A dejected and exhausted Best leaves the field after the game. BY: BBC Sport
Ulster had a nervy start to the game after Andrew Trimble knocked on deep inside his own 22 after the kick-off. An early engagement at the scrum from Ulster allowed Northampton to tap and go, which resulted in prop Soane Tonga’uiha crashing over the line. Fly-half Stephen Myler added the extras with just three minutes gone. Northampton 7 Ulster 0.
Five minutes later, an infringement from the Saints provided Ian Humphreys the chance to score his first points of the game with a 50m penalty. His kick was on target, narrowing the points’ gap. Northampton 7 Ulster 3.
With ten minutes played, Ulster looked certain to score a try as they sped towards Northampton’s line. Simon Danielli stormed through the defence to touch down but the side was called back after his pass from Humphreys was deemed forward.
The visitors were awarded another penalty on 15 minutes after the Saints’ tacklers failed to release the player. Humphreys was again on target to bring the points’ deficit to one. Northampton 7 Ulster 6.
Both sides battled it out for the following fifteen minutes with Ulster being penalised at the lineout and at the breakdown. It was only on the 30-minute mark when Myler opted for the posts. However he missed his penalty, pushing the ball to the left of the posts.
Northampton were called for being offside moments later and Simon Danielli used this to cut inside the Saints’ defence and make his way up field. He was stopped just metres from the line, but good recycled ball from the team, set up fellow winger Trimble to touch down behind the posts. Humphreys landed the conversion to take his side into the lead for the first time in the game. Northampton 7 Ulster 13.
The Saints’ threatened with another try towards the end of the first half after Humphreys failed to gather the ball after it bounced into the hands of Saints’ fullback Ben Foden. Danielli was on hand to tackle the isolated player and as Ulster regained possession, it was Tom Court who gave it away after being penalised at the scrum. Myler made no mistake with his kick on this occasion to close the half at Northampton 10 Ulster 13.
Ulster continued to dominate the play at the beginning of the second half, but it was the Saints’ who registered the first points on 48 minutes after an infringement from Dan Tuohy. Northampton 13 Ulster 13.
It seemed the visitors were beginning to tire at this stage and as gaps started to appear in their defence, Northampton took the advantage as Foden and Ashton sprinted down the left wing before offloading to Myler. The out-half then set up his fellow scrum-half Lee Dickson to cross the line, before adding the extras and stretching their lead on 56 minutes. Northampton 20 Ulster 13.
Ulster fought back from the restart with the pack getting into the Saints’ 22 on the hour mark, however as Pienaar spun a pass out to D’Arcy, the fullback was unable to gather the ball and knocked on, ending what was a certain try and a fantastic opportunity for Ulster to get back into the game.
Ulster remained focused on the task in hand, but unforced errors and infringements at the breakdown cost them a further three points when the Saints’ were awarded a penalty on 65 minutes, which Myler struck with perfection. Northampton 23 Ulster 13.
The fly-half did have another shot at goal five minutes later, but missed his kick, to leave the scores unchanged. As Ulster desperately tried to stage a comeback, Northampton’s defence proved too strong for the side and as the clock reached 80 minutes, Dickson kicked the ball into touch, ending an impressive and spirited display from the Ulstermen.
Full-time score: Northampton 23 Ulster 13.
More like this:
2 Responses to “Heineken Cup: Northampton 23 Ulster 13”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
It was all in the Mcglock comment afterwards “they (the Saints) do what they do – well”
The Ulster front row are not as bad as the match made them look. The Ulster line out is not as bad as the match made them look.
Best was not a happy man in the scrum- thus I conclude that he was being bored by both the tight head and hooker. English front rows do one of two things either drop the scrum or bore.
Unfortunately Ulster found themselves being refereed by someone who didn’t consider boring in the scrum to be illegal.
They the Saints are also very astute in the line employing a nudge here and there to disrupt the line out jumpers.
But as Mcglock said they do it well .
Another day another ref things might have been different at the set piece.
I said before the Internationals that Lewes it is an impressive forward and England would miss him he is without doubt the best second row in the NH .
The Ulster players who impressed were the Back Row and Trimble the front five had a hard time and defensively the backs stood up well to the power pounding of the Saints mid-field.
I feared we would be humillated but considering the nature of the Saints forward play which went unpunished the Ulstermen can stand tall and proud.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
up to 60th minute Ulster looked the better team, but they were giving away many penalties, which caught up with them at the end.
after scoring the try that took them 7 points clear in the second half saints seemed to catch wind in their sails.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0