Stockdale pulls the strings as Ulster break Quins resistance
Ulster kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions Cup with a maximum five-point haul in their second successive victory over Harlequins.
Yet despite the scoreline, Ulster were far from convincing for long periods against a largely secondstring Quins side, who deservedly claimed a four-try bonus point with scores by Marcus Smith, Charlie Walker, Ross Chisholm and Dave Ward, and caused set-piece problems throughout.
John Kingston, the Harlequins director of rugby, whose side were already out of contention after their defeat by Ulster at the Stoop last Sunday, made six changes and praised his side’s ability to stay in touch until the final quarter.
“It is a tough ask when it is a dead rubber but it was collective pride thing for us and I think six tries to four was a fair reflection on the game,” said Kingston.
Ultimately Ulster had too much finishing power, with Jacob Stockdale once again delivering an outstanding display, even though this was his first start of the season for both province and country in which he did not score a try. The Ireland wing orchestrated three for this team-mates however, his pace and power creating the momentum for tries by Craig Gilroy, Charles Piutau and Alan O’connor after Stuart Mccloskey had opened the try-scoring for his side.
The margin of victory was in part due to some imperious goal-kicking by John Cooney, who landed four penalties and five conversions, and capped a fine performance with a try of his own as Quins finally wilted in the last quarter, with an Andrew Trimble late score bringing up the half-century.
The five-point haul moves Ulster to within two points of pool one leaders La Rochelle, who travel to Wasps tomorrow and, with 13 points, they remain in the hunt for one of the three best-placed runners-up qualifying places.
“It was nice to finish that way home and away,” said Les Kiss, Ulster’s director of rugby. “We are building slowly, but there is a lot more improvement to come.”
Ulster will certainly look to improve their set-piece, which wobbled in the first-half. It was not until a flash of indiscipline by Kyle Sinckler, who was shown a yellow card for blocking Stockdale in the second period that Ulster were able to pull away.
Quins had scored the first try completely against the run of play through Smith. Ulster’s response was impressive, with Christian Lealiifano chipping the ball with the outside of his foot for Mccloskey to touch down. A searing break by Smith moments later created the opening for Walker to score Harlequins’ second try.
Gilroy’s try from Stockdale’s break set the tone for the second half. Another arcing break by Stockdale culminated in a try for Piutau and although Quins refused to lie down, with Chisholm and Ward both scoring, Ulster ultimately ran up an emphatic victory.
Match details: Database, P12-13