As it happened: Ulster v Connacht, United Rugby Championship

Hello,

And welcome along to our coverage of the second URC interpro battle taking place this evening. For those of you who have been with us during the Leinster-Munster showdown, welcome back and thanks for staying with us.

And to the newcomers who are here for the updates of the Ulster v Connacht game, we hope you enjoy what’s on the way at Kingspan Stadium. The visitors are hoping to keep their good start in the competition on the road this evening, while Ulster head coach Richie Murphy will be coming up against his son, Ben.

We’ll have team line-ups for you shortly as we edge closer to the 8pm kick-off.

Here’s the Ulster team:

15. Ethan McIlroy 14. Werner Kok 13. Stewart Moore 12. Jude Postlethwaite 11. Jacob Stockdale 10. Aidan Morgan 9. John Cooney 

1. Andrew Warwick 2. John Andrew 3. Tom O’Toole 4. Iain Henderson (Captain) 5. Kieran Treadwell 6. David McCann 7. Sean Reffell 8. Nick Timoney

Replacements:

16. James McCormick 17. Callum Reid 18. Corrie Barrett 19. Alan O’Connor 20. Marcus Rea 21. Nathan Doak 22. Ben Carson 23. Mike Lowry

And here’s the Connacht selection:

15. Santiago Cordero 14. Mack Hansen 13. Piers O’Conor 12. Bundee Aki 11. Shayne Bolton 10. Josh Ioane

9. Ben Murphy 1. Denis Buckley 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Joe Joyce 5. Josh Murphy 6. Cian Prendergast (Captain) 7. Sean O’Brien 8. Paul Boyle

Replacements

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin 17. Peter Dooley 18. Temi Lasisi 19. Oisín Dowling 20. David O’Connor 21. Caolin Blade 22. Cathal Forde 23. Conor Oliver

With half an hour to go to kick-off, let us know how you see this one going

2 mins: Ulster 0-0 Connacht

Ulster find the corner through the boot of Aidan Morgan from an early penalty. They engage the maul from the lineout

3 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht

What a start from the hosts?

The hooker John Andrew bundles over the line from the maul and John Cooney slots over the conversion. Over to Connacht to see what they can throw back in response.

5 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht

Dave Heffernan penalised for not throwing a lineout straight and there could be more trouble for Connacht fans as Bundee Aki is down requiring treatment.

6 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht

He seems to be ok though. Josh Ioane finds touch from a penalty and now Connacht are back in Ulster territory.

7 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht

Another Connacht penalty in a tasty position. Finlay Bealham is also down getting treatment as is Seán O’Brien but they both look good to continue.

8 mins: Ulster 7-0 Connacht

Connacht scrum as an attempted pass hits off the referee. It materialises into a Connacht penalty and they’re inches from the line after a tap and go.

14 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht

Connacht get on the board as Shayne Bolton flies in at the corner after a brilliant looping pass from Josh Ioane.

Ulster had pushed Connacht back and it looked like the might turn them over, but Connacht released possession out to Ioane who fired the ball over to Bolton for the finish. Ioane missed the conversion, meaning Ulster still hold the slender lead.

15 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht

Connacht win another penalty through Paul Boyle as Ulster suffer a blow with the withdrawal of Iain Henderson.

Ioane fails to find touch, but Connacht still have possession. They’re back at the Ulster 22 again.

17 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht

Bolton almost in for another try but gets pulled over into touch. A misplaced pass then sees Ulster make a big break which brings them to the corner. They’re on the maul again.

18 mins: Ulster 7-5 Connacht

Morgan sets them up for another lineout. They knock at the door a few times, and they think they’re over. We’re going to the TMO.

21 mins: Ulster 12-5 Connacht

Replays show that the score is good and it’s Jude Postlethwaite who gets the vital touch after a few blasts at the Connacht line. Cooney misses the conversion as the rain starts pouring down.

John Andrew’s try

Shanye Bolton’s try for Connacht

28 mins: Ulster 19-5 Connacht

John Cooney spots a gap in the Connacht line and sprints with the ball from the ruck and heads directly for the posts, brushing off the challenge of Mack Hansen as he goes. Richie Murphy’s side are starting to take control of the tie as Connacht are hurting themselves with poor kicks out of defence.

30 mins: Ulster 19-5 Connacht

Connacht penalty after some encouraging play and good caries. There was one wayward pass out wide to Bolton but they quickly regrouped to push into Ulster territory.

32 mins: Ulster 19-10 Connacht

Ulster have been reduced to 14 players as Werner Kok is sent to the bin for attacking the player in the air during the kick-off. Ioane’s conversion went wide a few moments before that.

39 mins: Ulster 19-10 Connacht

Great turnover from Ulster as Connacht are punished for being carless in possession.  A brilliant Stewart Moore tackle gives them a scrum.

Ulster 19-17 Connacht

What a first half?

Six tries in all, three for each side. Some brilliant attacking play, and clever moves. Ben Murphy, who has been catching the eye in this competition, brings the half to a close with a super run from a lineout through a tight gap against his father’s side. Josh Ioane squeezed his conversion between the posts after missing the other two from the same side.

