Bowe’s double keeps Ulster on course for play-off place
TOMMY BOWE notched his 60th and 61st Pro12 tries as Ulster claimed a bonuspoint win over Connacht at the Sportsground yesterday.
Bowe, the league’s record try scorer, touched down in both halves to see the Ulstermen claim the interprovincial derby spoils and keep pace with their play-off rivals at the top of the table while Connacht grabbed a losing bonus to stay level with Scarlets in the hunt for a topsix European Cup qualification spot.
Aided by a strong first-half wind, the visitors led 17-0 at the interval with Louis Ludik’s fourth-minute try followed by touchdowns from his Bowe and Craig Gilroy. Connacht responded with a classy converted try from Matt Healy and a Miah Nikora penalty. However, they leaked further scores to Bowe and Ulster captain Rory Best before earning a losing bonus point thanks to Jack Carty’s conversion of Tiernan O’Halloran’s 70thminute effort.
While the five-try success sees Ulster stay second behind leaders Glasgow, yesterday’s defeat leaves Connacht with an uphill battle to hold off Edinburgh and the Scarlets for that sixth and final European Champions Cup qualifying spot.
Jared Payne sliced open the Connacht midfield with an incisive early run, sparking a spell of patient Ulster recycling. After Iain Henderson was hauled down near the posts, the ball was shifted right by Paddy Jackson for fullback Ludik to get over past Connacht outhalf Nikora.
A quick turnover conceded by Aki before the break saw Jackson release Bowe who finished well in the right corner. Three minutes later, Gilroy ran in his 10th try of the league campaign.
However, Pat Lam’s side burst out of the blocks on the resumption with winger Healy diving over to the left of the posts.
Nikora converted and also pinged over a penalty and the gap was down to 10 points with just under half an hour remaining.
Tellingly, Connacht’s momentum was broken up by Bowe’s second score but a penalty from Connacht replacement Carty made it 22-13 before Ulster tightened their grip on the game with Best’s try from a lineout maul.
Connacht were far from finished, their sheer desire seeing them get something out of the game as Finlay Bealham and Carty combined to send full-back O’Halloran over in the left corner.
Carty swung over a superb conversion to reduce the arrears to seven points and that sparked a frantic finish from the home side but Ulster srambled well and saw out the result in heavy rain.
COnnACht: T O’Halloran, D Poolman, R Henshaw, B Aki (D Leader 68), M Healy, M Nikora (J Carty 59), K Marmion (J Cooney 66), D Buckley (R Loughney 66, Buckley 71), T McCartney (A Delahunt 68), R Ah You (F Bealham 68), Q Roux (U Dillane 57, Roux 71), A Muldowney, J Muldoon, E Masterson, G Naoupu (E McKeon 50). Scorers – tries: Healy, O’Halloran. Cons: Nikora, Carty. Pens: Nikora, Carty. UlSter: L Ludik (S McCloskey 58), T Bowe, J Payne, D Cave (I Humphries 72), C Gilroy, P Jackson, R Pienaar, C Black (A Warwick 68), R Best (C), W Herbst (R Bronson 63), D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, I Henderson (R Diak 63), C Henry, R Wilson. Scorers – tries: Bowe (2), Best, Ludik, Gilroy. Con: Pienaar referee: N Owens (Wales).