Ulster do the double over URC leaders Leinster

URC REPORT: Ulster made it a rare double over Leinster after beating the reigning URC champions 18-13 on a rain-swept night in Belfast which brought the top two teams in the league together for this rearranged Round Nine fixture.

First-half tries from Sam Carter and Michael Lowry ensured Ulster earned themselves the four points, and their first home and away wins over the southern Irish province since 2013, with Nathan Doak kicking a conversion and penalty.

Max Deegan scored Leinster’s try, with Ross Byrne converting and adding two penalties, his second being the only score of the entire second half, the losing bonus point keeping the champions top of the table.

After eight minutes, Carter scored close in to the line to get the home side moving, with Doak converting.

Byrne narrowed UIster’s lead through a penalty four minutes later.

With the visitors looking more composed, Leinster scored next after two penalties led to pick and goes on the Ulster line with Deegan eventually scoring near the posts, allowing Byrne to convert.

The scores then ended up tied with a Doak penalty on 31 minutes.

Ulster were back in the lead shortly afterwards when Lowry and Robert Baloucoune combined with Lowry impressively surging through for an unconverted score.

The half ended with Doak going for goal after Leinster were penalised at a breakdown, with the scrum-half slotting the kick to give Ulster an 18-10 half-time lead.

Byrne slotted his second penalty of the game just one minute after the restart to cut Ulster’s lead to five points.

After that, Leinster managed to put themselves into scoring positions on several occasions but big tackles from Baloucoune and Billy Burns helped Ulster keep their line intact.

Player of the match

On a terrible night for running rugby, Michael Lowry still managed to shine.

The Ireland international was solid under the high balls that came his way and showed his ability to break into space from nothing.

He also managed a one-two with Baloucoune for Ulster’s second try.

Play of the match

Ulster’s second try was a marvellous combination between Lowry and Baloucoune.

The ball was moved to the right by Ulster with Burns feeding Lowry, who passed to Baloucoune before the wing returned the favour to give Ulster’s fullback a chance to make the line, which he took really well.

The scorers:

For Ulster:
Tries: Carter, Lowry
Con: Doak
Pens: Doak 2

For Leinster:
Tries: Deegan
Con: R Byrne
Pens: R Byrne 2

Teams:

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Stewart Moore, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Marcus Rea, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Alan O’Connor (captain), 3 Marty Moore, 2 John Andrew, 1 Andrew Warwick.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 John Cooney, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Ben Moxham.

Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Rory O’Loughlin, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 Tommy O’Brien, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 Max Deegan, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 James Tracy, 1 Ed Byrne.
Replacements: 16 Seán Cronin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Dan Leavy, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 Martin Moloney.

Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)

Source: @URCOfficial