Shayne Bolton and Joy Joyce got the other Connacht tries in the first period while John Andrew, Jude Postlethwaite and John Cooney crossed over for Ulster. Cooney has two conversions from three attempts.

The quality has been really high despite the horrible conditions. 

41 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht

Penalty for Connacht as Paul Boyle earns the turnover in the breakdown. And it looks like the penalty has been brought forward for an infringement as Werner Kok’s sinbin comes to an end.

Ulster 19-17 Connacht

Seán O’Brien looked to have gone over for Connacht, and the referee awarded a try. But after consulting with the TMO, the decision was reversed as he was held up. Score remains the same, but Connacht have possession again from the kick-off.

46 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht

And now it’s Ulster’s turn to try and get a score after a brilliant grubber kick from Jacob Stockdale which puts the Connacht defence under pressure. The ball eventually trickles out into touch.

Ulster try to maul their way through but Connacht do well to hold them up and it’s a scrum to the visitors.

48 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht

Huge mistake from Ben Murphy as he knocks the ball on from the scrum. A scrap forms on the touchline for a few moments, but crucially, Ulster have the ball back.

The referee calls both captains in and advises that a penalty is being given against Hansen for his part in the scrap. 

Ulster are in the corner and it’s maul time again.

49 mins: Ulster 19-17 Connacht

Connacht push them back but it’s a penalty for Ulster. To make matters worse for Connacht, Josh Murphy has been sent to the bin with a yellow card.

53 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht

Ulster have some breathing space again as David McCann leaps across to give his side the bonus point. Cooney’s kick trails wide.

54 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht

Connacht’s handling has been poor in the second half. They’re inviting pressure from Ulster with their passing and Ulster are pushing them back when they commit these errors.

But they get a penalty which Ioane uses to bring them back into Ulster’s half.

57 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht

A knock on gifts possession back to Ulster to put in for a scrum. Ulster make a change as Nathan Doak replaces Morgan.

54 mins: Ulster 24-17 Connacht

Good work from Bolton in the kick-chase and gets up to apply sufficient pressure on the kick. And Connacht will have a lineout in an inviting position.

64 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht

We’re level in Kingspan!

It’s another profit from the maul as Dylan Tierney-Martin scores from the lineout. Ioane knocks over the extras and we’re all square with less than 20 minutes to go.

64 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht

Ulster are penalised for being ahead of the kicker on the kick-off, resulting in a scrum. But again, Connacht are sloppy in possession and end up getting pushed back.

66 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht

Ulster get punished for not moving away and Connacht look to be gaining a foothold in this game. Bealham has a nasty cut on his eye and will need to go off to get treatment.

68 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht

Clever play from Connacht as they attempt to score from a grubber kick from Santiago Cordero. They almost pull it off but Doak slides across to collect the ball and while Hansen comes in to try and get possession back, he’s penalised. Ulster kick the ball clear with relief.

71 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht

Connacht work through the phases and set up a kick forward from Ioane. But it goes nowhere and Ulster find touch with the return from Stewart Moore.

71 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht

Connacht concede a needless free for not getting into the lineout in time and a high tackle by Josh Murphy results in a penalty.

72 mins: Ulster 24-24 Connacht

It gets worse for Connacht as it’s a red card for Murphy.

72 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht

Cooney reclaims the lead for Ulster with the resultant kick.

74 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht

Ioane tries to accelerate through a gap in the Ulster line but gets smothered up by Nick Timoney. But it’s a high tackle and the referee brings it back for a penalty.

74 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht

Ioane aims for the corner but it’s a terrible kick and his attempt is way off and goes out over the end line.

75 mins: Ulster 27-24 Connacht

Ulster work the ball across the line and start clocking up the phases. Mike Lowry gets forward with a clever step and Ulster work the move across to the other channel trying to find Ethan McIlroy at the corner. It goes out to touch.

78 mins: Ulster 32-24 Connacht

Nick Timoney breaks through from the back of the maul and Ulster get the prize that move deserved. Cooney misses the conversion but it matters little as that’s the winning of the game.

Connacht have completely regressed in the last 10 minutes. A combination of unforced errors, Murphy’s red card and poor kicking has allowed Ulster to take advantage.

80 mins: Ulster 32-27 Connacht

Ioane kicks a penalty between the posts for a final bit of grace for Connacht.

Ulster 32-27 Connacht

That’s a wrap from the Kingspan Stadium.

It was Ulster’s night after an absorbing game where they secured a bonus point with a clinical display. Connacht will have plenty of regrets from that performance although they will go home with two bonus points after scoring four points and staying within seven points of the winners.

There’s a winning bonus point for Ulster too as John Andrew, Jude Postlethwaite, John Cooney, David McCann and Nick Timoney all supplied tries to round off a deserved win.

Well that’s all from us, folks. Stay tuned for Declan Bogue’s match report live from Kingspan Stadium.

We hope you enjoyed all the interpros coverage today, and hope to have you with us again soon. 

Until next time, good luck!