Snyman seals victory for Leinster, Kok scores brace for Ulster
FRIDAY WRAP: Ulster peeled off 35 unanswered second-half points as they turned a slender deficit at the break into a comprehensive 47-13 victory over Benetton.
Seeking to get back to winning ways after losing at the Lions before the international break, Ulster went ahead through Robert Baloucoune and Werner Kok tries.
They trailed 12-13 at the break as Bautista Bernasconi touched down and Jacob Umaga added the extras before the Benetton flyhalf also split the posts with two penalties in the first half at the Affidea Stadium.
However, James Hume’s converted try restored Ulster’s lead, and it was one-way traffic from then on.
Kok and Baloucoune both claimed their second scores of the night, sandwiched by a penalty try and Harry Sheridan dotting down, as Ulster claimed an impressive bonus-point victory.
Ulster’s fourth win in five matches moves them up to third in the table, while Benetton remain 10th after a fourth defeat in six outings.
*The Dragons are still awaiting their first win of the United Rugby Championship season after Leinster hit back from 5-7 down at half-time to triumph 24-10 at Rodney Parade.
Alex Soroka touched down early on to put the visitors in front but they were briefly reduced to 14 men on the half hour when Diarmuid Mangan was sent to the sin bin for repeated infractions.
Matthew Screech made sure the Dragons capitalised on their man advantage as he burrowed over under the posts after persistent pressure, with Tinus de Beer adding the extras to give the home side the lead.
Leinster then spent a few minutes with just 13 players on the field as Scott Penny was yellow-carded but they hit back in the second half thanks to a double in the corner from Josh Kelly.
Angus O’Brien’s penalty made sure Dragons were just a converted score away, but RG Snyman’s breakaway score two minutes from time secured a bonus-point victory for Leinster.
Luke McGrath became the third Leinster player to be sent to the bin late on, but it had no consequence on the result as Dragons crashed to a fourth defeat of the season.
See below for Friday’s scores and scorers!
Ulster 47-13 Benetton
For Ulster:
Tries: Baloucoune 2, Kok 2, Hume, penalty try, Sheridan
Cons: Doak 3, Flannery 2
For Benetton:
Try: Bernasconi
Con: Umaga
Pens: Umaga 2
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 David McCann, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Sam Crean.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 David Shanahan, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Stewart Moore.
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Onisi Ratave, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Filippo Drago, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Jadin Kingi, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Federico Ruzza, 3 Giosué Zilocchi, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Destiny Aminu.
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Giulio Marini, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 John Bryant, 22 Louis Werchon, 23 Leonardo Marin.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland) and Max Weston (Ireland)
TMO: David Sutherland (Scotland)
Dragons 10-24 Leinster
For Dragons:
Tries: Screech
Con: De Beer
Pen: O’Brien
For Leinster:
Tries: Soroka, Kenny 2, Snyman
Cons: H Byrne 2
Teams:
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien (captain), 14 Cai Evans, 13 David Richards, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Huw Anderson, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Mackenzie Martin, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Oli Burrows, 1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths.
Replacements: 16 Will Austin, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Owain James, 19 Levi Douglas, 20 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 21 Niall Armstrong, 22 Joe Westwood, 23 Ewan Rosser.
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Joshua Kenny, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Max Deegan (captain), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Alex Soroka, 5 Diarmuid Mangan, 4 Brian Deeny, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Jack Boyle.
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Jerry Cahir, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Josh Ericson, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Charlie Tector, 23 Ruben Moloney.
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales) and Lucas Yendle (Wales)
TMO: Chris Allison (South Africa)
