Fired-up Ulster put Dragons to the sword
DRAGONS’ remote hopes of qualifying for next season’s European Champions Cup competition were finally extinguished as a strong Ulster side proved too strong, running out 26-22 winners at the Principality Stadium.
Due to the poor state of their Rodney Parade, Dragons have been forced to play their last three home league fixtures at the national ground.
Dragons needed to win them all to stand any chance of qualification but they fell at the first hurdle as Ulster surprisingly fielded a near first-choice side despite them having no chance of progressing to the Pro14 final after last week’s defeat to Leinster.
Stewart Moore scored two of Ulster’s tries, Alby Mathewson and John Andrew the others, with Michael Lowry adding three conversions.
Ollie Griffiths, Jonah Holmes and Rio Dyer scored Dragons’ tries, with Sam Davies kicking a penalty and a conversion. Josh Lewis added a conversion.
Elsewhere, Connacht were narrowly beaten by Edinburgh 1415 at home after a last-gasp try.
Tries from Sean O’Brien and Shane Delahunt, both converted by Jack Carty, saw Andy Friend’s men lead 14-5 at half-time – Edinburgh’s try coming from Magnus Bradbury.
However, Jarrad Butler’s red card for a high tackle invited the visitors back in and they scored via a try, conversion and penalty from out-half Nathan Chamberlain, sealing the win with a converted touchdown in the last play of the game.
Meanwhile, Munster confirmed last night that back five forward Fineen Wycherley has been discharged from the University of Limerick Hospital and has suffered ‘no significant’ spinal injury.
Wycherley sustained what looked to be a serious back injury during Munster’s win over Scarlets in Thomond Park on Friday night.
He was forced to leave the field in Limerick on a medical cart after play was stopped for eight minutes.
However, Munster announced last night that the Cork man was out of hospital having avoided spinal damage and will be assessed again tomorrow.