Bath and Underhill run into Ulster brick wall
SAM Underhill slumped slowly off the Recreation Ground having been left battered, beaten and bowed again by another rigid defensive brick wall which simply refused to crack.
In Tokyo it was the South Africa resistence which resulted in Underhill and Co feeling defeated and despondent. This time it was Ulster’s dense white back line which stood strong and firm, and ensured Bath, like England, came up short in a crucial contest.
However, despite the frustrating and potential critical opening home Pool 3 Champions Cup loss, Bath boss Stuart Hooper praised Underhill and the other two returning World Cup men Jonathan Joseph and Ruaridh McConnochie
Ulster scrum-half John Cooney scored 12 points for Ulster including a first half try while replacement Gabriel Hamer-Webb crossed for Bath who will now have to bounce back at Harlequins next Saturday.
Hooper said: “The guys who came back in after being in Japan performed as well as expected. It was great to have them back in a Bath jersey and out there playing. Sam has put his body on the line in the World Cup for England and he did the same for us out there today. He is committed to doing a great job for us.
“Our accuracy cost us. We could have scored a try in the final few seconds but we are disappointed with our attack. We let ourselves down.
“It’s a blow but we can still get the points needed to qualify for the next stage if we play as well as we can on the road.”
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland said: “You can’t hope for a better start to the pool than winning at a place like this.
“It wasn’t a vintage display but we are more than happy with the points and the foundation for better things to come.”
Ulster’s defence stood firm for almost 80 minutes, defying Bath’s attempt to find gaps and the Irish outfit slowed the game down to the pace they preferred, leaving their English rivals failing to get momentum or dominance.
Cooney created and finished the first try. He blocked rival No.9 Will Chudley’s attempted kick towards the Ulster line, collected the ball and ran half the length of the field for a try he then converted.
Freddie Burns responded with two penalties to make it a single point game at the break and it remained on a knife-edged as Bath flattered to deceive and Ulster held firm.
Wing Rob Lyttle won the race for the ball for the second try converted by Cooney after a kick through by Ulster.
Replacement Gabriel Hamer-Webb had the home fans roaring with a fine try just a minute after coming on to the field, taking Joseph’s pass out wide left and rounding his man to cross.
Burns’ conversion followed by a Rhys Priestland penalty edged Bath ahead for the first time.
But a Cooney penalty and the failure of Zach Mercer to find the unmarked Semesa Rokoduguni on the wing seconds from time meant it was the visitors celebrating a crucial opening European away win.