Ulster dispatch Dragons with ease
MATCH REPORT: Ulster ran in six times in a season-opening 42-21 United Rugby Championship victory over Dragons.
The Welsh visitors got off to the perfect start with a converted try from Aaron Wainwright inside the opening minute, but the home side finished as comfortable winners, with Nathan Doak scoring 15 points.
Doak converted Cormac Izuchukwu’s 12th-minute try as Ulster drew level but Jared Rosser quickly put the Dragons back in front, Tinus de Beer again kicking the two points.
Ulster finished the first half in control, though, thanks to tries from Nick Timoney, Dave McCann and Zac Ward, securing the bonus point.
Doak then converted his own try two minutes after the break before Shane Lewis-Hughes ended the run of points against Dragons with a try in the 49th minute.
No further scores were added for half an hour until Tom Stewart had the final say with an added-time sixth for the home side.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Izuchukwu), Timoney, McCann, Ward, Doak, Stewart
Cons: Doak 5, Flannery
For the Dragons
Tries: Wainwright, Rosser, Lewis-Hughes
Cons: De Beer 3
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Zac Ward, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Harry Sheridan, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Callum Reid.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Juarno Augustus, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ben Carson.
Dragons: 15 Angus O’Brien (co-captain), 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Harrison Keddie, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ben Carter (co-captain), 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Rob Hunt, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Rodrigo Martinez, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Levi Douglas, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Che Hope, 22 Fine Inisi, 23 Huw Anderson.
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Chris Allison (South Africa)
