Ulster rout Cardiff to overtake Leinster a the top

MATCH REPORT: Ulster hit the top spot in the United Rugby Championship after running in seven tries to ease past Cardiff 48-12 at the Kingspan Stadium and register their sixth straight win in all competitions.

Robert Baloucoune scored twice as he crossed in each half, while James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Nick Timoney, Aaron Sexton and Tom Stewart also scored.

Cardiff’s only points came from Kirby Myhill and James Ratti tries – the latter converted by Ben Thomas.

Ulster took seven minutes to get on the scoreboard when Billy Burns’ cross-kick was picked up by Baloucoune, who scorched the scrambling Cardiff cover to score with Nathan Doak converting.

Doak then made it 10-0 five minutes later, after Willis Halaholo was sin-binned by referee Hollie Davidson.

Ulster then scored their second try when Hume intercepted a Jarrod Evans pass and ran in from his own 22 to score under the posts, with Doak again converting.

After Cardiff blew a great chance to score when Josh Turnbull knocked on, the half ended with Ulster claiming their third try from McCloskey on the stroke of half-time, but this time Doak failed to convert.

The visitors finally got off the mark when Myhill was put clear by Matthew Screech, though Evans – who began the move – missed the conversion.

Three minutes later, Ulster celebrated their try bonus when Timoney used his power to drive through with Doak again converting and – after 53 minutes – Baloucoune claimed his second score of the night after a burst from Stewart Moore as John Cooney added the extras.

Try number six was scored by substitute Sexton just after the hour with Cooney failing to convert, but he was successful after Stewart claimed number seven.

Ratti then crashed over late on for Cardiff with Thomas converting and the game ended with a length-of-the-field Hume try being ruled out for a forward pass.

Player of the match

Considering he had not played fullback since school, Moore had an outstanding game at No.15.

He was assured under the high ball and created scores for others. He always looked to attack and Cardiff couldn’t deal with him.

Play of the match

Ulster’s first try was another example of Ireland squad member Baloucoune’s deadly finishing.

Burns cross-kicked over the head of Aled Summerhill and wing Baloucoune got the bounce before turning on the gas and torching Hallam Amos to score at the posts.

The scorers

For Ulster
Tries: Baloucoune 2, Hume, McCloskey, Timoney, Sexton, Stewart
Cons: Doak 3, Cooney 2
Pen: Doak

For Cardiff
Tries: Myhill, Ratti
Con: Thomas

Teams:

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

Cardiff: 15 Hallam Amos; 14 Owen Lane, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Aled Summerhill; 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Lloyd Williams; 8 James Botham, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Ellis Jenkins, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Josh Turnbull (captain), 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Brad Thyer.
Replacements: 16 Keiron Assiratti, 17 Rhys Carré, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 James Ratti, 21 Jamie Hill, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Matthew Morgan

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) & Nigel Correll (Ireland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)

Source: @URCOfficial