Ulster manage to sneak a victory in stop-start game
- 1061
While we were expecting the weather to have a major influence on this evening's clash between these two sides, no one would have predicted a scoreless first half. 0 - 0 at half time it did not seem like we were going to get anything out of this game. But it was a great run by Stuart McCloskey in the 47th minute that opened the game up. John Cooney then slotted a penalty in the 80th minute to guarantee his side the victory.
The key performances from tonights performance were:
Stuart McCloskey - Ulster
Playing in his 100th game the 26 year old Irish put on a solid shift this evening, and it was his 47th minute try that opened up the game in the second half. McCloskey’s powerful break and neat offload to Peter Nelson broke the Ospreys’ line, and he finished off the move a phase later by diving over. He also completed an overall performance by making 13 tackles which contributed to their whitewash victory. A well deserved man of the match
Luke Morgan - Ospreys
The only positive that really came out of the Ospreys this evening was the intent shown by Luke Morgan tonight. 61 metres racked up tonight having been on the field for 61 minutes. His best attacking opportunity came in the first half when he gathered the ball outwide by tapping it over his opposite number following a grubber by one of the men on his inside.
John Cooney - Ulster
The dimunitive scrumhalf caused plenty of problems this evening for his opposition. Not only did he complete 114 passes but his sniping runs around the fringes of the ruck had the Ospreys sweating from the first whistle. He was also goood with the boot as he often put his side in good territory and did well to relieve pressure from his No.10 with his box kicks when the need came. It was his penalty conversion on the 80th minute that sealed his sides victory.