A blistering second half performance ensured that Ulster’ss Heineken Champions Cup campaign got off to a winning start in very wet conditions, as tries from Alan O’Connor, Will Addison and Jacob Stockdale saw off the challenge of Leicester Tigers.
Ulster showed a marked improvement in the second half after failing to register a single point in the first 40 minutes, and expert kicking from man-of-the-match John Cooney topped up the three scores to inflict a fifth Kingspan Stadium defeat from five in European competition for Leicester.
The province’s head coach Dan McFarland welcomed three players back into the starting XV on return from injury, with Jordi Murphy, a Champions Cup winner with Leinster last season, starting at flanker, Craig Gilroy on the wing, and the versatile Addison at centre.
20-year-old Academy talent Michael Lowry stepped up to make his Champions Cup bow at full-back, while there was a long-awaited first European appearance for South African back rower Marcell Coetzee following a knee injury-blighted couple of seasons.
Tigers put the inexperienced Lowry to the test straight from the off with two high balls within the first 60 seconds, and while the youngster failed to hold the first, the second was handled better with a strong clearance to touch under pressure.
Ulster soon settled into their rhythm, however, and but for a misplaced pass straight to Leicester hands five metres from the line, could have taken the lead in the eighth minute. Then a knock-on from Lowry as Leicester continued to single the Banbridge youngster out brought a 10-metre scrum, soon followed by a penalty from the same distance, dispatched by George Ford for a 3-0 lead.
The slippery conditions ensured that there were plenty of knock-ons from both sides as the first quarter wore on, but there was nothing untidy about Ulster’s first real attack when it came on 21 minutes, Addison carving a hole in the heart of the Leicester midfield and releasing Lowry, whose dash for the line was only halted by a high tackle from Ford.
The England international’s challenge earned him 10 minutes in the sin-bin, and presented Ulster with a five-metre scrum from which Gilroy only just failed to score in the corner, the winger dragged into touch by Jonah Holmes a second before touching down.
While the Leicester penalties began to pile up, Ulster failed to make a breakthrough of any kind, and Ford returned to the pitch with no points conceded during his absence. Martin Moore soon followed the out-half into the action as a replacement for Ross Kane, before another knock – this one for Billy Burns – brought on Angus Curtis at out-half, just seconds from the interval.
Ulster, who captain Rory Best to thank for blocking a Ford drop goal attempt before half-time, returned for the second half with Burns back following his HIA, and more of a spring in their step. Two Leicester penalties in quick succession allowed their hosts to eat up the metres down the left flank, and strong driving off a five-metre lineout got lock Alan O’Connor over on 43 minutes for a crucial try.
Cooney converted, and moments from the restart looked to have been instrumental in a second Ulster score, his kick towards the corner eventually touched down by Iain Henderson after a turnover inches from the line. However, replays showed a forward pass in the build-up, and referee Pascal Gauzère ruled out the try.
Suitably jolted into action, Leicester set up camp in the Ulster 22 for a good five minutes, until two poor lineouts and a knock-on brought play back to the halfway line. Ulster then inched their way into position courtesy of set pieces, and again a try was the end result, replacement Sean Reidy breaking the defensive line before Addison wriggled over in the corner in impressive fashion.
After the extras were added by Cooney, Ulster set about trying to kill the game off with David Shanahan coming on in the 65th minute in place of Burns, with Cooney moving to out-half. Another malfunction at the visitors’ lineout almost brought Lowry his first try but the full-back was held up. When play was called back for an Ulster penalty, Cooney took the three points on offer for a 17-3 lead.
It was game, set and match to the Ulstermen in the 72nd minute when big winger Stockdale slid over in the left corner from McCloskey’s inch-perfect pass after good carrying and quick hands from Ulster – including a Henderson surge and a swift delivery from replacement prop Eric O’Sullivan before being tackled – had spread play from right to left.
Manu Tuilagi rapidly pulled one back with a fine solo effort five minutes from the end, but there was still time for a final Ulster push with a bonus point up for grabs, although possession was finally lost at the breakdown of a rolling maul.
Giving his reaction following the province’s first round victory, Ulster skipper Best said: “It was a really, really tough game. They’re a quality side and they came with big runners, and we had to front up a few times and just throw our bodies in the way of them. But I think that’s a win we can be really, really happy with.
“We haven’t seen the fruits of our labour in terms of our maul attack but I think we saw a little bit more of it tonight than probably we have this season. But we’re working really hard on it and I’ve a lot of confidence in those eight forwards, to get front-foot ball for our exciting backs, and I think a lot of it was just about having the confidence and having the courage to keep going to that corner.
“You do feel under a little bit of pressure when you don’t get points when they’re down to 14 men, but thankfully the way we went about our business in the second half, that sort of told eventually.”
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