Webb to the fore, but it’s Ulster who take the points
ULSTER beat the Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium last night, despite another standout performance from scrum-half Rhys Webb.
The Ospreys hit the front inside two minutes when Webb, who was in fine form for the third game in a row since his Wales omission, charged down Ian Madigan’s kick. Keelan Giles won the foot race to the loose ball and Stephen Myler converted.
Toby Booth’s side went on to be dominant throughout the first half with a powerful scrum winning three penalties. Webb looked lively, producing a 40-metre break and posing a constant threat. The Ospreys were lively and looked one pass away from causing their hosts real problems on a number of occasions.
But Ulster produced a sucker punch at the end of the half. Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler’s grubber kick was charged down and Ulster No.8 Nick Timoney raced away 50 metres before feeding scrum-half John Cooney. Ospreys’ Luke Morgan pulled a hamstring as he raced across to cover and Cooney ran in the try before converting himself.
The score at half time was 7-7. Ulster were much-improved in the second half and had a try disallowed in the 53rd minute. But in the next passage, hooker John Andrew was at the back of a powerful driving maul that trundled over the line from short range. Cooney converting again.
Then the Ospreys found themselves on the wrong side of referee Seán Gallagher, who favoured the hosts in a number of contentious calls throughout the middle of the second half.
With Ulster pounding the visitors’ line just past the hour mark, Dan Evans went for a speculative interception,but couldn’t gather it. Ulster had two men waiting for the try-scoring pass and Mr Gallagher produced the yellow card before awarding Dan McFarland’s side a penalty try.
But the Ospreys survived the 10-minute sin -bin without conceding more points. Ulster winger Rob Lyttle had a hat-trick of scores disallowed and the visitors held on to deny their hosts a bonus -point try.
Ulster: Tries: Cooney, Andrew, Madigan. Cons: Cooney 2. Ospreys: Try: Giles. Cons: Myler.
WALES 113,