FEELING CHAMPION

A BRACE of tries from winger Craig Gilroy helped Ulster secure top-flight European rugby for next season.

A turbulent season at Kingspan Stadium ended on a high yesterday as the home side beat the Ospreys 35-17 in their Champions Cup play-off.

John Cooney’s boot also weighed in with 15 points while Ulster’s other tries came from Jacob Stockdale and Kieran Treadwell.

The Ospreys struck first before the end of the opening quarter when Alun Wyn Jones burrowed under Kieran Treadwell and Robbie Diack to touch down after the Wales and Lions star had won a lineout.

Dan Biggar then landed a great conversion from the touchline.

Cooney narrowed their lead with a 25th-minute penalty, although by this stage Ulster – already without the injured Rory

Best and Iain Henderson – had lost Louis Ludik and Worcester-bound Callum

Black to injury.

That left Ulster without just four of their starting side, with Charles Piutau – who joins Bristol next season – and prop Ross Kane having gone off in the warm-up.

Biggar then hit the upright with a penalty after 29 minutes and five minutes later, Gilroy got on the end of a Luke Marshall chip through to dot down and Ulster had the lead 8-7, with Cooney missing a difficult conversion.

Ulster came roaring out of the blocks a minute after the restart when Cooney intercepted a pass and Johnny Mcphillips’ chip down the right wing saw Gilroy beat Biggar to the touchdown. Cooney’s excellent conversion put Ulster 15-7 ahead.

That became 22-7 in the 52nd minute after Ulster attacked off a five-metre scrum, with Treadwell driving over and Cooney slotting the conversion.

Winger Jeff Hassler then got on the end of a James Hook pass to make the corner but Biggar was off target with the conversion.

Four minutes later, Cooney’s second penalty put the home side 25-12 ahead before his third took it to 28-12.

Stockdale then intercepted a Hook pass to sprint in under the posts with Cooney converting, though the Ospreys got over with three minutes left thanks to Biggar, who hit the upright again with his drop-goal conversion.

Ospreys coach Allen Clarke said afterwards: “You have to tip your hat to Ulster in terms of the effort and the scoreline.

“But at 7-0 we have to look at ourselves - as much as we respect how Ulster played, we’re extremely disappointed with our inaccuracy.”