Bok in beast mode as Harlequins smash Ulster
MATCH REPORT: Harlequins boosted their hopes of earning a home tie for the Round of 16 with a 47-19 win over Ulster in Round Four of the Champions Cup on Saturday.
Harlequins outscored Ulster seven tries to three.
Springbok star Andre Esterhuizen crossed the white chalk and set up the team’s first try, while Louis Lynagh came off the bench to score a brace of tries.
Lynagh was not included in the original 23, but came in as a late change and was on the field within 15 minutes, scoring both of his tries before the break.
Flyhalf Marcus Smith converted all but one as he added 12 points to the team’s tally.
It was a poor opening 40 minutes from Ulster, who only had themselves to blame as they headed in 7-21 down at the break.
A quick line-out saw wing Nick David race away for the game’s first score, with Lynagh then scoring a stunning try as he ran through flyhalf Billy Burns before kicking and chasing down the ball.
He was helped by a fortuitous bounce which took the ball out of the hands of wing Jacob Stockdale, and it was deja vu for the home side’s third score when Lynagh gathered another lose ball after wing Robert Baloucoune failed to bring the ball under control.
Ulster did manage to get over through flank David McCann, scrumhalf John Cooney converting, as the Ulstermen exploited a man advantage with David in the sin bin.
The bonus point for Harlequins was sewn up seven minutes into the second period, scrumhalf Danny Care spotting a gap and racing through, with centre Andre Esterhuizen, David (his second), and flank Will Evans also adding second-half scores for the home side.
Ulster showed little fight, but centre Stuart McCloskey and Stockdale did get over to restore some pride, Nathan Doak kicking the extras.
Harlequins’ hopes of a home tie depend on what Bath can do against Stade Toulousain on Sunday, while Ulster’s hopes of remaining in the competition depend on the result of Cardiff against Racing 92.
The scorers:
For Harlquins:
Tries: David 2, Lynagh 2, Care, Esterhuizen, Evans
Cons: Smith 5
For Ulster:
Tries: McCann, McCloskey, Stockdale
Cons: Cooney, Doak
Yellow card: Nick David (Harlequins, 7)
Teams
Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Nick David, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cameron Anderson, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (captain), 7 Will Evans, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Will Collier, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Sam Riley, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Archie White, 21 Will Porter, 22 Lennox Anyanwu, 23 Louis Lynagh.
Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 David McCann, 6 Matty Rea, 5 Iain Henderson (captain), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Marcus Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Luke Marshall, 23 Will Addison.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie (France), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)
