Ulster make fine Euro start
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: An impressive second-half performance gave Ulster Rugby a convincing 24-10 win over two-time European champions Leicester Tigers at the Kingspan Stadium.
The first-half was evenly-matched between the two sides and it was fly-half George Ford – who was sin binned later on in the half – who converted a penalty kick and put the Tigers ahead at half-time.
However, it was a different story in the second 40 minutes, with the Irish province scoring a try within minutes of the restart.
Lock Al O’Connor powerful drive over the line and Cooney’s conversion put Ulster ahead and it was nearly two tries in a matter of minutes for the home side, but Iain Henderson’s effort was ruled out following a forward pass.
Former Sale Shark Will Addison scored Ulster’s second and Heineken Man of the Match, Cooney, added the extras once again.
Young full-back Michael Lowry was impressive throughout and it was his fellow back, Jacob Stockdale, who picked up from where he left off last season with a try in the corner for Ulster’s third.
Tigers centre, Manu Tuilagi, did score a consolation try with 10 minutes remaining in wet conditions but Ulster stayed ahead in Belfast.
Leicester host Scarlets next Friday at Welford Road, while Ulster travel to Paris to face last season’s finalists, Racing 92.
The scorers:
For Ulster:
Tries: O’Connor, Addison, Stockdale
Cons: Cooney 3
Pen: Cooney
For Leicester:
Try: Tuilagi
Con: Ford
Pen: Ford
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Will Addison, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Jordi Murphy, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Ross Kane, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Andrew Warwick
Replacements: 16 Adam McBurney, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Sean Reidy, 21 David Shanahan, 22 Angus Curtis, 23 Angus Kernohan
Leicester Tigers: 15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Guy Thompson, 5 Harry Wells, 4 Mike Williams, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs, 1 Greg Bateman
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 David Fe’ao, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Sam Lewis, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Gareth Owen
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant referees: Maxime Chalon (France), Jean-Luc Rebollal (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
@ChampionsCup
