Ulster Salvage Some Pride
Ulster bowed out of this season’s Heineken Cup by salvaging some pride against an Ospreys team who humiliated them the previous week.
After that 48-17 thrashing, they produced an improved performance tonight and may have done terminal damage to the Welsh side’s hopes of finishing top of Pool Two after Lyn Jones’ squad failed to secure a bonus point win as they chase pool leaders Gloucester.
A cleverly worked try by former All Black Justin Marshall, in the second half, ensured the Ospreys consigned Ulster to their ninth defeat in 12 games with James Hook adding the conversion and then his third penalty to give the Welsh side their third win from four in the pool.
All that remained for the home side, who have yet to appoint a coach in the wake of Mark McCall’s resignation with caretaker coach Steve Williams still in charge, was the yellow carding of Ryan Caldwell and Carlo Del Fava, though Ulster did at least keep their line intact when down to 14 men for most of the last 20 minutes of a horribly scrappy game.
The visitors got the scoreboard moving with two Hook penalties in the first quarter, but they failed to push on from there despite some promising early touches with Marshall’s exquisite blindside break nearly putting winger Nikki Walker clear.
But Ulster did respond and Heineken debutant out half Niall O’Connor slotted a 16th minute penalty to get the home side moving.
Stalemate ensued for most of the remaining first half though it took a great covering tackle from 100th cap man Matt McCullough to stop Marshall screaming through a huge gap in Ulster’s defence for what looked a certain try.
However a careless kick from Marshall then saw Ulster score in the left corner when Tommy Bowe put winger Simon Danielli clear to dive over for an unconverted try that put the home side in front at 8-6, a lead they held at the break after Hook was wide with an injury-time penalty.
Ospreys skipper Filo Tiatia put Marshall clear for his score after 51 minutes and then Hook made it 16-8 to the visitors with his 57th minute penalty with replacement Paddy Wallace wide with his sole penalty attempt, which could have given Ulster a losing bonus.