Morgan sent off as Ospreys unravel

OSPREYS raced into an 8-0 lead in Belfast on Friday with a move straight off the training ground but that was as good as it got for the Welshmen with Ulster cruising to a five-try victory.

Ospreys, despite having ten players away at the World Cup, were good value for their lead after eight minutes but overall it was a disappointing return to Ravenhill for head coach Allen Clarke.

Their miserable night included a red card to winger Luke Morgan and injuries to lock James King, full-back Dan Evans, outhalf Luke Price and centre Cory Allen.

The injuries paved the way for a PRO14 debut for Cai Evans, the 20-year old son of Welsh legend Ieuan, but it was a poor finishafter such a good start when Price put Dan Evans through to slice the home defence.

“We were not surprised by the score,” said Ospreys forwards coach Hogg. “It’s a set move which challenges most defences – a cut-back play that isolates the first two defenders.

“It worked as it’s planned to work, but we needed to do more.”

Price failed to add the conversion to an earlier penalty but Ulster didn’t panic and they took control with former Gloucester out-half Billy Burns dictating matters.

Craig Gilroy crowned his first match back from injury in 11 months with a try-double as Dan McFarland’s men took charge.

They led 21-14 at the break with Gilroy striking for a good try after 14 minutes following a superb crosskick from Burns to cut the early deficit to 8-5.

Price extended Ospreys lead but big pressure resulted in a first Ulster try for Greg Jones, a late replacement after Jordi Murphy was withdrawn as cover for the injured Jack Conan in Japan.

Morgan was sin-binned for offside and Ulster took advantage with Jones bulldozing his way through the defence and over the line from Cooney’s pass.

Ulster finished the half in style when Kiwi fullback Matt Faddes marked his debut with a try in the right corner, and after the break another cross-kick from Burns put Gilroy through for his second try.

Ospreys finished with 14 when winger Morgan picked up a second yellow card for obstruction and the penalty try awarded. Their misery was compounded when scrum-half Matthew Aubrey dotted down under the posts in the final action of the game but his ‘try’ was disallowed for a forward pass earlier in the move.

“It’s excellent to get a bonus point win as Ospreys have one of the best defences over the past few years,” said Ulster coach McFarland.

“It’s a long season, there will be dips in form, but you have to ride all that and get enough points to qualify for the play-off spots.”