Rugby

Sensational second half by Ulster earns Euro victory honours

Ulster Rugby's Jacob Stockdale  at yesterday press conference in Kingpan Picture by Hugh Russell.
Ulster Rugby's Jacob Stockdale at yesterday press conference in Kingpan Picture by Hugh Russell. Ulster Rugby's Jacob Stockdale at yesterday press conference in Kingpan Picture by Hugh Russell.

A SENSATIONAL second-half display lifted spirits on an otherwise miserable Saturday night at Kingspan Stadium and earned Ulster the winning start they so desperately needed as they opened their European Champions Cup account with a 24-10 victory over Leicester Tigers.

The result kept Ulster's 100 per cent European home record against the English side intact but prospects of a fifth successive win in Belfast were hanging in the balance at half-time.

Ulster were trailing 3-0 to a George Ford penalty and not getting much change form a resolute Tigers' defence even when they were a man down after the England fly-half was binned early on.

However, the transformation after the break, with the rain becoming heavier, was spectacular as tries from Alan O'Connor, Will Addison and Jacob Stockdale, along with four successful kicks from man-of-the-match John Cooney secured a crucial win.

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland, who like several of his players was making his European debut with the club, was understandably delighted at the outcome.

It was just the boost the province needed after back-to-back PRO14 defeats to Munster and Connacht and while the performance was by no means perfect, the English man was in a positive mood.

"I am pleased with the result obviously, I thought the lads put in a great effort this evening and we have improved in a number of areas," McFarland said.

"There are a couple of areas that we need to improve more on as well. But, yeah, pleased with the result. I still think we have to improve in the opposition 22. I think we turned the ball over nine times in their 22 in the first half.

"That tells you two things, one we are doing something right, and two we are doing something very wrong. That is something we have to improve on.

"It's always good to win so we'll enjoy it. We conceded only nine penalties. I was really pleased with that and we held our discipline even when we were under pressure."

Leicester, in contrast gave up 16 penalties and their indiscipline eventually cost them as Ulster capitalised after enjoying the bulk of the possession and territory in the second-half.

O'Connor started the comeback shortly after the interval when he went over from a driving maul and then Sean Reidy and Stuart McCloskey provided the assists for Addison and Stockdale to kill the game off.

With the game already won, Ulster pressed for a fourth try near the end in search of a bonus-point but were unsuccessful with a couple of driving mauls after opting to kick two penalties into touch.

Instead, it was Leicester who were last to score as Manu Tuilagi touched down late on but Ulster captain Rory Best was satisfied with the four points as his team put their recent poor form behind them.

"Obviously, you don't want the extra point we didn't get to come back and haunt you in January," said the 36-year-old hooker.

"But I'm happy with the four points from a game played in very difficult conditions and the fact we denied them any.

"We had talked during the week about improving our discipline and limiting our penalty count and we had also worked on our forward play, especially the maul.

"That hard work paid off and the boys really fronted up against a very good Leicester side."

Ulster (0) 24 Leicester (3) 10

Ulster: Tries: O'Connor, Addison, Stockdale. Cons: Cooney 3.

Pens: Cooney.

Ulster: Lowry, Gilroy, Addison, McCloskey, Stockdale, Burns,

Cooney, Warwick, Best, Kane, O'Connor, Henderson, Coetzee,

Murphy, Timoney.

Replacements: O'Sullivan for Warwick (51),

McBurney for Best (74), Treadwell for O'Connor (58),

Reidy for Murphy (51).

Not Used: Moore, Shanahan, Curtis, Kernohan.

Leicester: Tries: M. Tuilagi. Cons: G. Ford. Pens: G. Ford.

Leicester: Holmes, Thompstone, M. Tuilagi, Eastmond, Olowofela,

G. Ford, B. Youngs, Bateman, T. Youngs, Cole, Williams, Wells,

Thompson, O'Connor, Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Owen for M. Tuilagi (79),

Toomua for Eastmond (58), Harrison for B. Youngs (58),

Feao for Bateman (63), Polota-Nau for T. Youngs (54),

Heyes for Cole (69), Reffell for O'Connor (60).

Not Used: Lewis.

Sin Bin: G. Ford (22).

Ref: Pascal Gauzere (France).