Tigers suffer a mauling but Tuilagi’s hitting form
ULSTER, nilled in the first half, hit Leicester with 24 unanswered points after the break to dismiss a limited Tigers side although a late try to Manu Tuilagi was consolation of sorts.
Stalwart lock Alan O’Connor started the transformation and his tryscoring work was carried on by Will Addison and Jacob Stockdale, and apart from the elusive running of Jordan Olowofela, who stood up well in testing circumstances, Tigers had only spirited resistance to offer.
There had been torrential rain in Belfast for most of the day and although it relented just before kick off conditions were far from easy, reflected in the 3-0 score line at half-time with Leicester nudging ahead with a George Ford penalty.
It had been a Ford ‘bomb’ – spilled by Michael Lowry under the posts – that had set up the attacking scrum for Leicester with Tigers winning a penalty to give their No.10 the shot at goal.
Tigers had noted the spill by Ulster’s full-back and tested him a couple more times, but Lowry is a real prospect and soon adjusted his radar and dealt with the aerial bombardment well enough.
Given the tricky handling conditions and two fired up teams desperate for a morale boosting win, manufacturing try-scoring chances was going to be difficult but Ulster conjured a beauty on 20 minutes when former Sale skipper Addison made a fine break and sent Lowry sprinting for the line on the angle.
He looked certain to score but Ford was covering back and decked him with a seatbelt tackle as Lowry ducked low. In the modern climate it was deemed not only a penalty but a yellow card but it still felt harsh. Five years ago he would have been praised for an outstanding trysaving tackle.
A fine pass from Billy Burns sent Craig Gilroy heading for the line and it looked odds on Ulster would open their account but the underrated Adam Thompstone got across to make a super and totally legal covering tackle low to the ground.
Ulster looked a different beast after the break and went into the lead with a well worked lineout move which saw O’Connor plough over the line for a try converted by John Cooney.
The English born and bred but Irish qualified Addison struck next showing good pace and strength as well as awareness to slide in with Cooney again adding an important conversion from out wide.
A third try came when Stuart McCloskey – not necessarily known for his handling skills – threw a killer long pass to that try machine Jacob Stockdale on the left wing. Stockdale needed no second invitation and went in close to the posts, Cooney converting.
Ulster went in search of the fourth try but it was Leicester who belatedly sparked into life when from nowhere – 35 yards out – Manu Tuilagi beat the first up tackler and showed a good burst of speed to hold off another two or three would-be tacklers.
Leicester nearly grabbed a losing bonus point when Olowofela broke thrillingly at the death but Ulster just held out for a deserved win. The rest of Europe might not be quaking in their boots yet but it was decent start after a difficult period for the Ulstermen.