Storming win over defending champs
Stormers
Ulster 35
5
ULSTER got back to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship with a thumping of defending champions the Stormers on their first visit to the Kingspan Stadium.
The province, who had lost to Benetton and Munster in their previous two URC outings, scored five tries with Nathan Doak finishing with a 13-point haul after claiming the opening score and also converting four Ulster touchdowns.
Ulster’s other try scorers were Ben Moxham, Nick Timoney, Jeff Toomaga-allen and Michael Lowry, with the Stormers only able to respond through Andre-hugo
Venter’s late consolation.
Early on, both Doak and Tom Stewart got over the Stormers’ line only for both efforts to be ruled out by referee Ian Adamson.
It took until the 14th minute before Ulster did manage to register the first score which came from Doak after a break made by Stewart Moore and was carried on by Alan O’connor and Harry Sheridan before the scrum-half dived over.
Seven minutes later Moore provided the assist for Moxham to race over. Timoney surged over from close range after a tap and go penalty. Doak again converted to put Ulster 21-0 ahead at half-time.
The second half opened with lock Ben-jason Dixon being yellow carded for a high hit on Lowry and shortly after Ulster had their bonus point when Toomaga-allen (inset) was put in space by James Hume.
Ulster claimed their fifth try just before the hour when Duane Vermeulen and Moxham combined to feed Lowry who outran the despairing cover. This time John Cooney converted for a 35-0 lead.
Venter grabbed a consolation score for the Stormers after 76 minutes which they failed to convert.