on to finish off a counter attack with a try.

Wasting no time at all, Ulster got back on the front foot and with a penalty coming, a deft chip from Stuart McCloskey was picked up by a sliding Marshall 10 metres out, and the Ireland international had the requisite composure and presence of mind to pick up, steady himself and force his way over the line for an excellent finish.

Cooney – yet to put a foot wrong in the match – added the extras, and with Ulster now in complete control, the Dubliner showed great alertness just before the hour mark to add try number three, gathering a loose ball just inside the 22 and chasing on to touch down.

The conversion dispatched once again at 24-3, ‘Quins sprung into life with a Lewies try and Lang conversion, but with the Ulster focus on one thing only – the bonus point that had eluded them across the first three rounds – the 61st-minute concession did not cause them undue concern.

The breakthrough could have come on 74 minutes, but for a crooked throw at a five-metre lineout from replacement hooker Adam McBurney. It was still not long in coming, the visitors profiting from a ‘Quins overthrow and Faddes showed great footwork to get himself over the line from Stockdale’s pass.

Ulster were still not done, the 21-year-old O’Toole barging over for his first senior try for the province only seconds before the final whistle. The youngster’s unconverted score sealed a comprehensive win that elevates McFarland’s charges onto 17 points with two rounds to play.

Asked for his assessment of the performance afterwards, Ulster head coach McFarland said: “We adapted the way we were playing in the second half and really wrestled control in really difficult (wet) conditions. In the first half we knew Harlequins were going to be physical, we expected them to come out physical.

“And I think they took us a little bit by surprise, especially in the channel around nine. They are big men, they have some seriously big men in their forwards and we came out second best in that first half.

“The try at the end of the first half was obviously a big boost, but the way we managed the game in the second half, both territorially with the quality of our kicking there and pinning them back into the corners, but also in the fact that we managed our phase play a little bit better and squeezed out a couple of scores.”